Great teamwork and defense propelled Carey to the title at the Hagerman Invitational Volleyball Tournament Saturday.
The Panthers scorched the eight-team field, racking up a 5-0 record en route to the title.
"We played really well the whole tournament," coach Kathy Whitworth said. "Everything just fell our way."
Opening with pool play, Carey dispatched Castleford, Rockland and Wilder, winning each match in two games.
#1 Carey met #2 Mackay in the semifinals and the contest was tighter than a ticket to Willie Nelson.
Back on the season opener on August 30, Mackay knocked off Carey 2-1 in tri-match action, so the Panthers were pumped and primed for revenge.
Trailing by one in the opening game, Jessica Royal served out the final three points, to clip the Miners 22-20. A kill by Whitney Peck (7 service points) closed out another tight contest 21-19.
"It was neck and neck the whole way. Very exciting," Whitworth said.
The victory vaulted Carey into the final against defending champion Valley.
Tight after sitting for awhile, the Panthers dropped the first game, their only loss of the tilt, 21-11.
"Once we got that under our belt, we stepped right up again and played really well," Whitworth remarked.
Rocking like Reckless Kelly, Carey rolled the Vikings 21-12 and 15-7 to claim the tourney title.
Whitworth remarked, "We are a consistent serving and hitting team all the way round. And the girls play great defense. Not a lot hits the floor."
In the final two games, outside hitter Peck racked up 14 kills and Jessica Royal tallied 11. Brenna Silva recorded 8 kills and 3 blocks and Amy Olsen put the ball on the floor 6 times.
Setters Rayanne Hennefer and Amanda Hill had 14 and 12 assists, respectively.
In non-conference action, 1A Carey had no trouble dispatching 2A Wendell on the Trojans homecourt Thursday.
Utilizing a great service game, the Panthers knocked off Wendell 25-11, 25-10, 26-24 to notch their fourth victory of the season.
Serene Bingham rang up eight points from the line to close out the first contest and socked five straight winners in the second game. Hennefer chipped in six consecutive points, and in the final game, Peck recorded eight service points.
Carey (9-1 overall, 2-0 Northside Conference) is on its homecourt for the next week with contests against Dietrich Thursday, Shoshone/Wendell the following Tuesday, and The Community School on Thursday, Sept. 22.
