LAKEVILLE, Minn. -- Lakeville North got off to a slow start but got better as the match went along and the second-ranked Panthers snapped a two-match losing streak with a 25-17, 25-18, 25-14 win over Prior Lake.
The teams met, Saturday, at the Southwest Minnesota Challenge where North claimed a two-set win and their South Suburban Conference match started off in similar fashion, with the Lakers leading early on in the meeting.
The opening set turned quickly when the Panthers snapped a 5-5 tie with a 5-1 run and, despite Prior Lake closing to within a point of the lead, at 13-12, North outscored its guest 12-5 and finished the opening set with back-to-back kills by Elizabeth Juhnke.
The Lakers shook off the first set loss and grabbed an 8-1 lead in the second set, forcing the Panthers to take a timeout, which was immediately followed by a kill by Macy Winter and Ella Wheatcraft proceeded to serve five consecutive points to cut the lead to one.
The lead would be exchanged three times before Abbey Milner's kill snapped a 15-15 tie and sent North on a five-point run and the Panthers' 10-3 scoring advantage ended the second set.
Macy Winter had nine kills, hit .421 and added four digs.
Hannah Nietfeld came off the bench to contribute 10 assists, three digs and an ace.
The third set belonged to the Panthers as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never let the Lakers get closed than three points,
Although the hitting attack was led by the usual trio of Juhnke, with 12 kills, Winter, with nine, and Tori Thompson, with six, head coach Jackie Richter was able to use her bench and get everyone involved.
Milner had career highs with five kills and nine total attacks and hit .556.
Setter Hannah Nietfeld saw her most extensive playing time of the season and had 10 of her 18 set attempts result in kills while she also recorded three digs and a service ace.
Nine of North's 11 players recorded a dig with libero Halle Wolfe recording a match high 13. She was also 13-for-13 serving and nine of her 13 serves led to Panthers points. Thompson, who recorded two aces, had a .733 scoring percentage with 11 of 15 serves resulting in points for North.
Up next for the Panthers will be a rematch of the Southwest Minnesota Challenge Championship, with North hosting No. 1 Champlin Park in a non-conference match, Tuesday, at 7 p.m.
