MONTICELLO – On Thursday, the Monticello Panthers brought down the Section IX volleyball champions, Port Jervis Raiders, a team they’ve struggled to defeat for the past few years. Last season, the Raiders stifled the Panthers’ sectional run, knocking them out in the second round. 

The Panthers took the first set easily, defeating the Raiders 25-11. But the Raiders roared back, frazzling the Panthers in the second set by taking advantage of Monticello’s offensive errors. The back-and-forth volleys showed the incredible skill and determination of both teams.

 The Raiders displayed grit, pulling out a W in the third set. Intensity was high in the “Pit,” as spectators waved signs and shouted in solidarity, “You can’t do that! Tick, tick, BOOM!” And Raiders fans encouraged their team at every volley, hoping for another win to force a fifth set. However, the Raiders were unsuccessful as the Panthers locked in for the final minutes of the game.

 The fourth and final set went to 28 and was by no means easy, mirroring the high-stakes atmosphere in the gym. According to Panthers’ head coach Sierra, before the game, the team told her, “We’re gonna take it, coach!” “They came out from the first to the fourth set and handled business,” Smith said. “Words cannot express the amount of love and gratitude I feel for these girls.”