ARGYLE - In a scene reminiscent of Van Halen's "Jump", the Juda volleyball team couldn't help but jump to celebrate the Panthers' first win in the Six Rivers East Conference in the last two years.
Juda (3-12, 1-7 Six Rivers East) escaped Thursday by pulling out a five game nail-biter match win over Argyle, 14-25, 25-21, 11-25, 25-18, 15-12.
Juda junior middle hitter Heather Boeke led the Panthers with a monster match, including 10 kills, 10 blocks and 26 digs.
"Amazing," Boeke said of the Panthers winning a match that went the distance. "It makes it even better that it's homecoming. I have waited for it for a long time."
The Panthers snapped a 19-match conference losing streak.
Juda coach Pam Green knows her team was confident after beating Argyle at the Brodhead Invitational earlier this year.
"Homecoming probably played a little bit of a factor in that," Green said of the Panthers' comeback.
Green expects the Panthers to build on the momentum.
"You can't just win one match and be done," she said. "You have to carry that on the next couple of weeks."
The Panthers jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the Orioles in the decisive fifth game behind some adept serving by junior Erika Kundert.
Argyle (2-14, 1-7) stormed back with Sierra Granberg delivering five straight service points to tie the game at 8-8 and took a 12-11 lead before a service error tied the match and opened the door for the Panthers.
"You start a game behind 8-2 before you realize what happens," Argyle coach Shane Johnson said. "In a short game, it's very difficult to make that comeback."
Early on it looked like the Panthers would have to wait to snap its losing streak as the Orioles surged out to a 16-8 lead and cruising to win game one.
"We came out a little flat in that first game," Green said. "I was a little scared of how they would react after that first game."
It didn't take Boeke and the Panthers long to respond and battle back.
In the second game, a kill by Boeke gave the Panthers a 19-14 lead. The Orioles rallied when freshman Micala Peterson had a six-point run on the service line, including two of her five aces, to take a 21-20 lead. The Panthers answered when junior Melanie Pehl scored four straight points including a pair of aces to close out a 25-21 win.
Green understands how valuable Boeke has become.
"Our passing seems to be getting a little better," Green said. "She (Boeke) makes the best of what we give her. She is not going to let anything die easily. She is going to give all she has."
The Orioles went on a roll using the tip to perfection in the third game. Argyle junior Cassie Welch scored six straight service points to help the Orioles take a 12-6 lead to roll to the victory.
Argyle senior Kelsey Ostby led the Orioles with 11 kills and three blocks, while Ashley Nelson had 19 assists and Lindsay Flanagan had 16 digs.
In the fourth game, Boeke's aggressiveness at the net helped the Panthers jump out to a 16-10 lead they never relinquished.
"We just had too many rotations where we couldn't break serve," Johnson said.
Juda hosts Pecatonica next Tuesday, while Argyle travels to Albany.
Juda (3-12, 1-7 Six Rivers East) escaped Thursday by pulling out a five game nail-biter match win over Argyle, 14-25, 25-21, 11-25, 25-18, 15-12.
Juda junior middle hitter Heather Boeke led the Panthers with a monster match, including 10 kills, 10 blocks and 26 digs.
"Amazing," Boeke said of the Panthers winning a match that went the distance. "It makes it even better that it's homecoming. I have waited for it for a long time."
The Panthers snapped a 19-match conference losing streak.
Juda coach Pam Green knows her team was confident after beating Argyle at the Brodhead Invitational earlier this year.
"Homecoming probably played a little bit of a factor in that," Green said of the Panthers' comeback.
Green expects the Panthers to build on the momentum.
"You can't just win one match and be done," she said. "You have to carry that on the next couple of weeks."
The Panthers jumped out to an 8-2 lead over the Orioles in the decisive fifth game behind some adept serving by junior Erika Kundert.
Argyle (2-14, 1-7) stormed back with Sierra Granberg delivering five straight service points to tie the game at 8-8 and took a 12-11 lead before a service error tied the match and opened the door for the Panthers.
"You start a game behind 8-2 before you realize what happens," Argyle coach Shane Johnson said. "In a short game, it's very difficult to make that comeback."
Early on it looked like the Panthers would have to wait to snap its losing streak as the Orioles surged out to a 16-8 lead and cruising to win game one.
"We came out a little flat in that first game," Green said. "I was a little scared of how they would react after that first game."
It didn't take Boeke and the Panthers long to respond and battle back.
In the second game, a kill by Boeke gave the Panthers a 19-14 lead. The Orioles rallied when freshman Micala Peterson had a six-point run on the service line, including two of her five aces, to take a 21-20 lead. The Panthers answered when junior Melanie Pehl scored four straight points including a pair of aces to close out a 25-21 win.
Green understands how valuable Boeke has become.
"Our passing seems to be getting a little better," Green said. "She (Boeke) makes the best of what we give her. She is not going to let anything die easily. She is going to give all she has."
The Orioles went on a roll using the tip to perfection in the third game. Argyle junior Cassie Welch scored six straight service points to help the Orioles take a 12-6 lead to roll to the victory.
Argyle senior Kelsey Ostby led the Orioles with 11 kills and three blocks, while Ashley Nelson had 19 assists and Lindsay Flanagan had 16 digs.
In the fourth game, Boeke's aggressiveness at the net helped the Panthers jump out to a 16-10 lead they never relinquished.
"We just had too many rotations where we couldn't break serve," Johnson said.
Juda hosts Pecatonica next Tuesday, while Argyle travels to Albany.
