M-CHS had swept the Pirates on the road earlier in the season. And with the excitement of senior night and the possibility of it being their last game, the Panthers came out fired up and dominated Monte Vista, dispatching them in three quick sets: 25-13, 25-11, 25-7.
“All of our seniors were really hyped for tonight’s game,” said M-CHS head coach Dave Robinson. “They were really ready to go and played well. Danielle (McDonald) is really hitting well right now, and all of our hitters really did well tonight. Aryelle Wright and Rylee Lindsley, Hailey White had probably the most kills she’s had in a couple of weeks, and Skyler (Robinson) worked really hard off the ball to set them up.”
Explaining what his group of seniors have meant to the team, Robinson spoke of the commitment and perseverance they’ve shown.
And not just this season, when after starting 2-0 the Panthers had an eight-game losing streak before bouncing back to finish the final 12 games with a 6-6 record. But throughout their M-CHS careers, sticking through turmoil as the varsity program saw four different coaches in the last four years.
“That’s an endurance piece for them and just believing in the program that they are wanting to build,” said Robinson. “This whole season that they weren’t willing to give up on things just because it was rough. They all came back out and wanted to work and show that they were here to play and build a program.”
The Panthers finished the season with an 8-14 record, and now all they can do is wait to hear their postseason fate.
There are 36 teams that advance to the Class 3A Regional Tournament. League champions receive an automatic berth, and then the remaining teams will be selected by based on their CHSAA RPI Rankings.
M-CHS is currently sitting at No. 41 in the RPI standings, which would leave the Panthers on the outside looking in if the regional bracket were put together today.
But it won’t be – because there are still Class 3A teams with games remaining.
So, there’s still a chance M-CHS could move up and make the playoffs.
“We’re pretty tight in the standings of it,” said Robinson. “We’re not too far off.”
