The opening game was close, thanks to the serving of Francesca Bona and Alyssa Mantell, but the Panthers struggled mightily in the return department and fell 22-25 in the first. The second game didn’t go much better for Chatham as they couldn’t get anything going and never managed to string together a consistent rally, dropping the set 14-25, putting them in a 2-0 hole.

With the contest on the line, the Panthers finally got going. The third was tight throughout, with neither team taking a decisive lead. With a slim 22-21, lead Jenna Frederick came off the bench and picked up a big kill to give the Panthers a two-point edge. After a Spartan side out, Bona put a perfectly placed set on the third hit deep down the line for a crucial point. After the Panther serve on game point, Bona came through with a big kill to get Chatham on the board with a 25-22 win.

The fourth set would be the game’s last since Greenville put the game away. Bona and Megan Pottenburgh started things off well for the Panthers, giving them an early 7-1 lead with their serving, but Greenville fought back and took over down the stretch en route to a 17-24 win.

For the Panthers the loss is their second league loss on the year after splitting with both Greenville and Ichabod Crane. Two losses is good enough for sole possession of second place right now in the Patroon Conference, with six games after Tuesday still remaining. For the Panthers to have a shot, they will more than likely need to win out while hoping for Greenville to drop at least one game down the stretch.

CHATHAM TAKES A POINT