The Knoxville Volleyball Squad will hold its annual invitational on Saturday with a loaded field of teams. The Panthers will welcome Pella Christian, along with ranked squads Union, Holy Trinity, and ADM, plus Grinnell, Southeast Warren, and Albia. The Panthers have made it a priority to win their own invitational this season, something that has not happened in many years. Coach Mollie Keitges tells KNIA/KRLS Sports her girls will have to play at a high level in all matches.

Keitges: “We’re going to have to play well all day. This was a big target on our goal sheet was to win our tournament, so i’ll be interested to see how the girls come out on Saturday.”

Senior player Katie Deaver echos her coach’s thoughts and hopes it becomes a springboard for the regional on Tuesday.

Deaver: “Saturday tournaments has always been really tough for us, but we’ve been winning more of those matches lately, and then Tuesday against Newton, we’re just hoping to win those.”

The Panthers drew Newton in Tuesday’s first round class 4A regional. A Panthers win would send them to Nevada on Thursday, then a potential trip to #5 North Scott in the regional final. Saturday’s Panther Invitational gets started with pool play at 8:30. Find an interview with Deaver and teammate Mackenzie Karr in Today’s Local Sports on kniakrls.com and hear from Keitges on Saturday’s Hy-Vee Radio Coaches Corner on KNIA/KRLS at 9:00.