The Knoxville Volleyball Squad did not back down, but Marion had too much firepower and the Panthers fell in the class 4A regional final in three sets 2517, 25/22, and 25/18. Knoxville fell behind in each set, but was able to rally and keep it close. In set two, the Panthers took the lead early 9-8 before Marion ran off four straight points to take the lead at 12-9. Knoxville was one point at 23/22 before Marion closed it out with the final two points of the set to put Knoxville in a hole it could not dig out of. Coach Mollie Keitges told KNIA/KRLS Sports her team played hard, but just gave Marion too many easy shots.

Keitges: “Super proud of the girls, we did a lot of really good things, and when we took care of the ball we were playing right with them. They are a heck of a team, so give them credit, and we got a little rattled trying to figure out where they were going, and you can’t give them easy stuff and expect to win.”

Keitges added Hannah Dunkin played likely one of her best matches of the season as her serving was on point serving up several aces to keep Knoxville in it especially in set two. The Panthers finish up 26-13 and will lose two seniors from the squad in Emma Dunkin and Melanie Sullivan.