After suffering through a mild 3-match losing streak, the Rugby High School volleyball team found some consistency.

Rugby topped Drake-Anamoose 3-1 (25-12, 25-11, 24-26, 25-17) on Oct. 1.

“We played more consistent,” Panthers head coach Jessica Fritz said. “Even one of their fans said everyone played very well and very fluid. I thought, you’re right. We finally did that fluid game that we can play. And the girls had fun while they were playing because they knew they were doing things right.”

The Panthers showed some more aggressive hitting, something Fritz has been preaching in practice.

Rugby’s Emily Stier led the way with a match-high 13 kills and Cassandra Jaeger added 11.

“We’ve really spent some time departmentalizing over the last few practices,” Fritz said. “We put the setters aside and took the hitters and worked on some fundamental skills that are going to make them better.”

Allison Volk had 24 assists and was aggressive at the service line, notching eight aces. Jaeger added four aces for the Panthers, who traveled to Westhope-Newburg on Oct. 3 in a game that was completed after the Tribune went to press.

Fritz said more than anything, the team played with a winning attitude, something she hopes they will continue to focus on in future matches.

“I think a lot of it is just how you feel when you play,” Fritz said. “The girls have to experience the bad moments to know what it should feel like to play in the good moments. They all had the same response, this just felt different. I hope they remember how that feels.”

Darby Deckert led the Rugby back row with nine digs. Volk added four.