Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby Panthers outside hitter Brooke Anderson goes for a dig against the MLS Mavericks at home Oct. 14.

The Rugby High Panthers added to a winning streak with a 3-0 volleyball victory against Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood at home in Charlie Hanneman Gym Oct. 14.

The win comes just after the Panthers topped Harvey Wells County 3-1 at Fessenden High School Oct. 12. Their Oct. 14 game is one of Rugby’s last of the regular season. The remaining two games, set for Oct. 19 and 25, will also take place at home. The Panthers travel to Bottineau for districts Oct. 28.

A large group of student boosters decked out in hats and colorful wigs cheered the Panthers on. Older fans also filled the stands. Before the game, RHS Athletic Director Scott Grochow took the microphone to give a special birthday hello to Muriel Johnson, a member of Rugby High’s Class of 1957. Fans gave her a round of applause.

Coach Jessica Fritz said having supportive fans “always helps. We do have a loud crowd that follows us, too. There are a few extra who attend home games and it was a good night,” she added. “We had a couple of alumni who made it home and it was fun to see some familiar faces in the crowd, people getting here to cheer on the Panthers again.”

The Mavericks of MLS brought positive energy and a crowd of supporters, too. Although they stayed close to the Panthers, the Mavericks found themselves playing catch-up for most of the three sets.

Rugby pulled out for an early lead in set one due to MLS errors. Blocks and attacks by outside hitter Mykell Heidlebaugh and middle blocker Peyton Hauck helped the Panthers extend their lead to 9-2 before middle hitter Kylie Abernathy tapped a kill over the net for the Mavericks.

Heidlebaugh and Allie Undlin traded kills next, before Kiah Gault sneaked an attack over the net.

MLS began to close the score gap, however, when the Panthers seemed to be cruising for victory. With the Panthers leading 23-12, errors began to cost points. Jamie Thompson landed the first of three aces for the evening to close the gap to 23-15. The Panthers’ score froze at 23 as the Mavericks’ total climbed.

An out-of-bounds hit by MLS gave the Panthers set point, but Rugby struggled to take advantage of the opportunity. Panthers errors closed up the score gap to 24-20. However, Rugby recovered, ending the game with a front row block executed by setter Joey Wolf and Heidlebaugh.

After their 25-20 set one win, the Panthers had the Mavericks on their tails again.

However, well-executed kills by Heidlebaugh and Hauck put the Panthers further ahead, building to a 12-5 lead. MLS caught up again, narrowing the gap to 13-10 before Anderson slammed an attack into the Mavericks’ court. A kill by Abernathy followed, then errors by the Panthers. The 16-12 gap grew wider in favor of Rugby again. An ace by Rugby libero Anna Johnson and blocks by Hauck grew Rugby’s lead to 23-12. Errors on both sides followed before Hauk ended set two with a kill and a 25-13 Panthers win.

Set three saw the Mavericks start with a two point lead. The Panthers struggled at first, tying at 10 each. Then, errors on both sides tied the set again 11-11.

Abernathy and Undlin grew more aggressive, sending Panthers diving to the floor midcourt. Gault traded one point for the Panthers with another by Abernathy, then middle blocker Kendra Leier traded kills with Abernathy. Heidlebaugh stretched the Panthers’ lead to 18-16 when she tipped another kill over the net.

An ace by Wolf and another kill by Leier helped the Panthers break away from the Mavericks. Miscommunication among Panthers gave the Mavericks another point, but the Panthers moved forward with a kill by Heidlebaugh. MLS errors put the score at 23-17, then Abernathy bounced a kill off Panther hands out of bounds. The Panthers answered with a kill by middle hitter Lacie Deplazes. Hauck wrapped up the set and game with a final kill for a 25-18 win.

“We’ve been preaching a lot about positive attitude,” Fritz said, referring to herself and assistant coaches Deb Goven and Olivia Erpelding. “You’re going to make mistakes but keep your head up. We’ve got to shake off those little mistakes. Volleyball’s a game of mistakes. Somebody’s got to make a mistake. That’s how points are scored usually.”

“Our message is to just stay positive and don’t get down on ourselves. I think tonight, we did a pretty good job of that. We had some great moments and some tough moments at times when we let them back in, but we were able to fight through and still get the win,” Fritz added.

Game stats:

Rugby over MLS 3-0, 25-20, 25-13, 25-18.

Rugby kills: Heidlebaugh, 7, Hauck, 6, Leier, 5. Rugby aces: Anna Johnson, 3, Wolf, 3. Rugby blocks: Hauck, 2, Heidlebaugh, 1. Rugby digs: Anna Johnson, 17. Assists: Wolf, 14, Gault, 10.

MLS kills: Abernathy, 6, Undlin, 6, Thompson, 5. MLS aces: Thompson, 3. MLS blocks: Abernathy, 6, Undlin, 2. MLS digs: Thompson, 17, Madison Moberg, 11. MLS assists: Abernathy, 9, Undlin, 8.