Sue Sitter/PCT Rugby’s Annika Johnson, left, and Peyton Hauck block an attack by Lewis and Clark–Berthold’s Mya Neshem.

The Rugby Panthers closed their regular volleyball season with two home games and two wins ahead of their first District 11 game Oct. 28.

The Panthers battled Region Six rivals Surrey Mustangs and Lewis and Clark – Berthold Bombers in the Charlie Hanneman Gym, where their home crowd brought the noise and lots of fun.

“The biggest thing I can say is thank you to our fans,” Panthers Head Coach Jessica Fritz said at the close of the Panthers’ game against the Bombers, where Rugby scratched out a 3-0 win. “They’re loud – all the time. They get into every game. They do their dress themes and they’re a lot of fun,” Fritz said.

For both games, fans dressed up. At the game against Berthold, two fans in the student section wore round pumpkin costumes that made it difficult for them to sit down.

“These are just some good practice games for the tournament. One of the things we need to remember to do is stay focused and play our game and do what we can at all times,” Fritz said. “We have to play our game and control our energy.”

The Panthers let their energy flow at a steady level against Surrey, when Rugby made two of three set wins look easy, 25-14 and 25-10. The Panthers saw a renewed energy from the Mustangs in the third set, but regrouped after a small Surrey rally to finish the game 25-18. Ten kills by outside hitter Brooke Anderson, seven by outside hitter Mykell Heidlebaugh and four each by middle blocker Peyton Hauck and rear hitter Joran Jundt dwarfed the three managed by Surrey’s Elizabeth Larsen and Harli Dickman.

The Panthers’ last regular game came with a challenge. In the Oct. 25 matchup against the Bombers, Rugby found themselves playing catch-up at times, then eking out a small lead throughout three sets. Although each set had fans wondering if a fourth would be needed, the Panthers stayed on top, winning 25-22, 25-22 and 25-19.

Rugby held a commanding lead at the first set’s open, but the Bombers soon narrowed the score gap. The Panthers relied on powerful blocks by Hauck and middle hitter Lacie Deplazes to stay ahead. Kills by Heidlebaugh and Annika Johnson saw their match with kills by Bombers setter Natalie Helfrich, outside hitter Mya Neshem and outside hitter Cashley Brown.

Both teams tied at 17 apiece before the Panthers pulled ahead. But Rugby didn’t have much breathing room as a Neshem kill threatened another tie at 20-19. A kill by Heidlebaugh came next, before a Panthers error and another Bombers drop into Panther territory brought the gap closer. Hauck traded another kill with Neshem before the gap widened again, just in time for a kill by Annika Johnson to give the Panthers the win.

Set two also started well for the Panthers before the Bombers caught up, tying the set 10-10. The Bombers soon pulled ahead with an ace by Natalie Helfrich. Small mistakes made big differences as the teams stayed neck and neck. After a kill by Heidlebaugh tied the score 16-16, out-of-bounds hits and miscommunication by the Bombers gave the Panthers room. But a Helfrich kill caught the Panthers looking, and the Panthers’ lead shrank to 18-17. More errors by the Bombers cost points. With Rugby ahead 24-20, an attack by the Panthers sailed out of bounds, then Helfrich served up an ace on the sideout. Undaunted, Heidlebaugh finished the Bombers off with a kill.

Aces helped the Panthers in their final set, which once again had both teams on each other’s tails.

The Panthers clawed their way back from an early 2-6 deficit with help from their front-line blockers. As the teams battled, Rugby found themselves with a 20-16 lead before two Rugby errors put the Bombers closer behind. After the sideout, mixed signals among Bombers gave Rugby’s Hauck the serve. She capitalized on her chance to spring ahead with three aces in a row. A tip over the net by the Bombers’ Lynzee Schepp kept them alive. However, a Bombers error ended the set and game with a 25-19 Rugby win.

After the game, Panthers libero Anna Johnson gave Fritz an emotional hug.

“It’s one of those bittersweet things, being the last home game for the seniors,” Fritz said.

“We knew Berthold would be a tough team. We knew we had to come in and play our game and do well. One of our big thing is to be ready for anything. I told the girls to just talk through everything, communicate and have fun while you’re doing it,” Fritz added.

“We play Bottineau (Oct. 28) for districts,” Fritz added. “Every point matters and every play matters. We start with a clean slate. Every game’s a new game, and every pass, honestly. It’s one pass at a time. That’s kind of going to be something they remember the rest of the season, one pass at a time. That’s where we’re at.”

Rugby vs. Surrey

25-14, 25-10, 25-18

Rugby Kills: Brooke Anderson, 10; Mykell Heidlebaugh, 7; Peyton Hauck, 4; Joran Jundt, 4

Rugby Aces: Hauck, 4; Saige Connot, 3

Rugby Blocks: Hauck, 2

Rugby Digs: Anna Johnson, 10

Rugby Assists: Kiah Gault, 15; Joey Wolf, 11

Surrey Kills: Elizabeth Larsen, 3, Harli Dickman, 2

Surrey Aces: Carleen Severson, 2

Surrey Blocks: Adeline Campbell, 2; Larsen, 2

Surrey Digs: Amanda Severson, 8; Kaitlyn Reiter, 6

Surrey Assists: Mia Aberle, 4

Rugby vs. Lewis and Clark – Berthold

25-22, 25-22, 25-19

Rugby Kills: Heidlebaugh, 7; Annika Johnson, 5; Hauck, 5

Rugby Aces: Hauck, 2; Gault, 2

Rugby Assists: Gault, 12; Wolf, 9

Rugby Digs: Anna Johnson, 5

Rugby Blocks: Lacie Deplazes, 3