With three matches in the books, Panther volleyball has not lost a set.
In the first week of the regular season, Franklin hit the ground running with three non-conference matches, traveling to Swain and Robbinsville and hosting Murphy in their home opener. With straight-set wins in all three, Bekah Brooks’ team opened their season with a full head of steam.
On the first official day of the regular season Aug. 12, the Panthers traveled to Swain County for a meeting with the Maroon Devils. There Franklin ran on all cylinders against a quality opponent.
“We started the season off at Swain, and Swain is really, really good. We saw them a few times this summer just in scrimmages and stuff; we never played them, but we saw them quite a bit,” said Brooks. “They didn’t lose a senior last year so they had their whole team back, but we played exceptionally well. ... Cali [Queen] and Ryan [Green] had a heck of a game; I think they both had 11 kills apiece. I think Bristol [Brooks] had seven aces, so we played really, really well. Super-proud of that effort for the first game.”
With standout matches from their front-row seniors and promising freshman setter, Franklin routed the Maroon Devils 25-12, 25-15, 25-14. Two nights later, they traveled to Robbinsville for a meeting with the Black Knights.
“Going into Robbinsville, with all the times we haven’t played well over there it’s been like a curse,” said Brooks of Franklin’s difficult games in Graham County in recent years. “We met the expectation of what had to be done, and won in three. Kyrah [Bowles] had a phenomenal game at Robbinsville, had a ton of kills, and Ryan as well. The defense was on par [as well].”
With another strong match from their three front-row All-Mountain Seven seniors,
Franklin took care of Robbinsville 25-10, 25-17, 25-14. With two blowout wins already in hand, on Aug. 15 the Panthers returned to Tom Raby Court for their home opener with Murphy.
Franklin shot out of the gate in front of a packed house, racing out to an 8-2 lead behind three points apiece from Queen and Green. After posting her second kill to put Franklin up 16-9 however, Queen put a damper on the home fans’ positive mood, landing awkwardly on her knee and remaining on the floor for several minutes. The Press will report further on the two-time All-Conference senior’s condition as more details become available. Queen’s sidelining comes on the heels of news that promising sophomore Audrey Pressley will miss several months to a back injury.
After helping Queen to the bench, Franklin maintained their focus to end the first set, getting three more kills from Green en route to a 25-18 win.
Green stayed red-hot into the second, racking up two blocks, a kill and an ace to give her team a 9-5 lead. Green, Bowles, Piper Wittekind and Emma Ledford added two points apiece down the stretch to win the set 25-19.
Murphy regrouped to start the third set, playing strong defense to hold Franklin to an 8-7 lead. The Panthers kept their foot on the gas however, holding the Bulldogs to just five more points en route to a 25-12 win. Green capped a spectacular week with eight points in the set.
After dispatching Murphy, Franklin prepared for their most difficult match yet, traveling to Hayesville after press time Aug. 19.