The Panthers' Danielle Milan makes a diving save during Monday's district tournament victory.
Brent Baker
Ellen Walderzak tips won over a Harrison player during Monday's district tournament opener.

OGEMAW HEIGHTS - Nov. 3, 2008 - Standish-Sterling kept swinging away against Harrison in its district tournament opener on Monday, and for the most part the Harrison Hornets weren't able to responded to the Panthers' attacks.

SSC's 25-12, 25-22, 25-9 sweep of the Hornets set up a district semifinal match with Gladwin on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

"We definitely were hitting the ball well," said SSC coach Kristi Yenna, "Even the JV players.

"The second game we dropped down a bit, but we pulled it out and never looked back."

Harrison kept pace with the Panthers for awhile in the opening game, but several kills by Cassie Roehm, a pair of Lauren Perrin aces and Kiersten Sanch's front line play and serving keyed the Panthers' 20-5 run that finished off the opening game.

The Panthers led the second game 19-10 before Harrison came back to cut it to 24-22, but Roehm's kill finished it off and took the wind out of Harrison's sails.

The Panthers blasted out to a 13-4 lead in the third and final game as Ellen Walderzak knocked down several kills and Harrison never cut it to any closer than eight points after that.

The Panthers (23-9-2) faced Gladwin in the first week of the season, but Yenna noted that game doesn't mean anything now.

"They always get a lot better during the season," she said. "They're always good in the tournament, so we'd better be ready. It will probably be a lot more work than tonight."