Lady Panthers win in Meeker, lose at home

RANGELY I The lady Panther volleyball team ended the regular season with a 8-2 league record and will enter the district tournament this weekend in Kremmling as the No. 3 seed. Rangely beat the lady Cowboys last Friday in Meeker then lost to Paonia, the league champions, at home Saturday last.
“Friday night I believe we played the best match we have played this season,” head coach Jimmie Mergelman said of the match in Meeker, which the Panthers won in four games.
Meeker won the first game 25-20 but the lady Panthers won the next three 25-20, 25-19 and 25-21 to win the match. Rangely seniors Quincey Thacker and Brittany Babineaux took control in the second game, helping their team win the match.
“We responded well after losing the first game to come back and win,” Mergelman said. “Quincey did a great job of leading our team and Brittany also played really well.”
Rangely played well against the league champion Eagles but lost the match 3-1.
“We played well for the first two games,” Mergelman said.
Paonia won the first game 25-20 then Rangely won the second 25-19 but lost the next two 18-25 and 14-25.
“In the middle of the third game we had some areas in which we did not play well and then things got worse from there,” Mergelman said.
Rangely will start district pool play against No. 6 seed Hotchkiss Friday at 10:30, then play No. 7 Hayden at 1:30, then No. 2 Vail Mountain at 3 p.m. The top two teams from each pool will play for the championship Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.
“We need to finish in the top three of the district tournament in order to move on,” Mergelman said. “I know we are perfectly capable of doing this if we play to our potential.