Volleyball season ends in Meeker for lady Panthers

RANGELY I The Rangely High School volleyball team came out ready to play Friday night in their last home match, which was also senior and parent night against Meeker.
Aimee Hogan, McKale Pennell and Chelsea Ficken are the three seniors for the Panthers this year. Hogan handled the ball 74 times in the match against Meeker, finishing with 12 assists, many in the first game, a 25-20 win.
The Lady Panthers fell in the next two sets, but came back in game four to make a great game, pushing the score to 23-25 before losing the match.
Carrie Goddard had six kills on 27 attacks, Katye Allred had two kills on 22 attacks and added seventeen serves. Lindzey Thacker had four kills and Hogan ended with two, Justyne Dembowski also served 17 times for the Panthers.
Simone Heinle was again a force defensively with 19 digs followed by Goddard and Sidney Shaffer with 10 each. Rangely finished their regular season with a tough match against the league champions, Paonia, and although they served 96 percent as a team and came alive in game two, they fell in three sets Saturday.
The Panthers faced Meeker for the third time this season on Tuesday night in the first round of the district playoffs in Meeker, where their season came to an end after losing the match in three games.
“The season didn’t end quite like we wanted, congrats to Meeker they played well,” Coach Mergelman said. “We are back to the drawing board and look forward to a lot of hard work in the off season. Although we are young team, my three seniors and their leadership will be missed.”