The Scottie Volleyball team came into Wednesday night's game against the Neosho Panthers with a 17-5 overall record, having won 8 of their last games. Neosho came in with a 15-8 overall record and 4-1 in the conference. Both the Panthers and the Scotties were receiving votes in this week's NJCCC Polls.

The first set was off to a great start with both teams able to put points on the board. The Scotties got a lead after Emily Nelson had a great dig aiding in a kill by Caudle making the score 11-6. Panthers call a timeout after a deep corner line shot by Shailey Caudle at 12-6. Tyrecia Lukes was unstoppable on the front line putting down a big kill to get the Scotties up 16-9. After a couple errors by the Scotties, a timeout was called at 17-14. The Panthers continued to fight back and closed the gap to 20-20. With the Panthers taking lead 20-22, the Scotties called a timeout to get control back. With a kill by Caudle and a solo block by Marianna Falls, Neosho calls a timeout finding themselves behind at 23-22. The Scotties took the 1^st set 25-23 after a few errors by the Panthers.

Caudle started off the second set with a kill for the Scotties but the Panthers were able to find a lead at 3-6. Caudle continued to take control with her offense forcing Neosho to take a timeout at 9-7 with the Scotties in the lead. Lukes utilizes two great sets by Megan Rhule and defends the net helping the Scotties lead 16-10. Rhule gets an ace at a crucial time widening the gap 19-11. Scottie Player of the Week Josie Vitosh finds herself with a great dig and kill pushing the lead to 22-12. With a kill by Falls and Caudle the Scotties took the second set 25-15.

With the third set underway, both teams continued to fight back and forth. At 8-8 Caudle was able to take the lead at 9-8 but the Panther's came right back to find the lead at 9-10. The set continued to go between teams but the Scotties called a timeout after finding themselves behind 16-19. Caudle once again got points on the board for the Scotties, forcing the Panthers to call a timeout at 19-20 and again after finding themselves down 21-20. The set was tied up 22-22 after a couple errors by the Scotties but that did not stop their fight as they brought the score back up to 24-24. The Panthers were able to finish the game 24-26.

With a great block by Falls and a kill by Vitosh early in the fourth set the Scotties gained a small lead of 5-2. The game continued on with the Scotties ahead at 11-6 when the Panthers called a timeout. Polanco and Lukes both took control of the net making the lead larger 15-9. Both teams continued to fight and the Panthers called a timeout at 18-12. Lukes with two kills back to back pushing the lead 22-13. The Scotties fought to the very end and took the fourth and final set 25-14.

Shailey Caudle had an outstanding career high 29 kills, 1 service ace, 1 block assist, and 7 digs. Leslie Polanco found herself with a double-double 13 kills and 20 digs along with 1 solo block. Lukes had 2 blocks, and 15 kills with an impressive .414 hitting percentage. Megan Rhule recorded her 9^th double-double of the season along with career high 54 set-assists and 10 digs. Vitosh, Nelson, and Falls each played well defensively with 16, 13, and 10 digs respectively.

With this win, the Scotties now have a 9 game win streak and better their overall record 18-5. They improved their conference record to 5-2 while taking out a team that was in the poll receiving votes. Highland volleyball travels to Boone, Iowa this weekend to play in the DMACC Invitational against NDSCS and Kirkwood CC on Friday the 7^th and Iowa Central CC and DMACC on Saturday the 8^th.