The Pam Pack continued its march toward the postseason by turning in a Senior Night sweep of North Pitt, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19, in a Eastern Plains Conference matchup on Tuesday.
The win was not only a fitting tribute to seniors Megan Corey, Kaylee Jackson and Ann Hunt Tanner, but further cemented Washington’s grip on the No. 2 spot in the conference standings by upping its record to 11-7 (7-2).
“This win definitely solidified a No. 2 finish and guaranteed that we qualified for the state playoffs, so it was a big win for us,” Washington coach Kelly Slade said.
Led by its trio of seniors, Washington, who was minus starting setter Allison Brantley, adjusted accordingly and set the tone with a 25-17 win over the Panthers in the first set.
North Pitt (8-9, 4-5) battled back and forth with Washington, but the duo of hitters Corey and junior Adriana Tyson proved to be too much for the Panthers.
Corey, who filled in at one of the setter positions for Brantley, led the way with 16 kills and eight assists, while Tyson tallied nine kills and four blocks.
Tanner dished out a team-high 14 assists and had one ace and one kill, while Kaylee Jackson added three kills and two blocks.
Though North Pitt threatened, Washington pulled away late in the second set and was able to complete the sweep in similar fashion in the third thanks to a 7-3 run that put the Pack up 19-13.
“It was really exciting to get a Senior Night win,” Tanner said. “We had a new lineup tonight and we all pulled through.”
Corey and Jackson are both three-year seniors, and along with Tanner have helped resurrect a once struggling Pam Pack program.
“It’s a good feeling, but we could not have done it without our teammates,” Jackson said.
“It’s great to be part of the change in the program,” added Corey.
Slade, who’s in her third year with Washington, said the trio has been vital to the Pam Pack’s success.
“The three seniors have been crucial to helping us develop this program,” Slade said. “It’s taken a group effort and these three girls have been with me and supported me and helped me develop this program to where we are.
“They’re leading the practices. They do their jobs as seniors. They are role models on and off the court. If I’m not here or with another player they always take charge and help each other on the court in a positive way. “