Iowa Falls, Iowa -- The Ellsworth volleyball team survived a rugged start to their 2021 schedule, playing three consecutive teams that were nationally-ranked.  The Panthers were on track to post their first win of the campaign when they took a two-sets-to-one lead against Southeastern CC on Sunday at the Dittmer Gym.  But the visitors came back to square the match at 2-all with a 25-23 set-four win and then outlasted the Panthers, 15-13, in the decisive final set.

The Panthers won their first set of the year, 25-22, to start things off, and after losing the next set, 25-21, moved with one set of getting the victory when they took the next set, 25-20.  However, the BlackHawks scrambled back to take the match.

There were some definite bright spots for ECC statistically.  The Panthers had double-digit kills totals in each of the first four sets on their way to a seaon-high total of 55.  Gabi Damiano led the way with 19 kills and Haley Forge added 14.  Vitoria Kazanovski chipped in 44 assists.  ECC had a whopping 20 services aces, including four apiece by Forge, Damiano, Kazanovski and Katie Winter.  There were 66 digs for Ellsworth with Kaitlyn Baer supplying 15, Forge 14 and Damiano 13.  

The Panthers next go to DMACC to take on the Bears on Tuesday night.