Returning home to host one of the top teams in the region, the Tompkins Cortland Community College volleyball team came up on the losing end of a straight set decision Saturday, falling to Monroe Community College by scores of 25-16, 25-15, 25-21. The Panthers are now 1-3 while Monroe, the #3-ranked team in the latest Region 3 Coaches' Poll, is 3-0.

The morning started well for the Panthers, with the home team jumping out to a 7-1 lead in the first set. Monroe responded, using a 13-4 run to take the lead and then a 10-3 run to lose out the set. The second set against saw the Panthers hold an early lead, 7-5, before Monroe ran off 10 straight. The Tribunes never relinquished the lead, finishing with the 10-point win.

The third was the only set that the Panthers never led, but it was the tightest of the day. Monroe scored five of the first six points, and slowly stretched the lead to as many as nine at 19-10. After a timeout, the Panthers broke the Monroe serve and then rattled off five straight service points to pull within three at 19-16. After a Monroe timeout, the Tribunes ended the rally and got the lead back to four points. Trailing 22-18, the Panthers made a final push to get within two, but couldn't make it all the way back.

Arianna Manwaring (Tioga/Tioga Central H.S.) had a solid day for the Panthers, finishing with a team-best 9 kills and 2 blocks. Adrianna Royce (Newfield/Newfield H.S.) had 8 digs, 7 assists, 2 aces, and 2 kills; Madison Kelly (Moravia/Moravia H.S.) had 6 kills, 3 digs, 2 blocks, and 2 aces; Ashley Hoyte (Dryden/Dryden H.S.) had 8 digs and 3 assists; Hope Comfort (Cortland/Homer H.S.) had 7 digs, 2 kills, and 2 assists; and Leah Williams (Newark Valley/Newark Valley H.S.) had 7 digs.

Looking ahead

The Panthers are back on the road Thursday, traveling to Erie Community College.