Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Lindsey Cope stays steady while digging against Canton Sept. 20.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Kai Hudson of Mabank goes up high for a quick kill past Canton.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
With all eyes on her, Mabank’s Madisyn Roberts digs against Canton.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Lady Panther Madison Kilgore makes a big hit versus Canton.

MABANK–The Mabank Lady Panthers volleyball team was defeated by the Canton Lady Eagles Sept. 20 in a straight-set district setback.
In the first set, Mabank’s Kai Hudson tied things at 3 with a kill. The Lady Panthers galloped to a 7-3 lead, capped by a Canton double touch, after which the Lady Eagles halted play. The set stood at 9-5 in Mabank’s favor as Kendal Woods made a kill, then Lady Panther Madisyn Roberts scored a point for a 10-5 advantage.
After a Hudson block accounted for a 13-6 Mabank margin, Canton regrouped and cut the set to 13-11, making Mabank stop play. Canton knotted the set at 14 and later pulled ahead by two points. A swift Hudson kill put Mabank within one point at 20-19, then a Khilyn Wilkinson ace allowed Mabank to lead 21-20. Canton surged back in front and won the first set, 25-23.
After Canton took a second-set lead, Mabank tied the set with a Lindsey Cope ace and tied it again at 5 on a Kalli Smith kill. Another Smith kill pushed Mabank in front, 7-6. But Canton eventually led 13-7, and that’s when Mabank started a comeback.
Three-straight Mabank points had it at 20-13, Canton, and Mabank later crept within 23-16 and 24-17. However, a Canton kill ended the second set in the Lady Eagles’ favor, 25-17.
Canton led 3-0 in the third set. Cope’s ace allowed Mabank to be within 3-2, then Canton went on a 5-1 run for an 8-3 advantage. Smith’s kill cut the Canton lead to 8-4, but Canton continued to keep a comfortable cushion throughout the third set until a Wilkinson ace had Mabank closer at 12-9.
Canton took charge again, leading by as many as 8 points four different times (and 9 points twice) until finishing off the set over the Lady Panthers, 25-18, as well as a 3-0 match victory.