MOULTRIE – All the talk around William Bryant Court Thursday was the night and day difference in Colquitt County High volleyball from 2017 to now. Coach Ron Fowler acknowledged that the Packers are there, taking teams to three sets. It was a matter, however, of getting into the win column.

On Thursday, it was the opening home match for 2018 – and the first time playing in the high school gym – and the Packers did a best-of-5 varsity match with visiting Mitchell County High. The visitors from Camilla won three straight for the overall win, though Games 2 and 3 were decided by the minimum margin of 25-23. It was a competitive battle with Colquitt showing improved effort, but Fowler’s group couldn’t overcome the errors not unexpected from a second-year program. They also had to contend with a variety of serving techniques from Mitchell, both overhand and underhand.

Mitchell County went up by four points in Game 1 6-2 when scoring plays by Saralyn Nelson and Grace McKee (with a setting assist by Josie Sellars) got Colquitt within one at 7-6. Mitchell earned the sideout hitting an open spot and aced a serve for 10-6.

Ragan Harden, junior and a big part of Packer soccer, checked in when serve switched and notched an immediate ace. She scored one more and saw the Sellars assist to Bella Sellers that tied the game, then Harden aced on a sideline for the first Packer lead at 11-10. Tennis player Sydney Wheeler began establishing herself as a middle hitter making the tie breaking kill at 12-12.

Mitchell regained the two-point edge at 17-15 when Wheeler scored again at the net. She and Madison Montgomery made big digs and passes, but they couldn’t lead to a Colquitt point. The hosts were down 19-17 when McKee keyed a tying rally.

When Mitchell responded with the sideout, an underhanded server entered, and this slow-paced volleyball made it over the net for two aces. Mitchell also hit for two points in the game-ending 6-0 run, 25-19 Eagles.

Games 2 and 3 were filled with action, but the Packers were still in an early hole, 5-2, despite Harden’s ace and Nelson’s set to Wheeler. Mitchell County was sending back so many solid strikes, but Wheeler got one to fall. Bella Sellars also reacted by the edge to score and bring Colquitt within one.

Mitchell responded with another underhanded serving ace. They led by as much as three again with the Packers several times getting it down to one. Wheeler scored her own ace and Harden’s kill was set by Sarah Beth Glass. Wheeler and Adrienne Johnston made super digs in the rally of the match. That point when in Colquitt’s favor, and persistence Wheeler cashed in Nelson’s assist for three points in a row and first Game lead at 11-10.

That pair combined to break an 11-11 tie, and Josie Sellers set Wheeler to achieve a tie 13-all. Colquitt’s best scoring string was five in a row with two Wheeler aces. It was 18-14 Packers, and 20-18 later on Mitchell’s net violation. Tied 20-all, Mitchell County sent one of its harder serves on a line and an ace. Bella Sellers’ one-shot kill (after two shots were returned) tied things 21-21, and Colquitt was leading 23-22 when three rallies in a row went for Mitchell to win 25-23.

Colquitt had more leads in the third set with aces from Harden and McKee through the first 13 rallies. When Harden scored in the middle, it was looking good for a Game win at 12-8. It looked even better when Montgomery’s ace made it 14-9. From Nelson to Wheeler, the Packers were really in good standing 19-12.

Through a series of errors, though, Mitchell scored six straight and then drew back even at 20-20. Despite Wheeler’s long kill at 22-22, Mitchell County again closed out the game (and match) with three in a row.