LIGONIER - If NorthWood had any thoughts that a sectional title would be easy, they are gone now.

There won't be any free rides. Teams aren't going to just lie down and let the No. 8 Panthers' volleyball team stroll to the West Noble Sectional Championship.

NorthWood definitely knows that now.

The Panthers fought off jitters and eventually Lakeland (19-10) Thursday 15-12, 15-2 in the first round of the Class 3A sectional.

"We really weren't prepared and ready to play," NorthWood coach Peg Bough said. "I didn't say much to the girls before the game. I thought the girls needed to see for themselves.

"I talked this week about teams ready to beat NorthWood," she said. "That is what they want, and I don't think the girls really understood how bad the other teams really want to do that. They just weren't ready for what Lakeland had for us as far as their excitement, and we had some jitters."

Before the Panthers really even knew what hit them, the Lakers had jumped out to a 5-0 lead. The smaller Lakers managed to keep the pressure on NorthWood and still led 10-7 before Jamie Gill got a couple of aces and Amy Zercher slammed home a kill for a 10-10 tie.

Trailing 12-11, NorthWood forged its first lead of the game at 13-12 and closed the game out when Zercher aced the Lakers, and then came up with a block at the net for the final two points.

"This was probably the best game Amy Zercher has played," Bough said. "She just took over. She is very competitive. As she got going, some of the others realized it."

The first-game rally by the Panthers, as is usually the case, deflated the underdog Lakers in the second game as NorthWood ran out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back in winning 15-2.

The taller Panthers start to flex their muscle at the net and dominate Lakeland as they probably should have done in the first game.

"We just needed some time under our belts, and for them to see that we needed to come out and execute and put them away," Bough said. "I was cool, and I was waiting. I felt they just needed some time to realize what they needed to do.

"We just need to work through it. I saw more of the team I know can play in the second game," she said. "None of them (matches) will be easy when you get to this point. You have got to play your game every one."

When NorthWood began to pull things together at the end of the first game, it took away Lakeland's two best weapons, enthusiasm and confidence.

"That is what we try to do," Bough said. "I tell them to try to wear them down."

NorthWood (27-4) advances to the the second round of the sectional Saturday at 12:30 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]