By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— The Pelham High School volleyball team is 5-3 after hosting its first home tournament Aug. 27 and participating in the Mayor’s Cup tournament in Montgomery Aug. 28.

At home, the lady Panthers hosted Vestavia and Hillcrest. Pelham lost to the 7A Rebels 1-2 with scores consisting of 25-14, 22-25 and 3-15. Erin Hines led the team with six kills, Jordan Allison led with seven digs and Georgia Stonicher led with two aces.

Pelham won 2-0 again Hillcrest with scores of 25-22 and 24-26. Leaders in that game were Emorie Long with six kills and Allison with 14 digs. Josie Harwood, Hines and Sarah Sudd all had two aces.

Pelham defeated Faith Academy in the Mayors Cup tournament 2-1 with two scores of 25-20.  The Panthers also defeated Montgomery Catholic 25-15 and 25-9, Prattville 25-23, 24-26 and 15-7 and UMS Wright 25-21 and 25-13.

Pelham lost to Providence 15-25 and 22-25, and to Addison 25-27 and 21-25.

Leaders at the tournament were Hines with 23 kills, 19 digs and nine aces, Harwood with 23 kills, four digs, three blocks and two aces, Allison with 35 digs and seven aces and Georgia Stonicher with 96 assists, 15 digs and six aces.

Head coach Perry Robinson said he’s pleased with where the team is, and they just have more work to do. They are still trying out different positions and getting players to the right place. He said the team got better every time they played, and they just have to get used to playing more than practicing at this point.

“I thought we started off well,” Robinson said. “We are still trying to find the pieces, and we aren’t the final product yet.”