Ashton Gerard/MDN Bishop Ryan’s Nora Kramer (3) goes to block Glenburn's Sierra Hansen’s (1) hit Thursday during the District 12 Tournament at Lewis & Clark Berthold High School.

Both the Bishop Ryan Lions and Glenburn Panthers put forth a great effort Thursday at the District 12 Tournament in Berthold. The game was evenly matched, with volleys lasting minutes and saves that held the crowd at every hit.

Yet, in the end, the Lions emerged victorious with a 3-1 victory. Set scores were 25-16, 25-22, 24-26, 25-21.

In the first set, the Panthers were slow to start as the Lions started with a 3-0 lead and quickly increased their lead to 11-3.

“We were off to a slow start,” said Glenburn head coach Donanne Derr. “It’s been kind of traditional this season for us to have to pick it up after the first set or two.”

Last week, the Panthers were able to pick up the heat in the first two sets, something Derr hoped would translate to the game Thursday. Though they fell short in the first set only scoring 16, the Panthers weren’t quite done yet.

The second set was a back-and-forth match, with the teams tied 15-15. The teams were able to get some good volleys going, however the Lions remained ahead during the match.

“It’s always nice to see the girls be able to play, obviously there was good defense on both sides of the court,” Derr said. A few mistakes in the second set put the Panthers down 21-18, though they tied the game up again at 22. With the set in their reach, the Panthers couldn’t shut it down as the Lion’s snagged the second set 25-22.

“We came out and we were ready to play,” said Bishop Ryan head coach Kaycee Grochow. “That was our goal, to come out not slow.”

The Lions were confident in their start against the Panthers, and Grochow said she was proud of how her girls were playing.

“That’s something that we really strive for is that we are always going for every ball, we don’t let anything really hit the floor,” Grochow said.

The determination to chase the ball every time gave the Lions a great start.

Down 2-0, the Panthers weren’t backing down. They came into the third set going up 5-1 in a matter of minutes and held the lead for the first time all game. The Lions were quick to retaliate and pull the score to 9-8 to hold the lead for a short while.

The set went back and forth with teams rapidly seizing the lead from the other. Ultimately, the Panthers were able to pull out the set win at a score of 26-24.

“(The girls) were still confident,” Grochow said after that third set. “They were ready to get back in there and keep playing.”

The Lions hit an individual milestone in the third set, as senior outside hitter McKinlee Harmon reached her 1,000th dig of her career, which is something Grochow and the entire team are proud of.

Neither team was ready to back down in the fourth set. The Panthers came out with two kills right out the gate that sent the Lions scrambling to come back. With the taste of success fresh in their minds, the Panthers led most of the fourth set, going up 16-12 before the Lions were able to come back and tie at 17.

“I think we let ourselves get frustrated a couple times,” said Derr about that last set. “When you get frustrated you tend to go backwards a little bit and pretty soon they get ahead and it’s harder to get back up there.”

The Lions were able to take the lead the rest of the match, though the Panthers were quick on their tails. With some mistakes on the Panthers and quick serves from the Lions, Bishop Ryan came out the set winner 25-21, taking the match victory.

“I’m just really proud of these girls and how far they’ve come,” said Grochow about the overall performance.

Derr said that District 12 is a very tough district and that the Bishop Ryan team has come a long way and become a very strong team. The district being so challenging is making for some really good, exciting games, according to Derr.

“The girls have learned to play together very well. We depend on each other a lot and they’ve really established that team concept,” Derr said after the loss.

Glenburn faces South Prairie at 4 p.m. today in the first loser-out game of the tournament in Berthold. If victorious, the Panthers will play for a regional-qualifying spot.

Bishop Ryan faces in-city rival Our Redeemer’s in the first semifinal game tomorrow.