The Lakers (4-2, 1-0 District 12) won by set scores of 21-25, 25-14, 25-13, 25-11 to issue the Panthers their first loss on the young season (5-1, 0-1 District 12).

Coming into the match, Glenburn was the only undefeated team left in Region 6.

“I knew they were going to come out firing,” DLB head coach Tarra Hysjulien said. “We talked in the locker room about being better prepared to at least keep the game tight through the first 10 (points). Then, we can start to kick in after that.”

The Lakers weren’t able to keep the Panthers in check.

Alex Eisen/MDN Glenburn libero DeAnna Heinze dives to pick up a dig Thursday evening against DLB.

Glenburn started red-hot and raced out to a 10-2 lead in the opening set. DLB did everything in their power to claw back, but the deficit proved to be too much.

“It’s been a problem all season,” Hysjulien said. “We let ourselves get down, and then we have to play from behind.”

The Lakers showed resolve to get within two points at 21-19. However, the Panthers shut the door at 25-21 with a block by senior setter Nadia Post on set point.

“The communication just wavered,” Glenburn head coach Katie Dufner said. “When we aren’t talking, we aren’t as confident as we normally are.”

An ace by DLB junior outside hitter Krysta Berard had the Lakers doubling up the Panthers 12-6 in the second set.

Later, with libero Ava Wille serving, DLB collected multiple points in a row to stretch its advantage out to 19-10. That included a powerful point-blank, putback kill by senior Reese Sys.

DLB took the set 25-14 to even the match.

“I think we learned a lot tonight,” Dufner said. “You don’t learn a lot when you are winning every single game. So, it’s good to see what happens when things aren’t working so we can fix them and change them for the future.”

After a quick 4-1 spurt opened up a 13-8 lead for DLB in the third set, Dufner decided to call a timeout and regroup the troops.

DLB senior outside hitter Zoey Reed had more ammo waiting in her right arm. Reed blasted down kills for five of the Lakers’ last eight points in the frame to give DLB a 25-13 set victory.

“I felt pretty good,” said Reed, who finished with a match-high 12 kills. “Sometimes I get really down on myself. But I just kept telling myself, ‘I got it. I got it.’ I swung harder and jumped higher.”

Reed, still on form, opened the fourth set with another emphatic kill. The Lakers scored the first five points to put all the pressure on the Panthers.

“(Reed) had been dealing with some injury issues early in the season, so she has only played with us the last couple of matches,” Hysjulien said. “She has that excitement factor behind her, and puts electricity in the gym when she goes on those big runs like that.”

Almost a reverse to the first set, DLB went up 10-3. But the Lakers prevented Glenburn from making any sort of rally.

The Panthers went down quietly at 25-11.

McKenna Rolland and Lorelei McIver led Glenburn with nine and seven kills, respectively. Post picked up 14 assists.

“Our passes weren’t great tonight, but (Post) really bettered the ball every single time she got a hold of it,” Dufner said. “Our hitting was off, and we couldn’t really find the court. So, I’d like our setter to get a little recognition even though her stats aren’t going to be there tonight.”

Berard knocked down 11 kills for DLB. Setter Addyson Hughes was reliable as usual with 25 assists, plus added 10 digs and five aces.

“She is just our rock,” Hysjulien said about Hughes. “I don’t think people realize how important it is to be able to fall backward and still push up a perfect outside set. Zoey (Reed) is a great hitter, but she will be the first to tell you she couldn’t do it without Addyson.”

Up next, DLB travels to South Prairie on Tuesday for a 7 p.m. District 12 contest. Glenburn will host Surrey next Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.

Alex Eisen covers Minot State athletics, the Minot Minotauros and high school sports. Follow him on Twitter @AEisen13.