It was only fitting the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva volleyball team won its section opener in five games over No. 3 Kasson-Mantorville Thursday.

The Panthers played more than their fair share of five-game matches during the season, but this time it worked to their advantage winning 18-25, 26-28, 26-24, 28-26, 15-13.

&8220;I told the girls this week that our season record doesn&8217;t mean anything anymore nor does our sixth place raking for the playoffs,&8221; NRHEG head coach Nicole Kuhns said. &8220;We talked a lot this week about what we needed to do to win tonight and the girls really wanted this win.&8221;

The Panthers started slow in game one and lost a nail bitter in game two. However, NRHEG would rebound to win the close matches in each of the final three games.

Taylor Wacholz and Paige Schlaak led the Panthers&8217; serving attack, Brittany Hansen added 34 assists and Alysa Braaten pounded K-M with 17 kills.

Jasmine Browuers, Hanson and Gina Quiram played excellent defense accounting for 80 digs between them.

&8220;Kasson is a very good team,&8221; Kuhns said. &8220;They passed the ball extremely well and covered the court well too. We did exactly what we needed to do tonight. We communicated, serve received, hustled and served very well tonight.&8221;