LIZTON -- Even though North Putnam was outmatched in their volleyball match with Cascade, the Cougars still gave the Cadets a run for the money in their first round match of the Tri-West Sectional

LIZTON -- Even though North Putnam was outmatched in their volleyball match with Cascade, the Cougars still gave the Cadets a run for the money in their first round match of the Tri-West Sectional.

The Cadets won the match in three games, 25-19, 25-17, 25-19 but they had to work for every point.

The first game was a deadlock between both teams as they exchanged point after point, and the lead. The Cougars finally established a lead toward the end of the match, but were unable to hold the Cadets at bay. The Cadets finally got past the Cougars after 19-all for the win.

In the second game, The Cougars fell to victim to the Cadets' powerful hitting and some not so good passing.

"Our passing really hurt us. They would return the ball to us and we couldn't pass it right to get it back over," NPHS coach Lacey Wooten said.

In game three, the Cougars trailed the Cadets from the beginning, falling to an 8-0 run, but North Putnam was able to battle back. The Cougars took the lead partially through the game, but once again were unable to hold off the Cadets from coming back and lost, 25-19, for the final.

"We were a different team when we played Cascade early this season and we are much better team now than we were then," Wooten said. "If we would have played Cascade like we had been playing for the last couple of weeks we would have won this match.

"Without a doubt, this is the most talented and hard working group of girls that I have ever coached and it was nice to see them, this young of a team, gel together at the end of the season," Wooten said.

Kala McKinney led the Cougars' offense with eight kills and one ace while Jayde Kosobud finished with four kills and Tiffany McMurtry had three for the night. Kayla Green had two kills and Ashley Doyle had one.

The defense was led by McKinney, who had three blocks and four digs for the night. Thornburg, McMurtry, Green and Doyle all had one block each and Kosobud had two blocks for the night.

The Cougars only lose two players to graduation in McKinney and Thornburg.

The Cougars finished the season with a 7-20 record.

At Tri-West

Class 2A Sectional 45

Cascade 25 25 25

North Putnam 19 17 19

North Putnam finished 7-20 for the season.