MINERSVILLE - It wasn't a good start for the Panther Valley's girls' volleyball team on Tuesday evening in Thomas F. Fitzpatrick Gymnasium.

But the Panthers could probably be forgiven since it was a stage no one on the current squad had ever experienced before.Making their first Schuylkill League playoff appearance since 2011, The Panthers roared back from a first set loss to defeat Halifax, 20-25, 25-19, 27-25, 25-23.The Lady Panthers seemed hesitant at times early in the match, before shaking off the jitters and tossing Halifax to the side to reach the Schuylkill Girls' Volleyball League championship Thursday against Blue Mountain at Martz Hall at 7 p.m. The Lady Blue Eagles defeated Marian in five sets in the opening game of a doubleheader."I think we were more nervous and wanted to play really well," said Panther Valley's Emilee Kwaak, a key player in the win with six kills and four aces.Panther Valley had to contend with the rangy and tall Maniya Erdman, who spurred the Wildcats' attack in the opening set with teammate Brianna Turner. "You can't teach height," said Panther Valley's highly successful coach Nancy Filer. "They both gave us trouble."With Kwaak trying to pump up the Panthers' juices with three aces, and Richelle Filer adding a pair of kills, Panther Valley led 16-13 in the opening set. But that's when Halifax came to life, as Erdman and Turner combined for eight points in the set, including four late points in the 25-20 Halifax win.The Panthers responded with a 25-19 second set victory.The third set turned into a race to the finish line. The set was tight throughout as the lead swung back and forth several times. The Wildcats were on the brink of victory as they grinded out a 24-21 lead on back-to-back kills from Erdman and Turner.But the Panthers put together their most crucial stretch of the match as they battled behind a pair of return errors and a carry call to tie the score at 24-24. PV capped the rally by taking advantage of a couple of Halifax errors for a 27-25 victory."I liked the way we kept our poise," said coach Filer about the crucial third set.The fourth set was a repeat of the third as neither team had more than a two-point lead. With the Panthers leading 22-21, Filer picked up two kills to put her team on the verge of advancing.The coup de grace then came on a kill from freshman star Jenna Dubosky as Panther Valley finished off the 25-23 win.THE SPIN ... Christina Dacey had 11 kills and 18 service points for Panther Valley. Sydney Clouser registered eight service points and 12 digs, with Danielle Hudicka adding 12 service points and two aces. Sarah and Chloe Markovich and Olivia Dacey also had solid outings for the Panthers.LAST TIME OUT ... Blue Mountain swept Panther Valley by comfortable margins during the regular season.ON A ROLL .. The victory over Halifax was the seventh straight win for PV.