For the second straight night, Panther Valley found itself trailing 2-0 and on the brink of losing a match.

But for the second straight night, the Panthers battled back to force a fifth and deciding game, and this time they were able to come away with a victory.

After losing a tough match, 3-2 against Pottsville on Monday, the Panthers pulled of an impressive come-from-behind win Tuesday over Jim Thorpe, 3-2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 17-15).

Early on, it was all Olympians. Thorpe used great passing from the back row - led by Abbey McGinley - to set up prime offensive opportunities, and it executed.

The Olympians pulled away in the first after a holding a one-point advantage (10-9), stretching their lead to as much as six (17-11) midway through the game.

Brandy Montemuro was the offensive catalyst early for JT, collecting four kills as the Olympians were able to keep their point cushion to cruise to a four-point opening game win.

In the second, it was much of the same for Thorpe, which was in sync. With the scored knotted at 11, the Olympians went on a 9-0 run. Kristin Pompa was big for Thorpe in the frame, coming through with four kills.

“Our communication early was really good, and the girls did a nice job of moving the ball on the attack and mixing it up,” said Jim Thorpe head coach Will Ramey. “We really were able to place the ball where we wanted, and on target in those first two games.

“This was a great match, it was back and forth, and Panther Valley was able to keep their composure and then come back. They did a much better job of getting the ball up and getting the ball to their hitters later in the match.”

Passing was the issue early on for the Panthers, which they corrected in the third and fourth game to tie the match.

Alexis Cooper’s 45 digs on the night proved pivotal late in the contest, which helped set up Panther Valley hitters Erika Dubosky and Natalie White.

Dubosky tallied 15 kills between the third and fourth game, helping the Panthers edge Thorpe 25-23 consecutively. The Panthers still played from behind in both games, as they battled back from a 4-1 and 4-0 deficit to stay alive.

“We did a much better job of playing together and getting the ball to our setters, so we could set up our hitters and attack after those first two games,” said Dubosky. “The key for us was to keep swinging down at the line. We definitely wanted to keep the ball away from their libero, so we saw some openings on the line, and we were able to execute.”

The fifth and final game proved to be like much of the match - a back-and-forth battle - where it looked like the Olympians were certain to come out on top. Thorpe held a 14-11 lead, needing just one more point to close it out, but the Panthers stormed back to tie the game and in doing so, stole the Olympians’ momentum and the match. A kill by White from the right side closed out the comeback victory for Panther Valley.

“In the first two sets, I thought we were going through the motions,” said Panther Valley head coach Emilie Baker. “That seems to be our thing right now for some reason, we lose the first two and then we kick it into gear.

“These girls have a great attitude; a never-say-die attitude. We’re never going to be a team that just rolls over, even when we’re down. This group is a bunch of fighters.”

FEED HER … When the Panthers were able to solidify their passing later in the match, Dubosky took over, and Thorpe didn’t have an answer. Dubosky finished with 29 kills, while her counterpart White finished with 10.

ALWAYS THERE ABBEY … Libero Abbey McGinley put on a show in the back row against the Panthers, coming away with an astounding 74 digs and even added 13 assists. Carsen Rosenberger was impressive in the back row as well with 35 digs.

LEADERS … Pompa led the way for Thorpe with 13 kills, with Autumn Snyder and Montemuro adding 11.