Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.

Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.

<p>Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.</p>

Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.

<p>Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.</p>

Mid-Carolina varsity volleyball team in an early season home game against Batesburg-Leesville.

PROSPERITY, S.C. — Mid-Carolina(4-3-1) is off to a strong start in the 2024 season. They opened up with two consecutive home games against Batesburg-Leesville on August 22 and Pelion on August 27.

The lady Rebels defeated the Panthers in three straight sets in their home opener after tying with them in the Pelion Invitational tournament in which Mid-Carolina finished second.

They easily won the first set by the score of 25-16. The home team faced some adversity in the second set after the Panthers stormed back. The lady Rebels were still able to squeeze out a narrow win in the second set by the score of 25-22 behind some great defensive stops.

The Rebels got off to a good start in the third set and went up by the score of 7-1. The visitors regrouped and were able to hang around before Mid-Carolina pulled away late in the set to sweep them. It was their first win at home this season and good test for the young Rebels team. They are led by seniors Callie Wilbanks and Addie Bowers but are playing a lot of young players, including an eighth grader.

“We are actually starting two freshmen and an eighth grader this season. Our center who is a junior, has a torn ligament. We are hoping she makes it back this season but we have our eighth grader Elle Harris filling in and she is doing an awesome, awesome job. We also have four seniors that are playing well and I made all of them captains because they are awesome people. I am just super excited about this season,” said Rebels head coach Michael Hansen.

Mid-Carolina fell short against Pelion in their second of two games in less than a week apart. They lost by a score of 3-1 in four sets.

The lady Panthers of Pelion easily took the first set by a score of 25-14. The lady Rebels returned the favor by dominating in the second set to win 25-17.

Both teams battled in the third and fourth sets, but the visitors found a way to pull away late in both sets to get wins to close out the match. The Rebels will have their chance to get revenge when they travel to Pelion on Sept. 12 for the second matchup of the season between the two squads.

“We set our goals already this season. We want to win region, have a home playoffs game and we kind of go from there. You need tough games like this to prepare for tougher teams down the road. If this group play like they can play then we will do it and have a great season,” said Hansen.

Mid-Carolina will play Batesburg-Leesville for the third time this season on August 29 and have a few days off before their rivals Newberry comes to visit them at home on Sept. 3rd.

Reach Greg Hollis @ 803-768-3117 or on X @TheNBOnews