By Robert Edmonds — Daily Sports Correspondent

FRONT ROYAL — Warren County knew that it would have its hands full when it hosted Rappahannock County on Friday night. The Panthers are coming off back-to-back Group AA state semifinal appearances, but this year they have some new faces, with four sophomores in the starting lineup.

Struggling against Rappahannock over the past couple of years, the Wildcats hoped for a different outcome this time around. Although they took the first two games of the match, Warren County could not withstand the mighty power of Rappahannock as the Panthers came from behind to pull out a 3-2 (22-25, 28-30, 25-20, 25-18, 15-5) nondistrict victory.

Warren County started the first game ferociously, reeling off the first nine points behind the serve of Paige Partlowe. The Wildcats showed great teamwork as they rattled the Panthers early on. Pulling to within two points at 24-22, the Panthers couldn't manage to hold on any longer giving the Wildcats the first game.

In the second game, the Panthers continued to show the poise and resilience that they portrayed in the first after the early deficit. The Wildcats again led early, but this time they could not shake the pesky Panthers as they traded point for point. After two controversial line calls that kept the Panthers from taking the game, the Wildcats claimed victory on the sixth game-point attempt.

"We are a very young team," Panthers coach Scott Wilde said. "We weren't playing very well in the first set. We came out slow, but traditionally we do that. It was great to force an overtime in that second game. The girls came back and fought hard."

After falling behind 2-0, most teams would find victory to be all but unachievable, but not the Panthers. In the third and fourth games they continued to fight, scrap, and claw for each and every point. Playing together as a unit, the Panthers took both games to even the match at 2-2 and force a fifth and decisive game.

"After the second set, senior Emily Carter asked me if she could take a huddle with the girls," Wilde said. "I let her do that. She took the lead and the girls followed and didn't quit. The serving kept us in the game the third and fourth set. They were knocking the lights out."

Warren County was forced to substitute in the fourth game after Taylor Walton had to have her ankle taped after suffering an injury, and the Wildcats seemed to lose their composure. In the final game Rappahannock rolled, scoring the first seven points of the game en route to a 15-5 victory.

After a tough loss and their second at home to start the season, Warren County coach Cathy Brill stayed positive about her teams' performance.

"The girls played very good for four games," Brill said. "They played well at the net and it was good to see us improve each match. I think we improved today as a team and I am very proud that the girls did not give up."

Megan Williams finished the game with 20 digs and teammate Katie Robinson had 14 assists. Walton added 11 kills for Warren.