Top-ranked Starr's Mill's opponents keep dropping like dominoes on the volleyball court.

Starr's Mill swept ninth-ranked Whitewater 25-17, 25-10 and unranked Northgate 25-13, 25-20 in Area 3-AAAA action Tuesday at the Panther Pit in Fayetteville.

The two victories raised Starr's Mill's overall record to 17-1 and area record to 2-0.

Whitewater (11-5, 1-1 region) bounced back following its loss to Starr's Mill by beating Northgate 18-25, 25-20, 25-14.

Alexis Shaffer (six kills), Mary Chaudoin (10 assists), Angela Jubb (two service aces), Hayley Faith (six digs, two service aces), Emily Goorsky (six digs) and Diana Dazey (five digs) led the Lady Panthers over the Wildcats in the opening match.

Almost the same talented group of players carried Starr's Mill in its match against Northgate: Shaffer (eight kills, three service aces), Faith (six kills), Dazey (10 digs) and Chaudoin (15 assists).

Faith, Goorsky, Dazey and Chrissy Kulp were exceptional in leading the Lady Panthers' passing attack in both matches.

Starr's Mill coach Dottie Licciardi praised her team's offensive play.

"I think, offensively, we're a lot stronger than we have been in the past," Licciardi said. "Overall, we're doing a great job on the service line. One of my philosophies is to serve aggressively, which we have been doing.

"Our passing has been really good, too. When our passing is there, we can run a really good offense."

Against Northgate, the Lady Wildcats suffered a letdown and lost the first game. After that, Whitewater came back strong to take the next two games.

Casey Howett had a season-high 24 digs, and Anna Wilson had a season-high 31 assists (both are school records) against Northgate. Charmaine Kehoe and Brittany Woods had nine kills each, and Katie Holland had eight for the victorious Wildcats.

Whitewater coach Ben Thacker was impressed with the way his team came back against Northgate.

"We played a lot better in the second and third games," Thacker said. "Both of these are big matches for us, and it showed a lot of character to come back to beat Northgate."

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