Enlarge

Assistant Coach Amber McCray sets up the next play with her team.

Panola Fillies started the season with a strong performance at the Tyler tournament.

The Panola Fillies Volleyball team kicked off the season in impressive fashion, finishing the Dana Hatch Invitational at Tyler Junior College with a 3-1 record.

Friday, the Fillies were on fire in their opening game against Laredo Community College, defeating the Palominos 3-0 with scores of 25-18, 25-17 and 25-17. Marcela Alves led the Fillie attack in the season opener with 13 kills and 7 blocks.

Later that day the Fillies dropped a tough battle to the 2010 NJCAA National Runner-Up San Jacinto College in a 5-game thriller: 25-19, 19-25, 21-25, 25-19 and 12-15. Despite the loss, the Fillies saw stand-out performances from Alves and fellow sophomores Josiane Santos and Samantha Peterson, as well as freshman setter Samantha Nieman, and freshman libero Nausheen Merchant.

On Saturday, the Panola Volleyball team rebounded to sweep Coastal Bend College 25-16, 25-16 and 25-11, followed by another 3-0 sweep of Wharton County Junior College to close out the weekend 25-17, 25-19, 25-9.

See more photos from the tournament at the Tyler Tournament Photo Gallery.