MOSES LAKE - The Wenatchee Panthers made quick work out of the Moses Lake High School Lady Chiefs last night in Big 9 volleyball action.

The visiting team took the match in three sets (25-17, 26-24, 25-20).

Moses Lake got out to a 5-2 lead in the first game, but the Lady Panthers came roaring back with a 16-9 run and looked like they were going to sprint to the finish, but the home team fought back to close the gap to 23-17. But it wasn't enough to pull out the set.

The second game of the match saw Wenatchee go up 7-1 before Moses Lake hustled its way back in contention to tie the score 13-13 and eventually take a 24-20 lead. The Chiefs were knocking on victories door, needing one point to seal the deal, but the Panthers, refusing to lay down, pulled out an exciting 26-24 win.

The third game of the match was every bit as much of a nail-biter as the previous two as Wenatchee went up 5-3 early, but Moses Lake hung tough and fought back to take the lead 7-6. The Lady Panthers, not to be out done, went on an 12-6 run and never looked back, taking the set 25-20.

"I thought we had them in the second game, but we just couldn't put them away" coach Amy Utter said. "They have a quality program, but we need to learn how to finish it out. We are not winning with any consistency right now and that makes it hard to beat a team like Wenatchee away."

Utter said she was happy with the way the team performed, but when the girls have difficulty closing out a close game, doubt begins to creep in and wreck havoc with their mind set.

"It's hard to stay focused when things like that happen," she said. "This is a tough league and there is never an easy win. But we'll work harder in practice and continue to put ourselves in pressure situations so we'll react better and be able to finish."

Sadie Nielsen led the charge for the Chiefs with 11 kills, two solo blocks and seven digs, Taylor Sonnenberg finished with 24 digs and two kills, and setter Kenzie Fancher dished out 24 assists.

"She (Fancher) works extremely hard to put the girls in position to hit the ball, "Utter said. "She is only a junior and this is her third year on the varsity squad. She's not only a good setter, she is a good leader as well."

The Chiefs travel to league leading Chiawana Thursday to take on the Lady Riverhawks. The match is set for 7 p.m.

"They are the top team in the league, but when we show up, we are a formidable opponent," Utter said. "But they (Chiawana) will battle us hard ... it won't be easy for us."