The way things started in Tuesday’s Union County (Lake Butler) at the Newberry volleyball game, it appeared the host Panthers might be in for a long night.

Union County senior outside hitter Indi Knox had seven straight service points, including an ace, as the visiting Tigers built a 7-0 lead in the opening set.

The Panthers regrouped and settled in, but couldn’t create enough separation as Union County swept Newberry 25-13, 25-23, 25-23.

“Ultimately, I just told our girls our own mistakes kind of put us in a hole to begin with and we got a little bit too far behind,” said Newberry assistant coach Miranda Bass. “But once we started playing our game and we were passing the ball and getting off good sets, we were able to attack and keep even with them.”

The early lead extended to double digits at 18-8 on an ace by Knox and the Panthers never got any closer than nine points. Union County scored the final three points of the set for a 25-13 win to start the match.

“Newberry is always a good team, so it’s always good to come in here and get a win,” said Union County coach Tifani Knox. “We really did jump ahead in that first set, and then we just made some mistakes that we shouldn’t have, but we were able to pull it through. A win is a win, but sweeps are always good.”

The Tigers (5-2) took a 10-5 lead in the second set, but a pair of aces by senior right side hitter Abi Clanton helped spark a 7-0 run. Clanton (4 aces) finished the match with 10 service points.

“She typically doesn’t start right side for us, but she started right side and played all the way around consistently the majority of the game tonight,” Bass said. “So doing that, she was a really big asset for us.”

Newberry (5-2) played without its top middle hitter in sophomore Baylee Akers, who was injured against Suwannee (Live Oak) last Saturday and will have an MRI this week.

Bass was also complimentary of junior Taylor Wells, whose block broke a 10-10 tie in the second set and gave the Panthers their first lead of the night at 11-10.

“She’s filled in as our second middle since we lost our first middle, and she had some really key blocks for us tonight that really kept us in the game,” Bass said.

The rest of the second set was back-and-forth, with Union County tying it up at 13-13 on a kill down the left sideline by Knox.

An ace by senior Meadow Moses (7 kills) gave Newberry a 16-15 advantage, but Union County reclaimed the lead at 18-17 on an attack error.

A left side kill by freshman Carly Myers (team-high 12 kills) tied it at 18-all and senior Meadow Moses (7 kills) added a kill for a 19-18 lead.

Following Clanton’s ace to bring Newberry within one at 24-23, Knox’s kill gave the Tigers a 25-23 win and a 2-0 lead.

“She’s (Indi) a really good all-around player,” Knox said. “She’s very consistent. The ball is always going to go over and in whenever Indi’s playing it. She’s solid for us in that area.”

Union County built a quick 5-0 lead in the third set, but once again the Panthers rallied as an ace by senior Olivia Tharp tied it at 10 apiece.

With the game tied at 11, junior Mallory Waugh added a kill and an ace that clipped the net for a 13-11 lead.

“She plays middle and sets for us, which are two very different positions,” Knox said. “And she has really, really stepped up and is making good decisions. She can get a kill whenever we need it, so she did great.”

Once again, Newberry responded with consecutive kills by Myers to bring the Panthers within one at 15-14. She also tied it at 23-all on a kill.

“She has lots of potential,” Bass said. “Being one of our strongest hitters, once she gets a good set, she can really put it down. We’re definitely happy that she’s on our side of the net.”

Senior Jailyn Simmons, who made the Mainstreet All Area small school team last year after leading Union County with 325 kills, 57 aces and 96 blocks, gave the Tigers a 17-16 lead. She also tied it at 18-all and gave the Panthers a 24-23 lead before Knox’s game-winner.

“She (Jailyn) has really stepped up this year,” Knox said. “She’s been a player that we can really rely on whenever we need a kill. We know we can go to her, and she can do that. So, it’s awesome.”

Newberry will travel to Bradford (Starke) at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, while Union County will host Oak Hall School at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“Oak Hall is always tough, so we’re really looking forward to playing them,” Knox said. “I think it should be a pretty even matchup. We’ll see who comes out.”