BY JACK WALKER

SPECIAL TO THE HERALD DEMOCRAT

The Van Alstyne Lady Panthers (32-9) will make their first volleyball playoff appearance since 2003 tonight as they take on the Argyle Lady Eagles in a 7 p.m. Class 3A Region II bi-district match at Lovejoy High School.

Argyle (25-11) finished second in District 9-3A, losing only to Prosper in league play. It comes into the contest ranked 14th in the state by the Texas Girls Coaches Association.

The 25th-ranked Lady Panthers earned their playoff berth with an impressive sweep of Paris North Lamar in a play-in game last Friday to finish third in District 10-3A.

Led by their senior outside hitter Emily Gentle, a University of Texas at Arlington signee, Van Alstyne posted 25-19 and 25-15 wins in the first two sets and was never threatened. North Lamar took an 11-point lead in the third set before Van Alstyne came roaring back to complete the sweep with a 25-19 win. Gentle had 17 kills and sophomore Sam Hutchison knocked in the game winners in the second and third sets.