The Mathews High School varsity volleyball team suffered a tough loss to the Northumberland Indians in its season opener Tuesday evening.

The match went the maximum five sets, with Northumberland winning the first, 25-20. Mathews won the second and third sets by scores of 25-9 and 25-16, respectively. Northumberland fought back to take the fourth set, 25-19, and the fifth and final set, 15-12, to seal the victory.

 “We need to rise to the occasion at crunch time,” head coach Pat Moughon said. The Lady Devils did not respond well to the pressure of the game. Moughon is assisted this year by her daughter, 2013 MHS alumnus and two-time state champion volleyball player Mackenzie Moughon.

Anne Stewart led the Devils in kills with 15, followed by Belle Massimino with nine, Brittany Mitchem and Mariah Robinson with five each, Madison South with four, and Hallie Duncan with two. Keely Crittenden led in digs with 23, followed by Massimino with 22, South with 13, Mitchem with...