CHOCOWINITY — Tuesday’s Eastern Plains Conference matchup between two rivals featured a pair of local volleyball teams headed in completely different directions.

On the north side of the county, the Panthers, led by their elite core of heavy hitters, entered boasting a four-match win streak, dropping just three games since being blown out in the conference opener at Pamlico County. Head coach Kayla Maddox has her team playing as one, communicating well and moving the ball efficiently around the net.

As for the south side, the Seahawks are in the midst of a troublesome 10-match losing streak carrying over to last season. Head coach Rosalyn Grimes has tired everything to build team chemistry, including rotating different junior varsity players to the varsity lineup weekly, but so far nothing has clicked. The team has won just one game this season, thus far.

While respecting a matchup that has traditionally always been competitive, Maddox mixed and matched rotations to test new combinations and give her star players rest, as the Panthers trounced the Seahawks in Chocowinity, 3-0.

“What I try to do is give my stronger players a break, so when we get into those clincher games, where I need them to perform, they’re ready,” Maddox said. “They’ve got the energy and the drive to get it done.”

That energy wasn’t quite there out of the gate for Northside, as Southside came out fired up to start the first game. Freshman Symone Ruffin and sophomore Andrea Waters competently moved the ball, creating opportunities for their teammates. The Seahawks led 13-11, but Northside quickly began to chip away. Driven by a few mishits by Grimes’ setters and a pair of aces from Sara Rhem and Tiffany Oliver, the Panthers’ put up eight-straight points en route to a 25-16 win in the first game.

With sophomore Rachel Lang serving, Northside won the first 10 points of the second game. Senior Alex Adams notched a pair of kills and Lang a pair of aces during that stretch. Southside’s newly recalled junior varsity players were able to put a few points on the board, but the Panthers powered their way to a 25-8 win in Game 2.

It was a similar story in the third game, as Adams and Lang began to put points on the board with ease. Lang picked up a pair of aces, Adams recorded three kills and a block and Kendall Alligood notched an ace. The Panthers locked up the match with a decisive 25-10 win in the third.

Maddox sees her team’s overall play improving with each win. Even taking those who may not standout in the final box score into consideration, Maddox says each player is making a significant contribution to the team’s recent success.

“I don’t want to count our chickens, but I believe we can be a contender for first place in the conference,” she said. “If not, I think we can win that first or second round playoff game.

“It was a team effort tonight. The one player who I’ve seen consistently give me a lot, a sophomore on the varsity team, is Madison Tetterton. She’s been our ace in the hole.”

Northside will have its biggest challenge of the season when it travels to Washington Monday evening to take on the Pam Pack, while Southside seeks win No. 1 against a tough East Carteret squad on Thursday.