It looked as if the Northwestern girls' volleyball team was in complete control after taking the opening set against Saucon Valley.

But just as quickly as the Tigers went up 1-0, the Panthers reversed the entire course of the match with one dominant stretch in the next set.

After holding a 22-14 advantage in that second set, the Panthers scored the next 11 points to even the match at a game apiece. That gave the Panthers all of the momentum as they dropped the Tigers in four sets (21-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-22) on Monday night at Saucon Valley High School.

"I just think Saucon Valley got the energy going on their side," Northwestern head coach Amilee Schillinger said. "We just couldn't find the floor on their side."

It all seemed to fall in the Panthers' favor in that critical second set.

The Panthers won three consecutive long volleys late in the set to cut the Tigers' lead to 22-20. After the Panthers went ahead 23-22, two serves from their setter could not be returned over the net.

The Tigers rebounded early in set three by holding an 8-1 advantage. Middle hitter Sarah Malay, who led the Tigers with 11 kills, recorded two kills and two service aces in that stretch.

But the Panthers once again fought back, and after being tied at 16 points, Saucon Valley ended the set on a 9-2 run to take the critical third set.

On two occasions, the Tigers gave up sizeable leads that changed the course of the match. It's been a problem for coach Schillinger's team at points throughout the season.

"This game it seemed to happen a lot," Schillinger said. "We usually have it every now and again with a game or two, but tonight it seemed to happen more often."

Nicole Generose's ace brought the Tigers to with two points at 12-10 midway through the fourth set. The Panthers, meanwhile went on another one of their signature spurts (10 of the next 13 points) to all but end the Tigers' hopes.

Malay, however, blocked a potential game-winning Panthers point to make it 24-21, and a Saucon Valley kill opportunity on the next volley ended up wide to bring the Tigers to within just two points. But that's where the Tigers' 8-2 run came to an end.

"The first game, I was definitely pleased with what they did," Schillinger said. "They worked together as a team. I think in the fourth game they kind of found their niche again, but it was just a little too late to come out on top.

"Those last couple of points kind of did them in.

Last week we had four games, and this is another game that we start off with this week. Not to make no excuses at all, but we haven't had much practice time to fix some of our flaws."

Libero Emily Wentz led the team with 19 digs, outside hitter Sarah Overstrom added six kills and Generose had 25 assists.