WARRENSBURG, Mo.-  A short-handed Drury team fell in their 2018 season opener at 22nd ranked Central Missouri 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-18) on Thursday in Warrensburg, Missouri. The match opened play in Peggy Martin Challenge hosted by the University of Central Missouri. Drury will play three more times this weekend.
 
The Panthers were without senior Sarah Kite, an All-GLVC performer who led the team in kills last year, Faith Alwardt, their leader in blocks last season, and outside hitter Abby Welther, who saw significant playing time as a freshman in 2017.
 
Drury still managed to jump out to a 5-2 lead to start the match, but Central Missouri pulled away from the Panthers late in the set to win 25-21. The Jennies used a 10-2 run in the second set to go from a 9-8 lead to a 19-10 advantage and took a 2-0 lead winning the second set 25-18. UCM built a 10-4 lead in the third and closed out the match winning the final set 25-18.
 
Senior Bentley Mara led the Panthers with 12 kills and the Harrison, Arkansas native added three blocks. Kendra Sater had 29 assists while Bree Schmidt recorded 18 digs.
 
The Panthers committed 27 attack errors for a .065 hitting percentage while Central Missouri posted a .250 hitting percentage, had just 10 attack errors and managed 10 blocks.
 
The match was the season-opening game for both teams. 
 
Drury returns to play on Friday morning in day two of the Peggy Martin Challenge in Warrensburg. The Panthers take on Missouri Southern State at 9 a.m. followed by a 3 p.m. match against fourth-ranked Florida Southern.
 
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