HONEOYE FALLS — The Geneva girls volleyball team showed a lot of heart — and not just on Tuesday night, when the Panthers’ season ended in the Section V Class B quarterfinals.

While Geneva could not slow down No. 1-seeded Honeoye Falls-Lima in a three-set defeat, it showed the same level of determination it had throughout the 2019 season.

“I am really proud of them. They did awesome,” Geneva head coach Sarah Young said. “I have a very young team, and I think they are capable of a lot. We beat teams we never thought we would beat. They battled.”

Both teams started Tuesday’s match full of energy. Geneva (11-8) hung with HF-L (16-2) for the majority of the first set as Panthers freshman Doly DeJesus distinguished herself as the best player on the court for either team. It was 10-10 at one point in the opening set.

The Cougars began to settle down and play their game. With five players taller than any Geneva athlete, combined with experience, HF-L began to pull away in the first set as they went on a 10-3 run. Young called for a timeout, but the damage had been done as the Cougars secured a 25-17 victory.

Like an animal smelling blood in the water, the Cougars took their first-set momentum into the second.

“We battled against a team with a lot of seniors, and they were out for blood,” Young said. “It was tough, but they battled really well.”

HF-L stormed off to a 7-1 lead in the second set. However, behind DeJesus’ serving and sophomore setter Maria Silva’s digging, the Panthers battled back to within 10-7 deficit. HF-L responded with 10 straight points, effectively sinking any opportunity for a Panthers comeback. The Cougars took the second set 25-10.

Some questionable net calls against Geneva seemed to deflate the visitors further early in the third set, and HF-L continued to dominate with its size, power, placement and consistency. DeJesus continued to hammer the ball with authority and showcase her talent, but HF-L as a whole, replete with coordinated attacks and blocks, was more than the Panthers could handle.

The senior-heavy Cougars, who are aiming for a finals rematch against reigning champion Wayne Central, closed out the match with a 25-11 triumph.

After consoling her team, Young relayed how motivated she was by how well her young team performed in 2019.

“I’m really excited (for next season),” she said. “My setter is a sophomore, my outside hitter is a freshman, my other outside is a freshman, and then I have really good sophomores coming up as well. I think they will be capable of a lot come next year.”