The Packer volleyball team didn’t walk away with a win on opening night, but it did find some confidence in a four-game loss to Farmington in Packer Gym Tuesday.

The Packers got at least seven kills from four different players and they kept it close as they lost by scores of 25-21, 14-25, 25-19, 25-18.

“We had a couple of new girls out there and we started out pretty strong,” Austin head coach Darica Schneider said. “It’s one of the best first matches I’ve had here at Austin as far as the pace and the competitiveness goes. They all went after it and it’s good to see that spirit.”

The Packers jumped out to a 15-10 lead in the second game as Jessica McCormack came up with couple of early kills to get the ball rolling. Austin put it away down the stretch when Babaye Oja slammed down a kill to make it 21-13 and Ashley Follmuth served an ace to make it 24-13.

The Packers led game three 12-10, but Farmington’s middle hitter Katie Habeck took over from that point.

“Our goal was to keep it away from her on offense and defense,” Schneider said. “It was hard to match up with her size.”

Austin (0-1 overall) led 15-11 in the first game after a kill by Jenny Soiney, but Farmington (2-0 overall) scored 12 straight to take 24-16 lead. Still, the Packers rallied back behind the serving of Follmuth to pull within 24-21. The game ended when Follmuth served it into the net.

Schneider was able to get most of her lineup in the game on Tuesday as she’s looking to see how players react to playing in a game.

“We’re still trying to feel it out and I’d like to try and get everyone in to give them a chance to show me (what they can do),” Schneider said. “Game situations are different than practice and some players do better in games.

Austin stats: Meredith Molhusen, 9 kills; Jenny Soiney, 8 kills, 9 digs; Haley Underwood, 7 kills, 9 digs; Babaye Oja, 7 kills, 2 solo blocks; Jenna Svoboda, 17 assists; Kayla Rodgers, 17 assists; Ashley Follmuth, 12 digs