WILMINGTON — It took all of one match into the 2012 varsity girls volleyball season for the Coal City Lady Coalers to have their character and resolve tested.

After winning the first game 25-20, the Lady Coalers let a 23-20 game-two lead slip away, as host Wilmington rallied to win 26-24. Wilmington is, of course, a geographic and Interstate Eight Conference rival of the Lady Coalers — and the team that ended their 2011 season in the regional round.

Coal City reacted to the situation about as well as third-year coach Michael Lanoue could have hoped. The Lady Coalers busted a 4-4 third game open by scoring by scoring 19 of the next 27 points on their way to a 25-15 victory.