RIVERSIDE

The prep volleyball season is barely a week old and the lessons have arrived early for Highland.

Not only are the Huskies adapting to a new coach, but after dropping two of three matches at the season-opening Keota tournament Aug. 22, there were some immediate and identifiable areas of focus in preparation for Thursday's visit from Danville.

"We learned we got tired pretty quickly," first-year Highland Coach Shannon Hills-Copeman said after the Huskies outlasted the Bears in five games in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference crossover match at Highland High School. "We spent some time doing some conditioning this week, doing weights and working out in the mornings. It definitely hit the spot. We don't like to lose. We did what we could to make sure we didn't do that again today."

There were few, if any, signs of fatigue from Highland (2-2) as it battled to a winner-take-all fifth game with Danville for the second year in a row. Much like last season, the Huskies had the chance to close the Bears out in the fourth game, but were pushed to a fifth. Unlike last season, it was Highland who went home happy, 23-25, 25-23, 25-13, 20-25, 15-12.

"I think it was great," Highland senior setter MyLei Smith said. "We have been working in practice about not getting tired and I think that it really helped tonight. You could tell that Danville was starting to get tired."

Smith totaled 18 assists and served up three aces against Danville (0-1), but her biggest contributions to the team might be the senior mentorship her four years of varsity playing experience provides.

"Since I have been around with most of the girls and just the girls in my grade, obviously, it is just easy to take that leadership role and it is nice to work with others," Smith said. "Having somebody else will help with leadership. It is really nice. And I just feel like the girls take constructive criticism well, too."

Having leaders like Smith and junior Sarah Burton are an asset to a new coach like Hills-Copeman, who has three years of coaching experience at the club level prior to this first foray into high school volleyball. 

"My kids are Highland Huskies and my dad was a Highland Husky," Hills-Copeman said. "We have all been Highland Huskies for quite a while now. Nowhere else I would rather be."

Hills-Copeman had no familiarity with the Highland roster before accepting the position, which afforded both coaches and players a clean slate. She has received rave reviews from her players, who appreciate her knowledge of the game and the way she applies it to the talents of the individual through thorough drill work.

"She definitely knows her stuff," said Burton, who led the Huskies with 15 kills and 28 digs against Danville.

"She is very good at holding standards for each and every player and has a lot of faith in us and she motivates us a lot, which is what we need. Overall, she is just awesome."

In addition to Smith and Burton, the Huskies are bolstered by the return of junior setter/right side hitter Grace Prybil and senior middle hitter Jessica Kraus, plus senior outside hitter/setter Adelynn Kleopfer, who last played for Highland in 2020. Highland has also found an impactful varsity newcomer in sophomore middle hitter Adeline Krotz, who is third on the team with 11 kills though four matches.

"That kid is a brick house up at the net," Hills-Copeman said. "She is going to be a force to be reckoned with."

Highland is off until Thursday when it hosts Pekin for an SEISC divisional match. In the meantime, the Huskies should expect a continuation of their early-season preparatory routine.

"We are going to work on some more conditioning," Hills-Copeman said. "Making sure we are not so tired at the end of the third and fourth and fifth match. We will definitely be spending more time in the weight room and on the track and just working together as a team."