ELDON

When the ball finally touched a Danville player’s hands for the last time Saturday and deflected out of bounds, Highland’s volleyball girls screamed in celebration.

The longest day of the season had resulted in three wins at the Cardinal Volleyball Invitational on September 18, including a dramatic three-set victory over conference rival Danville. The Huskies finished off the win with a 16-14 victory in the third set.

“They like to raise their coach’s blood pressure,” Highland head coach Gina Trower said with a laugh after it was over.

The victory was Highland’s first over Danville since 2015 and avenged a five-set loss at Danville earlier this season.

After winning the first set 21-13 and losing the second set 21-17, the Huskies rallied from a two-point deficit to win the final set. Tied at 14-14, the Huskies scored the final two points to win. A five-point run, taking the Huskies from a 7-5 deficit to a 10-7 lead with MyLei Smith at the service line, played a big part in the win.

“The third game, the girls kept on each other on the court, we’re going to fight for it, we’re going to fight for everything, we’re going to be scrappy, we’re going to pick up everything,” Trower said. “Ultimately, that’s what helped us with that one.”

The victory finished off Highland’s winningest volleyball day since 2016, when the Huskies won three matches in a tournament played at Columbus. Highland won three of four matches Saturday at the Cardinal Invitational, beginning the day with a 21-13, 21-13 loss to WACO, then defeating Twin Cedars by scores of 21-17, 21-9; Cardinal by scores of 23-21, 21-11; and Danville by scores of 21-13, 17-21, 16-14.

The Huskies finished second in the tournament. WACO did not lose a set in four matches and won the tournament championship.

“That was satisfying, very satisfying,” Trower said. “I think the biggest game for us today was going to be that Danville game. It was back and forth the first time we saw them, 23 to 25, 25 to 27, back and forth, and back and forth.”

Highland’s win over Danville was the team’s seventh victory of the season, equaling last year’s win total. The Huskies have not won more than seven matches since 2017, creating even more importance for the first round of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference Tournament on Thursday.

Sarah Burton, a sophomore, had eight kills in the win against Twin Cedars. Grace Prybil, a sophomore, and Grace Batcheller, a senior, each had eight assists against Twin Cedars. Senior libero Mackinze Hora had 10 digs.

Ava Smith led Danville with eight kills against Highland.