HIGHLAND VOLLEYBALL

Huskies finish strong volleyball season with 17 wins

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 10/27/24

RIVERSIDE

When Highland’s volleyball team fell behind by seven points in the final set of its Class 1A Regional match against North Cedar on October 21, Huskie coach Shannon Hills still …

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HIGHLAND VOLLEYBALL

Huskies finish strong volleyball season with 17 wins

Posted

RIVERSIDE

When Highland’s volleyball team fell behind by seven points in the final set of its Class 1A Regional match against North Cedar on October 21, Huskie coach Shannon Hills still believed.

And that spoke loudly for a Huskie team that won 17 matches this season for the first time in eight years.

“I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been there, and we’ve come back and won the game,” Hills said. “Honestly, I wasn’t worried we were going to lose until that ball dropped.”

And that’s precisely when the tearful emotions started.

That last ball drop ended Highland’s season in a 17-25, 25-22, 22-25, 23-25 loss to North Cedar.

“They definitely worked together as a team,” Hills said. “A lot better than any team that I’ve ever worked with over the years.

“I’m so proud of each of them individually even if the girls were on the court or not on the court.”

Hailey Brun, a sophomore, led the Huskies with 10 kills and 15 digs, and Laney Skelton, a senior, had 22 assists.

Brun had a powerful kill in the midst of a six-point Highland streak that turned a 23-16 deficit into a 23-22 nailbiter. North Cedar scored two of the next three points to end the set and match.

Senior outside hitter Adeline Krotz added 8 kills and a block.

After losing the opening set by a 25-17 score, the Huskies answered with a 25-22 win in the second set.

Lilly Barre, a senior who led the Huskies with 26 digs, had several big saves in the final set to keep points alive for Highland. Barre ranked second in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North with nearly 400 digs.

Katelyn Thomann, a sophomore, and Ava Sexton, a freshman, each had two aces.

Kamryn Fink, another freshman, led Highland with three blocks.

Highland Huskies, volleyball