Husky volleyball starts season with IGHSAU scrimmage

After giving local fans their first look at the team in Friday’s fall sports kickoff, the Highland volleyball team took on an outside opponent for the first time under co-head coaches April Stumpf and Kelsey Black at an IGHSAU officials’ scrimmage in Wayland on Monday.

The Huskies took on WACO, Central Lee and Keokuk in three unscored matches that lasted 35 minutes apiece.

Highland looked strong at the service line, tallying multiple long runs and racking up aces, building a strong foundation for an offense that looked efficient when it stayed in-system.

“They really focus on their toss and their target when they step up to serve,” Stumpf said. “That’s what we focus on every day in practice, our motto is that we don’t want to give away free points. Serving is a huge part of that.”

Defensively, there are some wrinkles the Huskies will need to iron out ahead of next week’s regular season opener. Highland gave up as many long service runs as it scored, struggling in serve receive. Stumpf hopes that seeing several different styles and paces of serve on Monday will prepare the team for the rest of the fall.

“Obviousy, moving feet to the ball and reading the server, those are things we’ll continue to work on.”

Highland ran a 6-2 system, cycling through multiple setters throughout the evening. Junior outside hitter Ava Sexton, the team’s returning kills leader, described the process of building chemistry with so many setters.

“We have a lot of setters and a lot of rotations that are different, but since we’ve known each other so long and we’re all in the same group, it’s a lot easier to make those connections.”

Sexton went on to say she was happy with the new coaching regime and was optimistic for the upcoming season.

“I think it’s going really well,” Sexton said. “I like how they direct practice and everything, and it’s gone well for the quick turn of events.”

While Monday’s scrimmage was an opportunity for the Huskies, Warriors, Hawks and Chiefs to get on the court, it was primarily designed to give referees an opportunity to see live action and get real-time feedback ahead of the regular season.

Players and officials alike had to learn new skills and shake off rust, as for every serve that went long, there was an errant whistle, a missed lift or a late signal. According to IGHSAU observer and clinician Chris Armstrong, providing a learning environment to make those mistakes before real wins and losses were on the line while receiving real-time instruction was exactly what the scrimmage was designed for.

“It’s like anything else, we can talk about how to do something, but until we actually do it, we don’t really know where we’re at,” Armstrong said. “This gives [officials] an opportunity to get feedback right now, which is extra beneficial.”

Highland’s regular-season opener is scheduled for next Monday, August 24, when the Huskies will take on English Valleys and Hillcrest Academy at a tournament in Keota.