KALONA

The battle was dramatic.

When Highland’s volleyball team swept Hillcrest Academy in a Southeast Iowa Super Conference match Sept. 28, the sweep didn’t come easily.

The Huskies and Ravens were tied 23-23 in the first set and 25-25 in the second set.

Highland won the last two points of the first set for a 25-23 win and then scored two consecutive points in the second set for a 27-25 win.

“Decision making at the net has been kind of our fatal flaw in tight matches,” Hillcrest coach Brandon Statler said. “Little bit of trusting each other.”

The Huskies scored a 25-20 win in the third set to complete the sweep with senior Lorelei Lueck ending the match on her team-high 10th kill.

Adeline Krotz, a junior, added 7 kills and Grace Prybil had a team-high 13 assists and 4 service aces. Senior teammate Madison Beeson had a match-high 22 defensive digs.

The sweep was the second in a row for the Huskies, but head coach Shannon Copeman sees much more in her team.

“They’re not playing to their potential yet at all,” Copeman said.

“My expectations for them are so high,” Copeman said. “They’re a great group of girls.”

Juniors Malia Yoder and Kylee Statler each had 12 kills for the Ravens (6-11). Claire Withrow, a sophomore, had a match-high 29 assists and a team-high 14 digs.

“We’re still young,” Brandon Statler said. “We haven’t had a senior in over two years. We get everybody back (in 2024). It is light years better than a year ago. We’ve got to keep grinding and make those same strides.”