Highlands volleyball seeks more improvement

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands junior middle hitter Jessica Ginter (red shirt) and teammates get set in a recent practice. The Bluebirds hope to improve on last year's 13-23 record and 36th District championship.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team tasted some postseason success last year.

Now they hope to take some next steps in becoming a 9th Region contender. The Bluebirds captured their first district championship since 2004 and ended a 15-match losing streak to the rival Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds in the District 36 title game last year. The Bluebirds last made the state tournament winning the 10th Region in 2004.

That followed with a 3-0 loss to Cooper in the 9th Region quarterfinals to finish the year 13-23. Despite that record that included a 13-match losing streak, Highlands did improve its win total by five from 2011.

The Bluebirds graduated five seniors from that team in Katie Van Curen, Brooke Hamilton, Sarah Schweitzer, Sydney Lindeman and Lauren Tallon. Frances Tracy decided not to return this year as well.

But Highlands does return its top setter in junior Kaitlin Hall and top hitter in junior Jessica Ginter. The two returning seniors are opposite hitter/defensive specialist Abby Schweitzer and outside hitter Mallory Seidel.

“We’re trying to come out strong. We’re trying to be the best role models we can for the team,” Seidel said of senior leadership. “It will be tough this year because we are young. But we have a lot of talent coming up so I think we’ll do well. It will be fun.”

Fifth-year head coach Whitney Mulroney and staff know the best teams in the 9th Region like Notre Dame, St. Henry and Ryle play volleyball year-round. Mulroney said 21 of the 24 players on all three squads have played club volleyball in the offseason.

“This is the first time I have had so many girls play club volleyball,” Mulroney said. “They are all out there in the offseason touching a volleyball and getting better. I think this has a little to do with how close they are as a team, but mainly it is because they all love the game of volleyball, are proud to be a Bluebird, and all have the same goal in mind: to improve every day and win Districts.”

Ginter, Hall, Schweitzer and Seidel are the lone returning players with varsity experience. That leaves seven players without varsity experience.

“We are working very hard on being a team and playing together,” Ginter said. “It’s about trusting each other. We should be piecing it together.”

Despite the youth, the Bluebirds hope to be more consistent this year. Mulroney said that comes down to repetition.

“Muscle memory is huge in the sport of volleyball,” Mulroney said. “Yes, a player needs strength, endurance, speed, and smarts to play volleyball, but muscle memory is the key. If we hit it hard at practice on the things that we aren't consistent in, eventually things will fall into place.”

Mulroney said the team is focusing like crazy on defense this year. Solid defense such as blocking and digging usually separates the good teams from the great teams.

The other two junior players are opposite hitters in Anna Marie Houliston and Lauren Maines. Houliston will also be a middle blocker in Highlands’ 5-1 set.

Five sophomores are hoping to contribute this year. They are leftside hitter/defensive specialist AJ Guth, outside hitter Izzy Schultz, defensive specialist Sydney Kroger, setter/defensive specialist Ellie Van Curen and middle blocker Kaylan Frisch.

Highlands opens the season on Aug. 20 at home against Simon Kenton. Game time is 7:30 p.m.