Highlands Tuesday Sports Round-Up

Losing Streak Continues for Bluebirds

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands Head Coach Katelyn Sallee monitors the action in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team (10-7) could not snap its skid in a 3-1 (25-13, 16-25, 25-19, 25-17) loss at Dixie Heights (11-7).

Highlands and Dixie Heights have met in the region quarterfinals the last three years. The Bluebirds won two of them.

The Bluebirds connected for 42 kills and assists on 118 attempts with 18 errors for a .203 hitting percentage. Highlands also had nine aces, 66 digs and two solo blocks. The Bluebirds also had 11 service errors on 78 attempts. They also had 21 receiving errors, two blocking errors and six general ball-hitting errors.

Junior outside hitter CC Shick had 19 kills, four digs and a solo block. Senior Laura Winkler had five kills, 26 assists and 15 digs. Senior Maria Little had 13 assists, four aces and seven digs. Junior Madison Clore had 11 digs and junior Honor Valentine had nine. Junior Avery Cavacini had nine kills with junior Sophia Sarakatsannis contributing two aces and 15 digs. Highlands played without junior middle blocker Lauren Buemi.

The Bluebirds finish the regular season against Bellevue (7-10) on Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m.

Cross Country:

Highlands had a tri-meet against Simon Kenton and Beechwood at Highland Park. Head Coach Brian Alessandro said some junior varsity runners ran to rest of the varsity team for the Meet of Champions on Saturday in Paris.

Golf:

Highlands senior Justin Gabbard and junior KJ Toole received the honors of Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference Golfers of the year for Division II.

Gabbard played a huge role helping the Highlands boys to two 8th Region crowns in three years and a program-highest sixth place finish at state this year. Gabbard is committed to Xavier University.

Gabbard shot a two-day total of 143 at state good for a tie for fifth place in the state tournament at Bowling Green Country Club. He is the lone golfer to shoot a below-par 68 at state on the second day. The par for the 18-hole course is 72.

Gabbard won three tournaments and tied for first in another one. The Bluebirds won 10 tournaments this season.

Toole won two tournaments this year and became the first Highlands girls golfer to make it to the second round of state since 2010. Toole and senior Ellie Rowland qualified for state two years in a row.