Tuesday Briefs: Bluebird Soccer, Ladybird Volleyball Victorious

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands seniors pictured with their families are Parker Smith (22), Simon Frink (0), Collin Ginter (20), Tommy Steppe (2), Colton Dolezal (17), Ethan Mills (16), Paul Tully (1), Solomon Farris (10), Aaron Williams (14) and Brandon Zachary (11).

Like their female counterparts did the day before, the Highlands Bluebirds soccer team (14-2-2 overall) celebrated Senior Night with a shut-out.

Highlands took out the Beechwood Tigers, 7-0 at Tower Park to move to 9-0-1 in 9th Region action. The 11 Bluebird seniors are Aaron Williams, Brandon Zachary, Collin Ginter, Colton Dolezal, Ethan Mills, Parker Smith, Paul Tully, Simon Frink, Solomon Farris, Tommy Browe and Tommy Steppe.

Tully and Frink made two saves each as Highlands recorded its 12th shut-out of the season. Highlands outshot Beechwood, 25-3 bouncing back from a 3-0 loss to Cincinnati La Salle on Thursday.

Dolezal led the Bluebirds with two goals increasing his total to seven on the season. Browe (second), Farris (team-high 14th), Mills (eighth), Alan Ford (second) and Alex Ford (first) scored the other five goals. Nick Gish had two assists raising his total to a team-high nine on the season and Mills had the other one for his seventh assist on the year.

"We definitely had more confidence with possession (ball) throughout the game," Browe said. "Along with that, it was a benefit that we were playing on turf compared to La Salle's grass field. Overall, I'd say we played well and could improve by playing more combination-style soccer instead of playing so direct."

Highlands plays host to Ryle (15-3-2) on Thursday. Game time is 8 p.m. at Tower Park.

Volleyball:
Highlands 3, Covington Holy Cross 1:

The Ladybirds improved to 16-14 overall and moved above .500 in 9th Region action at 8-7 on the season with another four-game win by 25-16, 24-26, 25-20, 25-16 scores.

"I think we're doing really well this year," said Emma Delagrange, Highlands senior defensive specialist. "This is the first year we've actually, in my opinion, all been on the same page and had one goal. We're all in it."

Senior Lauren Epperson again led Highlands with 17 kills and sophomore Margot Seidel landed nine. Senior setter Emma Little had 42 assists and Epperson dug up 28 balls.

Highlands travels to Conner on Thursday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.