Bluebirds Volleyball Takes Down Beechwood |
| PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands volleyball team huddles before the game against Beechwood on Tuesday. |
The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team returns 10 players with varsity experience from last year's 25-11 team and it showed in a big way in a 3-0 (25-12, 25-11, 25-12) win over the Beechwood Lady Tigers. The Bluebirds made just 17 errors in the victory with 10 coming on hitting errors.
"We've been working while waiting," said Katelyn Sallee, Highlands Head Coach. "We knew this would be a big year for us. The depth is there. The maturity is there. The seniority is there. The leadership, the talent, it's there. It's exciting that it's finally here. We had a lot of opportunities to find the rhythm. Now the job is to keep it."
It started with the serving and receiving. Highlands made just three serving errors, one passing error and one general ball handling error.
Once the second balls came to senior three-year starting setter Audrey Graves in the 5-1 Highlands set-up, the Bluebirds attacked a number of different ways with a number of different hitters. Graves finished with 36 assists, three kills and six digs.
"This season we started off a little bit different," Graves said. "We decided to go to a team camp, which is basically scrimmages and playing together. We had already gotten into our groove within the week of that Morehead (State University) camp. That made Bluegrass (Games in Lexington) that much better so we're coming into the season stronger than we ever have before."
Third-year starting seniors Ava Hockney at middle blocker and Casey Dunn at outside hitter had the big games expected. Dunn had eight kills, two aces and 12 digs with Hockney recording nine kills, one assist, two aces, three digs and two solo blocks.
But all 11 players who saw action including the two players new to varsity contributed. Highlands recorded a .301 hitting percentage, which Sallee listed as a goal. Hitting percentage is calculated by the total kills minus errors divided by attempts.
"That makes a team hard to beat," Sallee said. "We know that when we are error-free or are low in errors, we're a hard team to beat. Defensively, we've got the goods. So if we can be offensively solid and not lose points, we're going to earn points. As the season progresses and we see tougher competition, it's going to be telling to see where we stand. If we can keep that error-free volleyball into the season, it's going to be exciting."
Sophomore middle blocker CC Shick showed how a year of experience and more confidence paid off. The left-handed middle blocker led Highlands with a .625 hitting percentage recording 10 kills and no errors on 16 attempts. Shick also had four solo and one combined block.
Sophomore middle blocker and right side hitter Lauren Buemi played like a veteran in her first varsity game hitting .429 with three kills and no errors on seven attempts. She also combined with Shick for a block.
"It's really nice to have (good teammates) and trust them with everything," Buemi said. "It makes it a lot easier (to gel). We're really close and we're going to make it really fun this season."
The three Highlands experienced defensive specialists made solid passes to Graves most of the game setting things up for the solid attack. Senior Rylee Kirschenbaum led Highlands with 13 digs and senior Brooke Biltz had 10 with sophomore Madison Clore tallying five digs.
Highlands travels to Kings (Ohio) located near Kings Island on Wednesday. Game time is 6 p.m.
Soccer, Boys:
Highlands 4, St. Henry 2:
The Bluebirds (3-0) had to rally in the second half after allowing the first two goals of the season in the first half in the win over the Crusaders (1-2-1). Highlands is 2-0 in 9th Region play.
Highlands pulled off 23 shots including 13 on goal and St. Henry had nine shots with six on goal. Senior goalkeeper Nick Fischer had four saves for the Bluebirds.
"At halftime, we were focusing on making sure that we looked at it like a growth opportunity for the season," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "We may have our back against the wall. We were focused on what October and November may bring. It was an opportunity to persevere and be resilient. We kind of challenged the guys at halftime and they rose to the occasion."
The first Highlands goal came with 12:30 left in the first half. Senior Porter Hedenberg scored on a free kick to put the Bluebirds up 1-0. Hedenberg has two goals this year.
St. Henry responded with two goals before halftime to go up 2-1. That marked the first time the Bluebirds trailed in the young season.
"We just focused on the players we knew were threats to (score) and on making the right rotations so they weren't able to get those through balls that led to goals," said Nate Gesenhues, Highlands senior defender. "You need to get the first step on the guy every single time. If you don't get the first step, things can go wrong really quick."
Junior Brayden Gillman tied the game with 28 minutes left in the game on an assist from senior Elijah Stevie. Highlands took the lead for good when senior Alexander Foubert scored with 22 minutes left in the game and senior Caymon Stevie assisted.
"At halftime, we reiterated that we have plenty of time to make up the difference," Niedert said. "The second that Brayden scored off a cross from Elijah Stevie, I think everybody on our side kind of know that everything was pulling more in our direction. We were starting to get more used to the surface. It sometimes takes our guys a while to adjust when surfaces are more natural and a little bit less predictable."
The Bluebirds received an insurance goal with 13 minutes left when junior Ben Fischer scored on another Stevie assist. The Bluebirds have scored four goals in both region wins.
Highlands travels to Cincinnati (Ohio) Summit Country Day on Thursday. Game time is 6:30 p.m.
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