Tuesday Highlands Results

Highlands Boys Soccer, Volleyball Record District Victories

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team defeated Newport Central Catholic, 4-3 on Tuesday.

The main thing that mattered in the end was the 4-3 victory.

The Highlands Bluebirds boys soccer team (9-3-2 overall) ventured to Morscher Field in Silver Grove and came away with that 36th District victory over the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (9-5-1). But the Bluebirds know some things need to be ironed out with seven games left in the regular season.

"We're not really playing our best," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "We were a little bit shorthanded. It's similar to CovCath. With our success last year (as state runners-up), we're getting circled, highlighted and everything else. Teams are looking to beat us all year. We're having a hard time responding with this burst of energy."

Highlands took 22 shots with eight on goal to 16 shots including six on goal for NewCath. Highlands senior goalkeeper Nick Fischer recorded three saves.

Morscher Field is a grass field making it hard to anticipate bounces. Fischer described Morscher Field as dry and the two goal boxes a lot like baseball fields and little grass to go around.

"There's not much you can do," Fischer said. "You work in practice anticipating where the ball is going. But that's on a flat surface obviously so you have to hope to get in front of the ball, especially as a goalie and hope it doesn't bounce past you."


Senior forward/midfielder Porter Hedenberg led Highlands with three goals. Hedenberg doubled his total to six on the season to go with an assist for 13 points.

Senior defender/midfielder Alexander Foubert had the other goal for his second on the season. Junior forward Max Farris tallied his team-high eighth assist of the season to add to his team-high 24 points.

Highlands travels to Evansville (Indiana) to play in the Tiger Invitational against the host Reitz Memorial Tigers on Friday. Game time is 8 p.m.

Volleyball:
Highlands 3, Newport 0:

Highlands (12-2) soundly defeated the host Ladycats (2-12) in 36th District action. Highlands is 2-0 in district play.

"It was a pretty quick (game), but it was a good opportunity for us to try some things, get some people some opportunities that might not normally get some opportunities, and still take really care of business," said Katelyn Sallee, Highlands Head Coach. "It's important. It's a district game. It's not like any game. You have to care about your district games. Our whole squad participated and contributed. It's always nice to see that."

Highlands connected for 34 kills on 69 attempts with just eight errors for a .377 hitting percentage. The Bluebirds also had 34 assists, 26 aces, 24 digs to go with one solo and one combined block. Highlands also had eight service errors and three passing errors.

Junior Maria Little along with sophomores Nicole Ossege and Sophia Sarakatsannis saw more action than usual in the game. Little had nine assists and two aces with Ossege recording five kills. Sarakatsannis assisted senior Ava Hockney on a block.

"I just try to do my best and always try to go after the ball," Little said. "I show what I can do and help the other girls on the team. The seniors are always supportive of everybody on the team."

Senior setter Audrey Graves did her thing recording 21 assists to go with four digs and nine aces. Senior outside hitter Casey Dunn had six kills, five aces and four digs with Hockney recording 10 kills, one solo and one combined block. Sophomore middle blocker CC Shick added six kills. Senior defensive specialists Rylee Kirschenbaum and Brooke Biltz had eight and four digs respectively.

Highlands takes on Bishop Brossart (11-7) at home Thursday. Game time is 6 p.m.