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HLV-TC avoids upset, defeats Highland
Warriors win fifth set 15-9
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
VICTOR — Your regular season record doesn’t matter once the postseason hits. Everyone is 0-0.
In a Class 1A Region 3 volleyball matchup Monday, HLV-TC held on to avoid the upset against Highland (4-23), taking the winner-take-all fifth set 15-9.
Highland was down 13-7 in set one but went on a 12-6 run to tie things up at 19. The Huskies finished off the set with a Kamryn Fink kill to win it 25-21.
“We came out flat with a lack of communication and little stuck on defense in our serve receive,” HLV-TC coach Kayla Chizek said.
The Warriors came out with their best set of the night as a response, winning set two 25-15.
“We just talked in the huddle about fixing those things,” Chizek said heading into set two.
HLV-TC held onto their lead this time around. taking control midway through the set with a 9-3 run. Nicole Gensley had four kills in the set.
Caidyn Schmidt led the Warriors in kills in set three with three as the team went up 2-1 with the 25-21 set win.
The Huskies, after trailing 19-9, were able to fight back and cut the deficit to three.
Highland carried that momentum into set four, leading from nearly start to finish. The Huskies jumped out to a 7-2 lead and maintained a lead of two or more throughout the whole set for a 25-21 win.
The Warriors did have their most balanced attack in the set as they tried to play comeback. Abbi Tharp, Karley Moore and Jordyn Menicucci each had three kills apiece.
Tying the match up, it all came down to the final set.
Gensley came out hot for the Warriors, with five kills, as they led 7-2 to start. Just what the team needed to get the energy to finish the match.
“She has really come alive this year and taken that dominant hitter role,” Chizek said.
The Warriors finished out the set with a Tharp kill for the 15-9 set win.
“It’s great to see us finish out in this gym with a win for the seniors,” Chizek said.
Gensley finished with 16 kills, Moore and Tharp each had 12. Erilea Kupka had 47 assists on the team’s 54 kills.
It wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but a win is a win, especially in the postseason, as the Warriors now travel to play North Mahaska in the quarterfinals.
The Warriors swept North Mahaska in conference play, but that was after pairings were released, hence the reason the match won’t be played at home.
“We’re going to have to come out an play tough right away, and we know what to expect from them,” Chizek said.
The first-round win also continued a recent run of success in the postseason for the Warriors. They have now won their first postseason match in six straight seasons.
“It shows we are putting in work year-round and coming in during the summer,” Chizek said of their consistency. “We have athletic kids that are willing to do whatever for their teammates and we’ve had that for a while.”
