Highland spikers battle Civic Memorial but fall short in 3-set regional semifinal
During the regular season, the Highland and Civic Memorial volleyball teams each beat one another on the other team’s home floor.
On Tuesday, Oct. 26, it was only fitting the two teams played a full three games before a winner was decided in the first postseason match for both schools.
Highland started strong, taking the first game of the night, but the Eagles (28-7-1) rallied to win the final two contests and the Class 3A Triad Regional semifinal match at Triad High School 20-25, 25-22, 25-21.
It was a hotly contested match that went back and forth all night and the Bulldogs just could not quite get enough serving runs or scoring runs going to knock off an athletic and energetic Civic Memorial club.
“I knew it would be a good game going into it,” Highland coach Natalie Ott said. “It came down to heart and passion and little things added up. CM’s a good team and the little adjustments we made were too late and defensively we turned it on a little too late.”
HHS started well in game one getting out to a 4-0 lead behind Morgan Langendorf’s serving. A 6-2 run keyed by Civic Memorial outside hitter Emily Williams pushed the Eagles ahead 14-9.
Late in the first game, HHS responded with a 7-2 run keyed by a Langerdorf kill and Reese Bolen’s serving. A Lilly Evans kill and a scoring serve from Addison Rode completed Highland’s game one victory.
In the second game, the teams traded points up to 16, and then CM, holding a 22-21 lead late in the set, put the game away on a Maddie Brueckner serve and two scoring serves from Toni Reynolds for a 25-22 win.
Highland looked to regroup in the third game but the Bulldogs quickly fell behind early 5-2.
“We started off slow and then it was hard for us to come back from it,” Ott said. “We had a hard time defending their right side.”
HIghland stayed as close as 14-13 but a 6-1 Eagles run keyed by the serving of Kaitlyn Rider and Ella Middleton pushed the lead to 20-14.
Highland ultimately falls, sees season end at 17-16
HHS again pulled close at 22-20 but a 3-1 run capped by a Reynolds serving ace gave the Eagles the match and ended the Lady Bulldogs season.
“I think they were a lot quicker and a little bit scrappier than we were defensive-wise. Offensively they were quicker than we have seen in a while and we tried to replicate that yesterday in practice but sometimes game situations are just totally different.,” Ott said.
A 17-16 season for the Lady Bulldogs featured plenty of peaks and valleys, but, overall, Ott was very pleased with the club’s progress in what was a rebuilding season.
“It was definitely a roller coaster and games we should have won, we lost, and we had games like the Mascoutah game where we worked and we pulled it out. I always said this group has so much potential — it just comes down to believing in themselves,” Ott said. “It was a big rebuilding year for us, too, losing the big four seniors.
“We kind of had to redefine ourselves and that was kind of a struggle for us at times. We were so close all the time and we competed all the time.”
Highland boys cross country team excels
Postseason competition started off on the right foot for Highland’s boys and girls cross country teams Saturday, Oct. 23, in the IHSA Class 2A Regional at Alhambra Fireman and Legion Park in Alhambra. Both teams qualified for the Class 2A sectional meet in Decatur with top-five finishes.
“The (big) time drops mostly didn’t happen, but both teams were strong enough to advance to the sectional in Decatur,” Highland coach Doug Bradley said.
Highland’s boys had a solid day, racing to a third-place finish in the team standings with 94 points — one spot ahead of fourth-place Mascoutah (99 points). Dallas Mancinas turned in a superb effort with a fourth-place finish (16:09).
“I felt fast and it felt good to lead some of it (the race),” Mancinas said. “I need to try to stick it out and stay in the front and hold on for longer.”
Ethan Smith and Cole Basden had solid showings as well. Smith finished in 15th place (16:49) and Basden placed 23rd (17:30). Mason Steinbeck placed 25th (17:17) to give the Bulldogs four top-25 finishers.
Girls team shines as well
The Lady Bulldogs runners also had a solid showing as HHS placed third in the girls division with 80 points, finishing ahead of fourth-place MVC rival Triad (92 points).
Tarryn Keeney led the way with a ninth-place finish (19:49) while Maddie Dortch turned in a sturdy effort, finishing in 16th place (20:03).
“I felt I raced okay. I should have stayed with Tarryn and am frustrated with myself that I didn’t break 20 (minutes),” Keeney said.
Liv Heinzmann finished right behind Dortch in 17th place (20:10) and Alyson Pace placed 20th (20:22), giving the Lady Bulldogs four finishers in the top 20.
The HHS cross country teams will look to qualify for the Class 2A state meet on Saturday, Oct. 30, in the Class 2A Decatur Sectional meet at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth.