VOLLEYBALL

The Huntington volleyball team ended the weekend on a high note with a five-set victory, 25-17, 25-22, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8, over Cumberland to wrap things up at the Indiana Wesleyan Tournament. The Foresters finished 1-3 in non-conference action over their two days in Luckey Arena.

“This was a really great weekend for us,” said Coach Shondell. “The results weren’t what we hoped for, but we grew up this weekend. We tried a few new things and responded really well.”

One of those changes came at the offensive end to have Jenna Tacosik and Breanna Levings team up to direct traffic.

“Bre and Jenna did a really great job of managing our offense and providing opportunities for our hitters.”

Against the Phoenix in Saturday’s last match, Brandy Michie posted three kills to spur her team to run away with set one. HU scored eight straight points behind their heavy hitter to turn a 17-17 tie into 25-17 win. They won set two before a two-set hiccup forced Huntington’s eighth five-setter of the year where they made quick work of Cumberland to collect win No. 7 against 15 losses.

Michie finished with 14 kills. Paige Eakright also had a sensational outing with a match-high 18 kills and a .452 hitting percentage. Levings and Tacosik dished out 29 and 27 assists respectively. Ariene Butler was all over the floor to register a career-tying 28 digs.

HU’s first match on Saturday was also a five-set thriller, 14-25, 25-13, 19-25, 25-21, 15-10, that eventually, after a fire alarm evacuation, favored St. Ambrose.

Despite logging a season-best 12 blocks, HU still drew the short stick in kills with 37 to SAU’s 53. Haley Longley and Lauren Cresse finished with four blocks each to lead the Forester wall at the net. Cresse led the charge at the net offensively too with eight kills. Lanie McClanahan added seven.

Butler again took charge in the backcourt with a match-best 26 digs. The sophomore libero also led her team in digs on Friday with 35 in their two matches to bring her weekend total to 89.

“Ariene was flat out terrific,” said Shondell. “Her effort, leadership, and ability to fill in several gaps in our defense was just awesome.”

The intensity of the weekend was evident right off the bat as HU opened play on Friday with a five-set loss, 25-20, 18-25, 27-25, 25-23, 15-10, to the University of St. Francis (IL). It was the second time the Foresters faced the Saints with the first dating back to Labor Day weekend at Siena Heights where USF enjoyed their first W over HU.

As one would expect in a five-setter, the bottom line was similar for both teams. They played within a kill of each other, each had four team blocks to go along with each registering five aces and 11 service errors but in the end, the Saints enjoyed a slightly higher hitting percentage to edge in front of Shondell’s squad.

Offensively, McClanahan topped HU with 14 kills and a .353 hitting percentage. Michie posted 12 kills while Tailor Schultheis added nine. Jenna Tacosik and Breanna Levings finished with 27 and 19 assists respectively. Levings also tallied 15 digs for the double double.

The Foresters had a brief break before stepping back on the court to face Trinity International. It was the first matchup between these two clubs. HU battled, as can always be expected, but came up short, 25-22, 23-25, 25-19, 25-20, in a match that featured 33 ties and 13 lead changes with only a handful of points ever separating the two teams at the end of each set

Eakright had a big night for HU at the net where she put down a match-high 17 kills. McClanahan chipped in nine while Michie finished with eight. Tacosik and Levings handed out 21 and 20 assists respectively.

Huntington jumps back into league play on Wednesday where they will look to avenge a 3-1 loss to Spring Arbor earlier this season.