VOLLEYBALL

The HU volleyball team continued its winning ways Saturday afternoon in Platt Arena with a 3-1 W, 22-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-21, over IU East. The win is Huntington’s fifth straight as they improve to 5-1 on the year. The victory is also the second consecutive over the Red Wolves with the Foresters having swept IUE the last time they met back in 2017.

With the 2019 season just underway, the Foresters have yet to be fazed by a lost set and today was clear evidence of that as HU bounced back from a first set loss to win the next three.

Set two was a critical win for the Foresters. After jumping in front 15-10, HU watched their five-point advantage turn into a 24-22 deficit. But there was no panic in Herber’s crew. Instead, Brea Metz posted back-to-back kills, Jennings Tacosik claimed one of her three aces after which IU East helped out with an attacking error to make for the 26-24 final and shift the momentum host-side.

Aside from trailing early in set three, the Foresters enjoyed the lead the rest of the way to hand the Red Wolves a loss in their season opener.

Every Forester saw action with each doing her part. Paige Eakright led a balanced attack with 14 kills while Metz and Anna Lewis posted 11 each. Tacosik managed the offense with 44 assists while Ariene Butler took charge defensively with 25 digs.

“This was the definition of a team win,” said Coach Herber. “Each player contributed both on and off the court. I sound like a broken record, but I am beyond proud of this team for not counting themselves out of any match.”

Herber went on to praise the play of several specific players. “Anna Lewis knew her job going into set two was to shut down #15 for IU East. She accomplished that and more by providing a big block and being an offensive weapon.

“In the words of Assistant Coach Cassie Kyle, ‘Ariene put on a clinic tonight.’ The way she leads our back court and kills the momentum of opponents makes her a vital part of each match we play.”

Sophomore Megan Horton saw action for the first time in Forester green and white and her play was inspiring to her coach and teammates. “Megan made her debut after battling a stroke the first day of preseason last year,” said Herber. “The first time she touched the ball, she got a kill. If that doesn’t pump you up, I’m not sure what will.”

HU finished with 49 kills and a .150 hitting percentage while their visitors posted 44 kills and a .138 hitting percentage. The Red Wolves out-blocked Huntington 6-4.

The Foresters have over a week’s break before opening conference play with a road trip to Taylor on September 4.