VOLLEYBALL

The HU volleyball team kicked off its 2020 season with a 3-0 loss, 26-24, 25-21, 25-20, on the road at Spring Arbor. Not only did it mark opening day for Coach Herber and crew, but the match was also the first game of conference play as well.

Compliments of COVID, the bulk of the Foresters’ schedule is league play as their only non-conference opponents include Indiana Tech, IU Southeast and Trine sprinkled amid Crossroads League matches.

While Huntington (0-1, 0-1) played within a kill of their hosts this afternoon, 38-37, it was the Cougars’ defense at the net that made the difference. SAU collected six blocks behind their 6-0 middle Kyara Black who tallied 2.5. Black, who finished with eight kills, was also part of a trio of Cougar hitters that accounted for 27 of their team’s 38 kills.

“I want to give Spring Arbor credit for how they played today,” said Coach Herber. “Their blocking was consistent, and they made necessary adjustments to win the match in terms of their outsides beginning to swing down the line and utilizing their middles.”

Brandy Michie paced HU with ten kills while Abby Robinson, in her college debut, added nine on 19 swings for a .316 kill percentage. Jennings Tacosik handed out a match-best 29 dimes to orchestrate the offense while Ariene Butler organized the backline by posting 14 digs in addition to registering four assists.

As a team, the Foresters recorded a .093 hitting percentage and finished with nine service errors to SAU’s six.

“We know exactly what we need to work on in practice on Monday – defending soft shots and a middle attack and taking what the block gives us offensively,” noted Herber. “We will step on the floor Tuesday at Taylor a better team than we were today.

“I believe this is a special group that is going to accomplish incredible things on the court this year. Today we fell short, but my confidence in this team has not wavered. I’m eager for what lies ahead.”

The Foresters hit the road again on Tuesday to face Taylor at 7:00 p.m.