Celia Oleson bumps the ball. Jonelle Degenhardt photo.
A little Homecoming Hangover if you please.
That was how the Six Rivers West match-up with Cassville started for the Six Rivers West leading Highland Cardinals. The Comets took advantage of the sluggish play by the Cards to earn a 25-21 first set win.
But the Cardinals were not having it and rebounded to take the last three sets 25-19, 25-22 and 25-14. But it wasn’t the most satisfying performance for veteran coach Maria Wineski.
“We missed seven serves which is very uncharacteristic for us,” she said. “Cassville was very scrappy and got to a lot of touches. They gave us trouble.”
It is not uncommon for the Cardinals to see that kind of spirit.
“I tell the girls that everyone wants to be the one to give us that first loss,” she said. “We have to be better because we are going to see everyone’s best effort.”
“The girls were tired tonight and it showed,” Wineski added. “What usually works for us did not tonight. We were very flat.”
But Wineski was happy with the outcome.
“It was a win and that is a good thing,” the coach said. “We did not play our best but we still found the way to win.”
The Cardinals stay on the road again Thursday when they travel to River Ridge. Saturday they are in tournament play at Just A Game.
HIGHLAND STATS
Sophie Tarrell-13 kills, 4 blocks, 1 ace, 14 digs
Celia Oleson-12 kills, 1 block, 2 aces, 18 assists, 24 digs
Ava Michek-17 assists, 3 aces
Adilyn Esser-6 kills, 3 blocks, 2 aces, 3 assists, 12 digs
Lilly Tarrell-3 aces, 5 digs
Marissa Biba-1 ace, 10 digs
Emily Laufenberg-1 kill, 1 dig
