Cardinal Adilyn Esser bumps a ball with teammate Sophie Tarrell watching the play. Photo by Jonelle Degenhardt.
Highland made it four in a row as champions of the Six Rivers West with a sweep of Benton Thursday.
The Cardinals won all three sets convincingly, 25-11, 25-10, 25-13. It will be the last title for the Cardinals as Highland. The Cardinals are entering into a co-op agreement with Iowa-Grant next season. Declining enrollment will soon make it difficult to keep a program going.
Maria Wineski, who has guided the Cardinals to conference, regional, sectional and one state championship, said she was glad to see the team end the program’s run with a win on their home court.
“We have not talked about it being the end,” she said. “Instead we have been focusing on enjoying the moment as much as we can.”
The Cardinals are off until tonight when they host the winner of a match featuring Potosi/Cassville and North Crawford.
The Cardinals finished the four years of championships with a 46- 2 record. Senior Sophie Tarrell has been a four year performer during the run.
The match Thursday was also senior night. Seniors on the Cardinals squad are Sophie Tarrell, Emily Laufenberg, Marissa Biba and Lilly Tarrell.
Cardinal Stats
Celia Oleson 8 kills, 3 aces, 8 assists
Sophie Tarrell 6 kills 3 blocks 2 assists
Adilyn Esser 6 kills 5 aces Ava Michek 1 block 12 assists Marissa Biba 1 kill 1 assist 12
digs
Emily Laufenberg 1 block
Lilly Tarrell 7 digs
