October 22, 2020 at 10:13 a.m.
Revamped Cards line-up gives River Ridge a battle
Highland's squad did everything but win in their three sets with River Ridge. They pushed the Lady Timberwolves to overtime in the first set before losing 27-24. They came close again in the second set but came up short, 25-22. They climbed back from a 23-11 deficit in the third set to get back to 23 before losing 25-23 on a shot that just got through the block attempt at the net.
Besides playing a very solid Timberwolves squad the Cardinals also had to battle through some line-up changes they had not worked with prior to the match.
That was forced by having to play without the leading hitter for the Cardinals, Rachel Miller, who was unavailable for the match.
Katelyn Mueller took over for Miller in the middle with the outside hitter spots filled by Katelyn Esser and Meg Tarrell.
Making up for the missing Miller it was Myah Hennessey and Mueller who put down 10 kills and a block each. Esser added six kills and a block with Jenna James getting four kills and Meg Tarrell two kills and two blocks.
Highland's two setters, Estee Goodwiler and Harper Drury had 17 and 14 assists with Drury recording the only Cardinal ace of the night.
Libero Macey Kraisinger had 27 digs but it was her serving in the final set that made it close. She took over with the Cardinals down 23-11 and served six straight points to close it to 23-17.
Another player who saw extensive action with the revamped line-up was Tristin Imhoff who played back row for Mueller and did a good job according to coach Maria Wineski.
For Wineski it was a night where she saw her team come together and never quit.
"They really stepped up tonight," Wineski said about the Cardinals. "For never practicing with the line-up we had to go with they really came together as a team. They played hard all night and I am very proud of them."
