The Highland Scottie volleyball team (5-2, 19-8) took on the #10 Johnson County Community College Cavaliers (3-4, 16-11) on Wednesday, October 12th at 5:30 in Ben Allen Field House. The night was started by recognizing the five sophomores, Josie Vitosh, Marianna Falls, Shailey Caudle, Tyrecia Lukes, and Demi Bartonek. The teams effort was just not enough as the HCC Volleyball team fell to the Cavs 25-23, 23-25, 23-25, 25-20, 13-15.
The first set started off in favor of JCCC as the Scotties could not control their errors. As the score got to 6-13, HCC found the fire and got back to 11-14 off of kills by Caudle and Lukes. The game continued to go back and forth, but with a kill by Vitosh and a soft block by Caudle, and a back row kill by Lukes the Scotties were able to get back within 3; 18-21. The Cavaliers handed us a few points off errors of their own along with 2 big blocks by Megan Rhule and Lukes, the Scotties got a one-point lead at 23-22. Lukes came up with a kill off of a set by Rhule to help secure the 1st set win 25-23!
The Scotties were in control the start of the second set with kills by Lukes, Caudle, and Leslie Polanco. The Cavaliers were never out of it, as both teams were creating their own points. HCC caused a couple errors, forcing them to call a timeout at 10-12 to regroup. The next handful of points were controlled by Johnson, but with a solo block by Vitosh and an couple errors by the Cavaliers, the momentum was back with the Scotties, causing JCCC to call a timeout at 18-18. Both teams were fighting to take the momentum all the way to the end. The Cavs call their last timeout while they are ahead 23-24. With an error by the Scotties, the second set ended 23-25.
Polanco with a solo blcock and two kills in a row, the 3rd set started off in favor of the Scotties 5-3. Johnson County stole the momentum back and gained a small lead 6-9. The lead went back and forth until 18-20 when the Scotties call a timeout to find their focus. They fought to the end but the Scotties fell short 23-25.
The 4th set started strong once again for the Scotties with two block by Lukes and kill by Polanco putting them ahead 4-1. Johnson County found a way to get back in it, gaining a lead over HCC at 8-10 as the Scotties call a timeout. Scotties pull away with a small lead 19-16 midway through the set. Scotties fight and stay focused to the very end of the 4th set and take the win 25-20.
Caudle found a kill off the block and Lukes got a solo block to put the Scotties up 2-0 in the 5th set but as the whole game has ben JCCC found their way back in it. The teams switched sides at 7-8 with JCCC in the lead. Both teams earned every point taken but in the end, HCC was defeated by JCCC 13-15.
Caudle, Rhule, Polanco and Falls all ended the game with double-doubles. Caudle had 21 kills, 1 set assist, 15 digs, and 2 solo blocks. Rhule had a career high 64 set assists and 10 digs along with 2 block assists. Polanco ended with 11 kills and led the team in digs with 24. Falls ended with 14 kills and career high 21 digs. Lukes had a great game all around as she had 17 kills hitting a .283 hitting percentage with 7 digs and 7 blocks. Emily Nelson and Vitosh came out with career high digs with 18 and 21.
The Scotties are now 19-9 overall and 5-3 in conference. The team travels to Ottumwa, Iowa to play against Kirkwood CC and Indian Hills CC-Otumwa in a Saturday, October 15th triangular.
Listen to the post game interview with Coach Bingesser HEREÂ
