Cyclones volleyball season ended by Braves

Monday night on the road, postseason volleyball began for the HCHS varsity team as they battled the Cherokee Washington Braves, losing three straight sets; 25-16, 25-21 and 25-20.

This was the seventh consecutive loss for the Cyclones ending its hopes of making a deep postseason run. The Cyclones finished its season with an 11-19 record.

“We were just very proud of them this season,” said Head Coach Elle Crees. “Win or lose, you have to take the positives away from the season at that point.”

The Cyclones were led by Seniors Macy Reischl with 11 assists and Madison Kjergaard with eight digs. Seniors playing in their final match for HCHS include Kjergaard, Reischl, Haley Bladt, Lauren McLaughlin and Ellie Ineson.

“These senior girls mean so much to me,” Crees said. “It’s crazy to think they were just sophomores when I started in the program. They have grown leaps and bounds emotionally and physically. The rest of the team has also grown in that way and I think that growth will continue to advance as we start the offseason now.”

Even though this wasn’t the outcome the Cyclones were hoping for, Crees reflected on some major highlights throughout the season.

“I think there are many highlights for each player specifically, but as a team the Lewis Central game was one of my favorites that we played,” Crees added. “We did lose that game, but it was probably the most competitive team volleyball I have seen in Cyclone volleyball in a long time.”

Crees is highly optimistic the underclassmen Erika Rust, who led the team with 46 blocks, and Samantha Ineson, who led with 179 kills, will return next year, along with other key contributors.

“I believe all underclassman will be returning, which in turn should create a powerful base to all three of our program’s teams,” she said.