By Brian O’Shea, Plateau Daily News
Highlands junior varsity volleyball team took on Smoky Mountain at home last Monday to kick off the season, but couldn’t take the win losing two very close sets.
Highlands Jaylin Raby passes against Smoky at home on Aug. 12.
Smoky won the first set 27-25 and the second 25-21.
“I thought with it being their first game, for some their first high school game went pretty well,” said Highlands Coach Kaitlin Bishop. “Even though we lost the first two sets they were both close sets. It was not picture perfect but it’s a work in progress. After being in a real game, it makes it a lot easier to focus on some things that we have to work on and get better at.”
Highlands Mims Henderson serves to Smoky.
Bishop added that their bench is not as deep as previous years, but she’s excited for the challenge.
“We are lower in numbers this year, but I have a lot of faith in the girls we do have,” said Bishop. “They work hard and have the ‘want to’ get better. I am excited to see this group grow this season.”
Highlands Hannah Valerio returns a Smoky serve.
Highlands has a busy volleyball schedule tonight at home against Murphy, beginning with Middle School at 4 p.m., JV at 6 p.m., and varsity starts at 7 p.m.
Highlands Taylor Hays digs a Smoky kill and saves the point.
Pictured at the top of the article is Highlands Charlotte Westendorf returning a Smoky serve.