WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL – Coffey Break

Platt Arena hosted a nearly three-hour thriller Wednesday night as Huntington and Spring Arbor went toe to toe in a Crossroads League battle. Huntington and Spring Arbor are currently receiving votes in the most recent NAIA national rankings, underscoring the high-level competition on display. Both teams left everything on the court, but it was the Foresters who emerged with a signature 3-2 victory by set scores of 27-25, 25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 22-20.

With starter Maggie Hollon sidelined, Trevyn Terry showcased her versatility by filling in seamlessly and producing eight kills, two blocks, and steady defense. But it was far from a one-woman effort—this was the definition of a total team victory. Avynn Belding stepped in to provide key support contributing a timely kill and strong defense that helped the team weather several momentum swings. Time and again, different Foresters stepped up when teammates hit rough patches, from Lauren Ross steering the offense with 33 assists and three aces, to Layla Meyer‘s 30-dig defensive performance, to Maisyn Robrock coming up big in critical moments during the fifth set, to Leah Carter‘s clutch blocking presence at the net.

The deciding fifth set captured the full drama of the night. Spring Arbor raced out to a 2–0 lead behind back-to-back aces, but Huntington clawed back with kills from Maisyn Robrock and Haley Kruse to regain control. The Foresters extended their edge to 12–8 after a Ross ace, only to see the Cougars surge back with four straight points to seize a 14–12 advantage and stand on the brink of victory. HU refused to fold. Carter’s block, followed by Cougar miscues, tied the score at 14–14. From there, the teams traded blows—Kruse answering with a kill at 15–15, Carter and Robrock teaming up on huge blocks, and Ross delivering the final touches from the service line as HU closed on a 3–0 run. Carter’s kill off a perfect Ross set sealed the 22–20 win, sending the Foresters and their fans into a frenzy.

“In the midst of adversity, I’m proud of how we battled, finished and did it together,” said Forester head coach Kelsey Herber. “This was a big win for us for so many reasons.”

Huntington finished the match with 52 kills, 12 aces, and 120 digs, while holding Spring Arbor (16-6, 3-6) to .157 hitting. The grit to withstand momentum swings and the depth to find answers across the roster proved decisive, as the Foresters improved to 16-4 overall and 6-3 in league play with one of their most hard-fought victories of the season.

Tonight’s victory concludes the first half of Crossroads League play, with the Foresters sitting in third place behind Indiana Wesleyan and Mount Vernon Nazarene. HU takes a short break from Crossroads League action, but won’t have much time to catch its breath, as the Foresters dive right back into action Friday in Platt Arena, hosting a quad match with Olivet Nazarene (11:00 a.m.) and Indiana Northwest (1:00 p.m.) in what promises to be another full day of volleyball.