VOLLEYBALL

It was a battle from start to finish with each set in the lurch. Unfortunately, more times than not, the Cougars of Saint Francis found a way to get the job done to down the Forester volleyball team, 25-20, 17-25, 25-23, 26-24, Saturday afternoon at Platt Arena.

The loss drops HU to 6-7 on the season which includes a 1-4 record in league play.

While the bottom line stats for both sides were similar, Paige Fortkamp was a thorn in HU’s side. She finished with 22 of USF’s 44 kills to which Huntington did not have an answer.

Offensively for the Foresters, Kortney Grimm posted a team-leading 12 kills while three others in Tya Bynum, De’Janea Johnson and Lindsay Ingenito each tallied seven. Grimm also enjoyed team-high honors in digs, along with Mikailah Thompson, with 12. Morgan Robrock finished with 37 assists and nine digs.

“Today’s loss was challenging because we had the opportunity to close out each set we played and didn’t execute by finishing,” said Coach Kelsey Herber. “While we had moments of playing great volleyball, that does not cut it when it comes to being successful in this conference.

“We need to learn and train how to win that way when the match is on the line, we have confidence in our ability to close it out.”

A trip to Grace on Wednesday is next up for Huntington.