By Fred Kroner
Kiley Knoll posted a double-double and the Heritage Hawks won an IHSA Class 1A volleyball regional championship on Thursday (Oct. 28) at Martinsville High School.
Playing the last team that had beaten them, the Hawks secured a thrilling three-set triumph over Decatur Lutheran in the finals, 25-22, 19-25, 25-21.
Knoll finished with 10 kills and 11 digs along with two blocks and two service aces.
Knoll was one of a plethora of Heritage contributors.
One day after setting the school’s single-season record for kills, Bri Struck became the first Hawk with more than 400 in a season. She slapped 17 kills, giving her 413 for the year.
She also had eight digs and four blocks.
Mary Roland distributed 32 assists as well as serving three aces. Her school-record single-season assist total now stands at 770.
Lily Ploense had six digs, Lilli Montgomery had five digs and Bryn Wyant had one dig along with two kills.
Torie Rothermel put down three kills and also chipped in with two digs and one block. Adena Paul finished with two blocks, one ace and one dig.
Coach Ryan Fitzgerald’s team has a 25-8-1 season record, second only at the school to the 27-win volleyball team in 2019.
The Hawks, with a six-match winning streak, return to action in the Tuscola 1A Sectional on Monday (Nov. 1) at 6:30 p.m. against St. Thomas More (36-1).
The volleyball regional title is the fourth all-time for Heritage, and the first one since 2013.
