The Heritage Hawks reached the 20-win mark on Monday (Oct. 18) with a two-set sweep at Champaign Judah Christian.

Bri Struck registered a double-double (11 kills and 10 digs) as the Hawks edged Judah, 25-23, 27-25.

Kiley Knoll contributed four kills and eight digs. Lily Ploense chipped in with five digs.

On Tuesday (Oct, 19), the Hawks earned another two-set road sweep, dispatching Argenta-Oreana, 25-12, 25-11.

Struck hammered 12 kills. Bryn Wyant and Knoll each contributed three kills. Lilli Montgomery collected five digs.

Heritage (21-8-1) returns to action on Thursday (Oct. 21) in the regular-season finale at Tri-County.

The Hawks have produced 20-win seasons in three of the past four years. The lone exception was the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season when the team was 7-7.

The post Hawks get 20th win over Judah Christian first appeared on SJO Daily.

Among their highlights includes winning the Arcola Invitational where Struck accumulated 56 kills while Rothermel added 15. Roland delivered 89 assists and Ploense had 15 digs. 

The Hawks have gone on to defeat Tuscola and Villa Grove. They will travel to Judah Christian for a tournament this weekend before finishing their season with five games leading up to Regional play. 

The post Athlete of the Week: Bri Struck, Lily Ploense, Kiley Knoll and Torie Rothermel first appeared on SJO Daily.

Kiley Knoll registered a double-double on Thursday (Sept. 23), but two teammates broke school records as the Heritage volleyball team topped Okaw Valley in Broadlands.

The new single-match record-holders are Mary Roland, with 44 assists, and Bri Struck, with 22 kills. Struck matched the 2012 record for kills held by Mariah Coleman.

Roland and Struck also each contributed seven digs.

Knoll put up 12 kills and 10 digs in a 25-18, 20-25, 25-22 triumph.

“We definitely did not play our best, but I told the girls that this win proves, even when we aren’t locked in completely, we can find ways to win the match,” Heritage coach Ryan Fitzgerald said. “Okaw Valley has a strong team, so I’m pleased to have come out on top.

“I say we didn’t play our best, but then find out we broke two school records. So, the sky really is the limit for this group.”

On Saturday (Sept. 25), the Hawks defeated three opponents en route to the team championship at the Arcola Invitational.

Heritage started off with a 25-12, 25-9 win over the host Purple Riders and followed up with a 25-20, 25-16 triumph over Sullivan.

In the championship match, the Hawks topped Marshall 25-21, 24-26, 15-11.

For the day, Struck pounded 56 kills. Torie Rothermel had 15 kills and Bryn Wyant ended with 10 kills.

Roland delivered 89 assists for the day and Paul totaled 27 blocks.

Defensively, Destanee Morgan contributed 32 digs, Lilli Montgomery had 25 digs, Struck had 19 digs and Lily Ploense had 15 digs.

Gracie Tate collected four service aces.

Heritage (12-6-1) returns to action on Monday (Sept. 27) at home against Tuscola.

The post Heritage Volleyball wins Arcola Invitational first appeared on SJO Daily.

Heritage opened the volleyball season on Monday (Aug. 23) with a non-conference sweep at home over Paris.

The Hawks dispatched the visitors 27-25, 25-19.

Senior Bri Struck led Heritage with 11 kills. She also totaled five digs, two blocks and two aces.

Lily Ploense handed out 10 assists to go with three digs, and Lilli Montgomery contributed seven digs.

The win came in the first match for first-year head coach Ryan Fitzgerald.

“We had a little different lineup the first set due to some absences from practice,” Fitzgerald said. “Gracie Tate (freshman) and Destanee Morgan (sophomore) stepped in flawlessly to help us win the first set, while Lily Ploense also took on the setting role in that set and guided us to a stellar hitting percentage.”

On Wednesday (Aug. 25), Heritage lost a three-set slugfest at home against Armstrong-Potomac, 25-21, 16-25, 25-22.

Mary Roland handed out 30 assists and Struck pounded 19 kills. Kiley Knoll collected 12 digs, along with five kills. Struck also had seven digs.

The Hawks (1-1) return to action on Thursday (Aug 26) at Salt Fork. 

The post Heritage opens volleyball season with win over Paris first appeared on SJO Daily.