Huron Freshman Volleyball – News Herald Invitational Tournament Recap

This past weekend, our freshman volleyball team competed in the annual News Herald Invitational Tournament, marking the final event of our season. The girls came ready to play and showcased some of the best volleyball they’ve played all year. Their teamwork, communication, and energy stood out from start to finish, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they represented Huron.

In pool play, we faced Edsel Ford and Woodhaven. Against Edsel Ford, the girls started off strong and never looked back, playing their sharpest of the season. Several players stepped up and had standout performances in this match.

Maci Krzciuk was a key contributor with 4 aces, 1 kill, 1 dig, and 5 assists, setting the tone early with her decision-making.

Rylie Adkins, as a middle hitter, tallying 1 ace, 4 kills, and 3 digs, bringing both power and control at the net.

Tinsley Barta served tough all game long, finishing with 6 aces and 9 digs

Vivian Laidler, our libero, was unstoppable on defense with 12 digs and 1 assist.

The biggest standout of the match was Jaeda Prince, who dominated in multiple areas with 7 aces, 4 kills, 6 digs, and 1 assist. She was a huge presence in the middle and led the way with her energy and consistency.

Our second match of pool play was against Woodhaven, and the girls continued to compete with heart. Despite the eventual loss, this match was full of long rallies, great defense, and impressive effort against a tough-hitting opponent. 

The team really stepped up defensively, with multiple players posting standout digging numbers:

Maci Krzciuk with 10 digs.

Vivian Laidler led with 15 digs.

Tinsley Barta and Abbie Schulz each added 9 digs.

Evanne Murray, one of our outside hitters, contributed 5 digs.

Their defensive effort and hustle throughout this match kept us competitive in every set. 

Finishing pool play, we placed 4th out of 10 teams, which was a great achievement in such a competitive field.

Advancing into the Gold Bracket, the girls continued to fight hard through some tough rallies and well-contested points. While we ultimately came up short, the entire team contributed across the board with stats:

Maci Krzciuk: 1 ace 6 digs 1 assist

Brooklyn Shastal: 1 kill 2 digs 4 assists

Lacey Clelland: 1 kill 1 dig 3 assists

Rylie Adkins: 1 ace 1 kill 1 block 3 digs

Jaeda Prince: 4 kills 4 digs 2 assists

Evanne Murray: 1 ace 3 kills 1 block 2 digs

Tinsley Barta: 3 aces 1 kill 6 digs

Vivian Laidler: 2 kills 7 digs 1 assist

Abbie Schulz: 2 digs

Isabelle Bradford: 1 dig

Ellia Webb: 1 assist 1 dig

Even though the match didn’t end in our favor, the determination, energy, and teamwork displayed were outstanding. The girls showed how far they’ve come this season—growing in confidence, communication, and resilience.

As the season officially comes to a close, I couldn’t be more proud of this group. They’ve improved tremendously from where they started and have become not only better athletes but stronger teammates. Their effort at the News Herald Invitational was a perfect reflection of their hard work, dedication, and love for the game.

Congratulations to the entire team on a great tournament and an incredible season!