By GRAHAM BROOKS / Staff Writer

With the area tournament just a few weeks away, the Helena Huskies varsity volleyball team is winding down regular season play where they came away with two big wins the week of Oct. 8.

The Huskies took on two 7A opponents in Hoover and Oak Mountain and 6A opponent Clay Chalkville where they defeated the Cougars and Eagles and fell to the Bucs.

The following are recaps of how Helena did in all three matches:
The Huskies took on Hoover on Monday, Oct. 8, and gave the Bucs all they could handle before falling in a tough five-set match.

Helena dropped the first two sets 19-25 and 23-25 but battled back to win the next two 25-20 and 25-17 to send the match to a decisive fifth set. In the final set however, the Huskies fell 9-15.

Against the Bucs, Macy Lowery finished with nine kills, three aces and 17 digs, Emma Johnson added nine kills and eight blocks, PG Garrison had 12 kills, three aces and 22 digs and Megan Fortson contributed with 10 kills, two aces and 11 digs.

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, Helena went on to defeat Clay Chalkville as Lowery finished with 12 kills, four blocks and five aces. Johnson led Helena with 12 kills and seven blocks while Fortson added four aces.

In the final match of the week on Thursday, Oct. 11, Helena defeated Oak Mountain in four sets by a score of 19-25, 25-23, 25-22 and 25-23.

Lowery led the way with 15 kills, one block, four aces and 12 digs while Johnson had 11 kills, four blocks, one ace and 29 digs. Two other Huskies helped contribute in the win as Garrison finished with 13 kills, four aces and 31 digs while Fortson added five kills, three aces and 31 digs.

Helena improved its overall record to 20-16 and will finish the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 18, against Homewood on senior night.

Postseason play will begin on Monday, Oct. 22, as Helena will take on Chelsea in the Class 6A Area 8 area tournament at Pelham High School.