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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HELENA – Thursday, Oct. 9 was already a special night for the Helena Huskies as they honored their senior class of 2026. However, they made it even more memorable with the dramatic contest that followed.

Helena found its back against the wall after losing two tight sets to the Hillcrest Patriots of Tuscaloosa to start the match, but it fought back to win 3-2 with a fifth-set rally, sealing the senior night win at Helena High School.

Despite Hillcrest’s status as a Class 7A school, the Huskies fought hard through the entire match to challenge the Patriots in a competitive affair.

That started with the first set when Helena and Hillcrest were separated by just a few points in the final stretch of the set. While the Huskies challenged for the lead, the Patriots finished the job to get the upper hand in the match.

Hillcrest won the first set in 25-22 fashion to gain a 1-0 lead in the match, and it set the stage for the theatrics to come.

The Patriots once again saw their lead challenged by the Huskies, this time with the threat of extra points attached as Helena trailed just 24-23. However, Hillcrest won the next point to take the 25-23 second-set victory.

The win put Hillcrest in front 2-0 in the match, requiring a response from Helena to stay in the match. The hosts provided just that in the third set.

The two teams were deadlocked in the final stretch of the set, and a 24-24 tie extended the third set into two more points. Despite being just two points away from losing the match, the Huskies turned it into a positive and extended the contest with just two won points.

Helena earned the 26-24 win in the third set to extend the senior-night proceedings to a fourth set.

Now with the momentum in their corner, the Huskies rallied to stay in front over Hillcrest and keep their hopes of victory alive. It turned into the widest win of any of the first four sets, even though the Patriots were still within a handful of points of tying the set.

Helena’s 25-21 win in the fourth set sent the two teams to a deciding fifth set, one that the Huskies completely dominated in.

Helena finished the job in the fifth set, starting the set strong and pulling away for a statement win in the set. The Huskies won the fifth set by a score of 15-7, and with it, their senior night match 3-2.

Monroe Bouler led the Helena offense with 13 kills and a +.216 hitting percentage while Parker Mims got into double figures with 11 kills. Sydney Strawbridge earned seven kills off a +.300 hitting percentage, the most of any player with more than 10 swings, while Avery Cantley finished with seven kills as well and Ella Willmon had four kills.

The Huskies defense worked hard for the win with 108 digs in five sets. Mady Mamucud and Cantley tied for the team-high with 26 digs each as Riley Woods had 15 digs, Mims finished with 12 digs and Emma Clair Dunlap earned 10 digs.

Dunlap also put a capper on her senior night with a team-high six aces. Woods ended the match with three aces and Mims had a pair as well.

Cantley racked up 40 assists in the victory. The Huskies also had eight total blocks in the win, with Katie Roberts finishing her senior night with two solo blocks and Bri Strawbridge and Mims chipping in on three blocks apiece.

Anyla McWherter also saw action in two sets and finished with a solo block, a kill and two digs on senior night.

Helena improved to 21-16 overall in its final five-set match of the regular season.

The Huskies will finish the regular season at the Supreme Courts Pre-Area Invitational in Guntersville on Saturday, Oct. 11. Helena will face Cold Springs, St. Clair County and Cherokee County.