Volleyball Recap: Makaylee Merckling Leads a Balanced Effort to Beat Shelby

Highland won the last time they faced Shelby and things went their way on Thursday too. The Fighting Scots blew past the Whippets 3-0. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Fighting Scots.

While Highland won a shutout, things came down to the wire in the second set they played. Once all was said and done, the final score wound up at 25-15, 30-28, 25-17.

MaKaylee Merckling

Digs

09/18/25 vs Shelby	17
09/16/25 @ Marion Harding	21
09/11/25 @ Pleasant	36
09/09/25 vs Ontario	18
09/06/25 vs Adena	16
09/06/25 vs Buckeye Valley	19

Highland's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was MaKaylee Merckling, who had 17 digs and three assists. Merckling has been hot, having posted 16 or more digs the last six times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Riley Walker, who had ten digs and two aces.

Highland was lethal from the service line and finished the game with ten aces. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now served at least five aces in 11 consecutive matchups.

Highland's record is now 9-5. As for Shelby, their loss dropped their record down to 6-6.

Highland wasted no time getting back out on the court and has already played their next contest, a 3-0 defeat against Big Walnut on the 20th. As for Shelby, they will look to defend their home court on Monday against Lucas at 7:00 p.m. The Whippets are facing the Cubs at the right time seeing as the Cubs are stuck on a three-game losing streak.