Hodag Highlights: Volleyball rallies for home victory over Hurley

The Rhinelander High School volleyball team closed out their regular season on a high note Monday night, rallying from a first-set deficit to defeat Hurley in five sets at home. After dropping the opening set 25-20, the Hodags found their rhythm and energy in the middle frames, taking sets two and three by scores of 25-18 and 25-22. The momentum shifted as Rhinelander’s players grew louder and more confident on the court.
Hurley forced a deciding fifth set with a narrow 25-23 victory in the fourth, setting up a winner-take-all finish. In the final frame, the Hodags capitalized on several Northstar errors while executing key plays of their own to claim a 15-9 victory and their third win of the season. Two Rhinelander seniors led the way in the victory. Libero Kayla Skubal anchored the defense with 24 digs, while Tori Stella contributed 16 digs and dominated from the service line. Stella went 18-for-20 serving with an impressive nine aces, including two crucial aces in the decisive fifth set. The win provided a positive ending to a challenging regular season for the Hodags, who finished eighth in the conference after dropping three matches on Saturday, October 11. Rhinelander’s season continues Tuesday when they travel to Mauston for a regional tournament game.