PREP ROUNDUPThe Polk County High School volleyball team dropped a key conference match this past Thursday against Mountain Heritage, losing in three games 25-18, 25-23, 25-16.

With the victory, Mountain Heritage takes over first place in the Western Highlands 2A standings. The loss forces PCHS to win all their remaining matches for a shot at a share of the conference title.

We didnt deserve to win the way we played tonight, said PCHS head coach Heather Claussen. That puts Mountain Heritage back on top for the conference title. We have to win out now to be co-conference champions with them.

The Wolverines recorded 48 errors, up from their average of 20-25 over a three-game span.

Mountain Heritage did some things right, but overall, won off our errors, Claussen said.

Tennis team splits

The Polk County High School tennis team split a pair of conference matches this past week with a 7-2 victory over Avery on Sept. 28 and a 6-3 loss to Mountain Heritage on Thursday.

Against Avery, the PCHS singles winners included (scores in parentheses): Natalie Hilbig (10-1), Jessica Pullara (10-1), Hannah High (10-3), Alli Halbkat (10-2) and Emily Antonio (10-4). In doubles, Hilbig and Pullara (8-4) and Rachel Vining and Antonio (8-1) were winners for PCHS.

Against Mountain Heritage, Pullara squeaked out an 11-10 victory after winning a 7-4 tie-break. Elizabeth Norville (10-6) and Antonio (10-7) were also winners.

The Wolverines were 5-6 on the season heading into Tuesdays match at Owen, where PCHS hoped to avenge an earlier 6-3 loss.

PCHS next plays Thomas Jefferson Academy on the road Thursday at Gardner-Webb University.

PCHS 3rd on links

The Polk County High girls golf team finished fourth in a Western Highlands Conference 18-hole match Monday at Meadowbrook Golf Club.

Owen won the match with a 289, edging Mountain Heritage by one stroke for the victory. Hendersonville (295) was third, followed by PCHS (334) and Avery (355).