Women's Volleyball

Adrienne Haggerty and Mahie Kaawa named to American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-American List

Sophomores Adrienne Haggerty and Mahie Kaawa were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American List. Haggery was named to the second team and Kaawa to the third team. Only six players from the NWAC Conference were named to the AVCA List, with Highline and Spokane Falls each having two. Haggerty and Kaawa were both key figures in Highline’s second place finish in the 2018 NWAC Volleyball Championships.

Adrienne Haggerty Highline Volleyball
Adrienne Haggerty (5) with one of her 250 kills in the 2018 season.

Mahie Kaawa Highline Volleyball Mahie Kaawa in NWAC Conference play. As one of the league’s top liberos she set the tone for the Highline defense.

A Wonderful Run

Highline Makes it to Championship Match;
Falls to Undefeated Spokane for 2nd Place

A gritty Highline team clawed its way into the Championship match against the undefeated Spokane Sasquatch before running out of gas and falling in straight sets 25-16, 25-11, 25-15. The T-Birds had found its way into the finals after going 5-1 in the playoffs, with the only loss coming to Spokane in an earlier match. In it first round match Highline, ranked 6th in the final NWAC Volleyball poll, defeated Bellevue 3-2 and then 5th ranked Linn-Benton 3-1. After losing 3-1 to Spokane, the Thunderbirds moved to the losers’ bracket and won three matches in a row, over 7th ranked North Idaho 2-0, 4th ranked Edmonds 2-0, and 2nd ranked Pierce 2-0. Ironically enough, Highline had lost to each of these teams in the regular season, including twice to Pierce.

After winning these three matches on Nov. 17, the team had less than 24 hours before playing for the championship against a Spokane team that ended up going 40-0 for the season. Highline finished 34-12 and as most teams hope to do, played its best volleyball at the end when it counted most.

Agrienne Haggerty and Mahie Kaawa were named to the NWAC All-Tournament First Team, and Alicia Nguyen was named to the Second Team. Haggerty and Kaawa were also named as NWAC Western Division First Team All-Stars, with Nguyen receiving Second Team All-Stars honors.

The team will say goodbye to its strong sophomore class, including Kate McGrath, Adrienne Haggerty, Mahie Kaawa and Taylor Bell. However, with seven returning freshmen on the roster, all of whom received extensive playing time in the regular season and playoffs, Highline brings back a strong foundation on which to build for next year.

2018: The Year in Photos

A 34-12 Season Record and Second-Place Finish in the Playoffs

2018 Highline Women’s Volleyball Team