Highlands jumped into the deep end of the volleyball season right off the bat on Thursday night when 1-A powerhouse Murphy paid a visit.
The Highlanders did their best to keep pace, but the Bulldogs proved to be too much in a 25-20, 25-11, 25-14 defeat.
The match got off to a good start for Highlands, when a pair of early kills from outside hitter India Clark put the home team ahead 7-5. Murphy ran off four consecutive points to take the lead in what turned out to be a back-and-forth contest. Neither team recorded more than three consecutive points the rest of the set, but Murphy took advantage of two late missed kill attempts to claim the match lead for good.
Much like the first set, Highlands claimed an early lead in the second frame thanks to back-to-back kills by Clark and Bella Wilson. Trailing 5-4, the visitors battled back and took a 9-8 lead. The set ended with Murphy pulling away via an 8-0 run on the strength of a pair of aces from Riley Dockery.
The third set was all Bulldogs from the opening serve. The visitors built a 15-7 lead and locked up the match with a pair of aces from Addie Johnson.
Liv Payne paced Murphy in the win with eight kills and two aces. Maddison Seabolt chipped in six kills and four blocks for the Bulldogs (2-0 overall).
Clark filled up the state sheet for the Highlanders with a match-high 11 kills to go with two blocks and two aces. Wilson added three kills and Ezra Branham finished with two kills and two blocks.
Highlands (0-1 overall) traveled to Smoky Mountain and Robbinsville on Monday and Tuesday respectively. The Highlanders will be back on their home court tonight (Thursday) against Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference rival Hayesville. Match time is 6 p.m.