Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Kacey Kruthoff of St. Edmond goes up for a spike against AGWSR during a 1A regional tournament on Tuesday. For more photos, please visit CU.messengernews.net

Tuesday night marked the end of the road for five St. Edmond volleyball players, as the Gaels were eliminated from postseason play by AGWSR.

Scores were 25-18, 25-12 and 25-23 in favor of the Cougars (11-15 overall).

AGWSR advances to Monday’s Class 1A, Region 5 quarterfinal to face No. 11 Gladbrook-Reinbeck (25-8), which also advanced with a sweep over Meskwaki Settlement last night.

Josie Huss, one of those SEHS seniors, had 10 kills, 22 digs and was a perfect 7-for-7 serving in her final match for the Gaels (8-20).

Huss finishes her career with 452 kills and 520 digs in three years as a starter and four years as a varsity regular.

“I know this hurts for the seniors,” Gael head coach Dee Huss said. “It is never fun losing that last game. But they have meant so much to our program and really gave it their all once again.

“Our record might not show it, but we really grew and improved as a team throughout the season despite having so many newcomers.”

Senior Cambrie McBride added two kills and 10 digs, giving her 148 kills and 258 digs in her SEHS career. Classmate Milena Naughton was 11-for-11 serving.

“Cambrie just continued to work to get better for us on the court,” Huss said. “Milena stepped into a starting role this year and was a captain with Josie and Cambrie. Maggie (Conrad) did a great job as a serve specialist, and Isabel (Woodhouse) got better and better as the season went on.”

Huss had six of her team-high 10 kills in the first set, helping the Gaels take an early lead.

“Josie was the heartbeat of this team all year long,” Huss said. “Every time she steps on the court she gives us everything she has.”

Sophomore Aleah Anderson added two kills, classmate Mya McClain had 10 digs and was 9 of 11 serving, and sophomore Kiersten Clark added six digs.

“We really have a lot to build on,” Huss said. “But right now, it just stings for the seniors who gave it their all every day in practice and every match.”

St. Edmond was able to score eight of the first 12 points of the opening game, but AGWSR reeled off a six-point rally that gave them control.

The Gaels answered back, taking a 15-14 lead before the Cougars would score 11 of the final 14 points to take a 1-0 advantage.

AGWSR’s momentum carried over into the second frame, as they posted 16 of the first 20 points before St. Edmond rallied back with a five-point swing in its favor.

“I thought in the first, we played too tight at the end,” Huss said. “That’s been a mental hurdle for us all year and we just never found a way to overcome it. I felt like we could compete with them, we just worried too much about making mistakes and not enough about playing the point.”

Freshman Brynn Smith, AGWSR’s leader in kills entering the night, had 10 with junior Taylor Sperfslage adding nine and Makenna Kuper four.

Awaiting the winner of AGWSR/Gladbrook-Reinbeck in the regional semifinals will be either Bishop Garrigan or North Iowa. That match will be played in Webster City on Oct. 31.