The Lady Scots hosted their archrivals, the JJ Pearce Lady Mustangs, on Tuesday for their last regular season game of the year, which would determine the district champions. JJ Pearce, the defending champions, had only lost one district match prior when they dropped a home game to HP on Oct. 2. Students and parents from both schools came out in force to witness the rematch and the Mustangs even brought some of their band with them, which the Scots countered with their varsity cheerleaders. Spirits were high before the match even began. The crowd expected a show- and the Lady Scots gave them one.

The Lady Scots went on the attack in the first set and didn’t let off the gas until it was theirs, 25-16. Junior, Jordan Westendorff, scored five times (4 kills and one service ace) and senior, Landry Ray, contributed six assists as Highland Park took an early lead in the match, 1-0.

The Lady Mustangs struck back in the second set, running up a nine point lead 15-24. The set appeared to be lost as the Mustangs only needed one more point to tie the match. Out of the blue, the Lady Scots completely took over the game and scored ten unanswered points as they came back and gained a one point lead, 25-24. Senior, Lady Scots Peyton Eisnaugle, Elizabeth Gilley, and Greer Gordon contributed eight of those ten points and continued to be the Lady Scots’ sole scorers as they fought for and won an unlikely come-from-behind victory, 28-26, proving why they are ranked as one of the best teams not only in the state, but in the entire nation. Highland Park’s fans went absolutely ballistic as the Lady Scots rallied while the Mustangs’, who had been rowdy and spirited just a few minutes before, were silenced. 2-0, Lady Scots.

The Lady Mustangs, obviously demoralized, played the third set like a team that just wanted to go home. The Lady Scots, sensing this, played like the district champions that they were about to become as they won the third set, 25-14. Westendorff and Gilley lead the Scots in scores with four and five, respectively, while Ray contributed three assists and junior, Madeline Ngo, added 4 as the Lady Scots secured the match, 3-0. There could not have been a more perfect ending to Highland Park’s regular season. The match was at home, against their sworn rivals, and featured an unbelievable come-from-behind win as the seniors lead their team to an epic victory in the last game they would ever play in their home gym. Your Lady Scots- the 2015 6A Region II District 10 champions.