Union middle hitter Dena Robb, front center, pictured on her 18th birthday alongside her teammates while celebrating her 250th career block last Thursday at Union High School in La Porte City during the second night of the NICL Conference Volleyball Tournament. PHOTO BY KAYLA ROBB

LA PORTE CITY – Last week Union senior Dena Robb ensured her final high school volleyball season will be one to remember no matter what happens in the postseason by reaching two separate career milestones.

On Thursday Robb, a 6-foot-1 middle hitter for the Knights, recorded her 250th career block while playing in front of a hometown crowd during the second night of the NICL Conference Tournament in La Porte City.

Robb notched the 250th block against the 2A No. 10 South Hardin Tigers which Union beat 2-0 (25-19, 25-17) in the consolation semifinal.

The Knights then moved on to the fifth-place match which they lost 2-0 against the 2A No. 6 Sumner-Fredericksburg Cougars.

Against the Cougars, Union recorded eight blocks total of which two belonged to Robb – icing on the figurative career blocks cake which incidentally took place on Robb’s 18th birthday.

Knights middle hitter, senior Dena Robb, center, notches her 250th career block last Thursday against South Hardin during the second night of the NICL Conference Tournament in La Porte City. PHOTO BY KAYLA ROBB

Two days later, Robb achieved another milestone while playing in the Clear Creek Amana Volleyball Invitational – her 500th career kill.

During the Saturday tournament, the Knights dropped matches to 4A No. 5 North Scott and to undefeated 4A No. 1 Clear Creek Amana before beating 3A No. 8 Mid-Prairie 2-0 (21-19, 21-17).

CCA Tournament stats for the Knights were not available in time for publication.

This week, the seventh-ranked Knights were set to close out the regular season by participating in a quad at Nevada on Tuesday where they were scheduled to face 2A No. 1 Dike-New Hartford in addition to Nevada and Waverly-Shell Rock, before heading to Knoxville for a tournament on Saturday.

On Tuesday, October 17, Union will host Iowa Falls-Alden (9-22) for the 3A Region 5 quarterfinal.

Union senior Dena Robb, a middle hitter, pictured alongside her teammates after notching the 500th kill of her high school career during the Clear Creek Amana Invitational held last Saturday. PHOTO BY KAYLA ROBB

Heading into this week, the Knights were 28-9 (4-0) on the season.

Dena Robb, a middle hitter for the Union Knights, celebrated her 500th career kill last Saturday after notching her 250th career block the Thursday prior. PHOTO BY KAYLA ROBB

PHOTO BY KAYLA ROBB