The Austin volleyball team capped its regular season with another highly contested loss as it fell to Owatonna (16-11 overall, 8-3 Big Nine) 25-20, 20-25, 25-20, 25-15 in Packer Gym Thursday.

The Packers (4-22 overall, 0-11 Big Nine) were competitive in the first three sets against one of the top teams in the Big Nine.

Austin led the third set 19-18, but the Huskies scored seven of the last eight points to get the win.

“Our kids played very well tonight. We stayed competitive,” Austin head coach Cindy Owen said. “We just have to remember to keep hitting. We still have the postseason left.”

The Packers announced during the match that they had raised at least $500 and Owatonna also donated at least $300 in honor of Val Pitzen, the former Austin Park and Recreation director, who passed away recently. Some of the funds will go towards cancer research and Owen was hoping some of them could go towards a scholarship in Pitzen’s name.

“We were very fortunate that [Owatonna] was so generous to bring us a check,” Owen said. “Val was so important to the Austin community and at the beginning of the season we wanted to do something to honor her.”

Austin will open the Section 1AAA tournament on the road 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Austin stats: Marissa Hart, 11 points serving, 6 digs; Awenia Nyewsh, 8 points serving, 4 blocks; Shayley Vesel, 3 points serving, 4 kills, 11 set assists, 9 digs; Abi Collins, 3 points, 4 blocks; Ashley Hawkshead, 3 points serving, 12 kills; Amber Hansen, 5 kills, 5 blocks; Kelsey Sederquest, 23 digs; Lauryn Bell, 9 digs; Summer Maloney, 6 blocks