The varsity Volleyball team has gone 24-12 this season, improving from recent years under leadership of head coach Amanda Becker for her third year. The team’s longest winning streak was six wins, as well as accomplishing a second place finish in the Medicine Lodge tournament and a first place finish in the Kingman tournament. However, these wins did not happen overnight; the girls said they worked hard not only to improve their skills, but also their teamwork. 

“(We improve on) everyone talking and everyone bringing each other up,” sophomore Bri King said. “Instead of focusing on me, we focused on the ‘we’ over ‘me.’” 

Many players said they saw the importance of supporting each other to the point where it felt like a family. For several players, it was a literal family.

“Playing with my sister (senior Macie Hartman) has been a very fun experience that not everyone gets to experience,” sophomore Lanie Hartman said.

There was another set of sisters on the varsity court; junior Lairen Pauly said playing with her sister, senior Miley Pauly, had its pros and cons.

“I may take it a little harder on her, but I feel like we also have a good connection knowing each other really good,” Lairen said.

The team went into the post-season hosting Regionals, going 3-0 on the night without dropping a set. They advanced to the championship at Substate, beating St. Mary’s Colgan in three sets at home, moving on to play in Dodge City for State. The team will play Oct. 31 at 11 a.m., 12 p.m., and 2 p.m. The top two will advance to play in the semi-finals the next day.