Olathe ? Lawrence High volleyball coach Stephanie Magnuson couldn’t help but want another set after it was all over at the Olathe North gymnasium Saturday.

The seventh-seeded Lions were handed a two-set loss to second-seeded Olathe East in the first round of sub-state. The Lions finished the year with a 12-26 record.

“We made great strides all season,” Magnuson said. “We developed a lot of confidence. We played aggressive and maintained great ball control all season.”

But the second set was far more competitive than the first. In the first set, Lawrence was handed a lopsided loss by a score of 25-12.

Magnuson chalked the double-digit loss up to nerves.

“The nerves of the first set were there,” Magnuson said. “We are a relatively young team. I wish we had one more set. We could get one off.”

The nerves were settled by the time the team got back on the court for the second set. The Lions battled back and forth throughout the match and played more aggressively.

It took two different tries at match point, but ultimately the Eagles (22-17) handed them a two-point loss, 26-24, to end their season. Olathe East lost in the sub-state finals against Shawnee Mission Northwest.

“It was good that we battled back,” senior Abby Percich said. “I think we were a little timid the first set. The second set we were really just focusing on going out and swinging hard.”

Percich was one of three seniors to end their prep volleyball career Saturday. Amelia Dunlap and Alexia Anglin joined Percich as the leaders of an infant squad this season.

Under the guidance of the three seniors, the team took massive strides this year despite a losing record. So much so, that Percich believes that this season was just the foundation for something greater in the near future.

“A lot of them are so young that they have a really good future ahead of them,” Percich said. “I like to think I helped guide them. They are going to progress so much. When they are seniors, I hope they win state.”

Sophomore Baylee Unruh is one of those key young players for the future. Unruh led with nine of the team’s 15 kills on the afternoon. Sophomore Brooke Wroten also notched a pair of kills.

LHS junior Laurel Bird and sophomore Laura Willoughby each logged six assists each. Sophomore Lauren Maceli recorded eight digs.

“Every year the Lawrence High volleyball team works really hard,” Magnuson said. “Every year they improve from Day One to the final day. And that’s all we can really ask for as a coaching staff.”