photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

The Lawrence High volleyball team huddles up during a match against Free State on October 2, 2018 at LHS. The Lions (31-2) will host their sub-state tournament Saturday.

It seemed only fitting that it happened on Senior Night.

Earlier this month, the Lawrence High volleyball team exemplified what makes this group so special during a match with Free State in the City Showdown. Despite trailing late in the first set, the Lions never wavered.

LHS (31-2) ultimately scored four of the last five points to secure a win in the first set en route to a sweep of its cross-town rival.

“Volleyball is a game of momentum and tempo,” LHS head coach Stephanie Scarbrough said. “When you have players that have been playing as long they have, they excel because of their chemistry.”

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

The Lawrence High volleyball team celebrates a point in a match against Shawnee Mission North on Sept. 11, 2018 at LHS.

The team will return to LHS one last time for its substate tournament, which is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday. Haysville Campus (8-22) and Wichita South (9-27) will square off during the play-in game, in which the winner will take on Lawrence.

With a victory, LHS can advance to the substate championship to face the winner of Hutchinson (21-15) and Wichita Southeast (20-16) in the other matchup. The Lions can claim their second consecutive trip to the state tournament with two wins, which has been something they have been aiming for since before the season.

“We have been pushing ourselves to earn this,” senior Sammy Williams said. “We just work hard as a team. We stick together really well. When things don’t go well, we stay together and we don’t get down on ourselves.”

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Lawrence High senior Sammy Williams records a kill against Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2018.

The nine-person senior class has been determined to make the final year count from the start.

Lawrence has moved up the rankings by the Kansas Volleyball Association all season. The team was listed No. 1 in Class 6A in the most recent poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon. The Lions have dropped a total of eight sets this year, though they did not lose a single set in league play during their quest to clinch a Sunflower League title.

Even when LHS faced a deficit, like the first set against FSHS, the senior class found a way to claw its way to a victory.

“We knew most of our team was going to be seniors,” senior Baylee Unruh said. “We didn’t know it was going to be all seniors at first, and it is just crazy. I don’t really know how to explain it, we just have good chemistry and everyone gets along.”

photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Senior Baylee Unruh spikes a ball for a kill in a match against Shawnee Mission North on Sept. 11, 2018 at LHS.

Because of their chemistry, players know how to utilize the strengths of their teammates.

Senior Laura Willoughby has demonstrated a knack for finding LHS players in the right spot, leading the squad with 707 assists in the regular season. Unruh and Williams have been the biggest beneficiaries by delivering 233 and 212 kills, respectively.

Seniors Michaela Cordova and Brooke Wroten have also each tallied 135 kills for the Lions. Senior Abby Monroe has recorded 132 kills, as LHS finished with 893 team kills in the regular season.

Meanwhile, senior Lauren Maceli posted a team-high 336 digs in 75 sets. Seniors Hannah Stewart and Cortney Hanna have also been crucial to the program’s stellar season.

“We have obviously done better this year,” Unruh said. “I think we are working harder in practice and trying to improve in practice. We are trying to not be satisfied with everything that we have done.”