photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

LHS setter Olivia Monroe sets the ball for a spike against Olathe West on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Lawrence High School.

The Lawrence High School volleyball team fell to the visiting Olathe West Owls 3-0 on Tuesday, but the team’s spirits continue to remain high with confidence that they can battle against anyone, as evidenced by the game’s second set.

The Lions struggled with slow starts. The Owls led 10-3 in the first set and 9-3 in the third. The Lions were able to make the final two sets competitive but couldn’t win while attempting to get out of the hole.

Yet, no matter the score, the Lions continued to fight. They took the lead in the middle set before faltering late and had a strong rebound in the third set. It is something that LHS coach Deborah Newkirk believes the team can build on, especially when doing so against a talented and tall Olathe West team.

“I’m proud of how we did, especially in that second set,” Newkirk said. “They battled. They’re proud of their floor, their program. That second set was a confidence booster… we can build on that.”

After falling down 10-3 in the first set, the Lions regrouped some but never could dig themselves out of the hole they created. The first set ended in a 25-11 win for the Owls. Newkirk said that the Lions struggled at first against the Owls’ hitting but that her team adjusted well throughout the match.

“It was still a lot thrown at us, but we continued to chip away and got better at picking up that first pass,” Newkirk said. “I loved our effort… I don’t think any ball hit the floor without an arm or a hand reaching out to get it.”

The second set showed the identity of the Lions group. Despite the tough start, the Lions never wavered and continued to press the Owls. The Lions tied the set at 10-10 before taking a 14-11 lead. They held control and at one point held a 17-13 lead, but the Owls bounced back on a 12-6 run to win 25-23.

Harper Dye had a particularly strong night, especially in the second set. The outside hitter recorded numerous kills that helped lift the Lions to the lead during the second set. Along with Dye, setter Olivia Monroe played well in a defensive role by getting under the ball as it came from the Owls’ hitters and passing it to her teammates.

Those two are part of the six seniors that lead the Lions. They have built the identity that showed in the second set, and Newkirk said that they’ve set that expectation through the entire program.

“They’re competitors,” Newkirk said. “They might be small — I think we had one player who could see eye-to-eye across the net — but we can jump well and we are relentless. And I credit that to the seniors.”

The Lions cheer after every point they score, but one of the loudest cheers rang from the team when Olathe West called a timeout down 14-11 in the second set. To force the Owls to regroup and talk things over with their coach was one of the greatest confidence boosts in that match.

In the final set, the Owls started to pull away with an 11-6 lead. A timeout by the Lions allowed them to regroup and both teams went 4-4 directly after, but the Owls finished the set with a 25-13 win to win the game three sets to none.

Newkirk said that she and her team believe they are close to a win. The Lions have switched their rotations around some through the first month of the regular season, and Newkirk believes that they have found a formula that can win them games. Against Olathe West, it showed in that second set when they went punch-for-punch with the Owls.

The Lions will host Free State High School on Thursday, which will mean a lot of energy from both schools. Newkirk said that if her team plays on Thursday how they did on Tuesday, then it will be an exciting match.

“(The Firebirds) are a good, scrappy team,” Newkirk said. “I haven’t seen (the rivalry) yet, but I’ve been hearing about it pretty much every day since I arrived in town.”