photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

The LHS volleyball team was on full display Thursday afternoon, Aug. 25, 2023, at the program's annual fall showcase.

After Lawrence High canceled its fall sports jamboree due to dangerous levels of heat, the LHS volleyball team reaped the spotlight Thursday with its annual open scrimmage – a tradition that head coach Stephanie Scarbough has hosted as long as she can remember.

This week’s showcase was especially loud, however, with students, parents and faculty in the seats of the LHS gymnasium to catch a glimpse of this year’s volleyball squad before next week’s season opener at Blue Valley Northwest on Tuesday.

It’s a chance for the players to get out before a crowd in their full uniforms, which are dispensed based on seniority. Consequently, six seniors were calling dibs on their favorite number for the first and final time as a Chesty Lion.

After all the colors were sorted, it was time to play volleyball. LHS runs two courts at once during the event, which officially marks the beginning of the end for its senior class.

“I think it’ll slow down a little bit for me because I’ll be really taking in the moment,” senior libero Brecken Ostronic said.

“You don’t expect it to go as fast as it does, but here we are,” senior libero Isabelle Waisner added.

Ostronic, Waisner and senior outside/right-side hitter Seenane Brewer, a New Mexico volleyball commit, are three names likely to be found on every opponent’s scouting report this season. The senior trio played a key role in helping LHS turn around last year’s disappointing start and reach the substate title match.

Still, LHS is chasing its first winning season since 2018.

“I think our team has great chemistry,” Ostronic said. “Overall, we just have a lot of fun playing together and we’re just looking to build that. We ended off on a really good track last season, although it didn’t end great, but we’re trying to carry that momentum.”

The first stop in that mission is a talented BV Northwest program that finished 24-11 with a lengthy postseason run last fall.

Scheduling a deep team early is fully intentional, Scarbrough said.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High head volleyball coach Stephanie Scarbrough and her program host a fall showcase every August ahead of the regular-season opener. LHS travels to Blue Valley Northwest next Tuesday to begin its fall slate.

“That’s a strong competitor that we always start the season with Scarbrough said. “It sets the tone of what kind of competition we’re going to see all year in the Sunflower League, which is always strong. We’ve got to be ready for everybody.”

Next week’s season-opener dual is slated for 6:30 p.m. at BV Northwest.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Jessica Sayler calls out to her teammates during Thursday’s fall showcase on Aug. 24, 2023, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Kennedy Glasgow lines up her serve during a match at the fall showcase on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High sophomore Kennedy Glasgow communicates with junior Harper Dye during a match at the fall showcase on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at LHS.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High junior Olivia Monroe defends the net during Thursday’s fall showcase on Aug. 24, 2023, at LHS.