Emotions got the best of the Lincoln Southwest volleyball team on senior night last season.Â
This year, the Class A No. 6 Silver Hawks avoided that mistake in a much more emphatic way.
Southwest swept No. 3 Fremont 25-17, 25-20, 25-23 in a surprising outcome at home on Tuesday night.
Last year, the Silver Hawks jumped out to an early 2-0 set lead on senior night before losing to Lincoln East. This year, the mission was simple: finish the match.
"Last year, things didn’t go our way. We were up 2-0 and got reverse swept," Southwest coach Jessica Kirkendall said. "We had that sour taste in the back of our minds and made sure that if we came out strong, we’d finish strong too."
That was exactly what the Silver Hawks did. Led by seniors Shelby Harding and Taylor Schuster, Southwest left little to be desired.
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Schuster, a junior varsity regular last year, was a well-kept secret. The 5-foot-11 middle blocker was still training for track when she learned she would be starting for varsity volleyball this season.
Still, the senior has turned into one of Southwest's most impactful players this season.
“It was nerve-wracking to start this year,†Schuster said. “I had never played varsity before, but we had great leaders last year, and my team has a lot of confidence in me. Those leaders left big shoes to fill, but whenever I’m on the court, I play for my team because I know they need me.â€
Schuster dominated the front row, especially in the second set.
Facing one of the best hitters in the state, Mattie Dalton, Schuster knew it would be a challenge, but she wasn’t intimidated.
“Yeah, she’s good, but I’m up there too,†Schuster said. “She’ll put a good swing on it, but I can put a good block on it.â€
Entering Tuesday’s game, Schuster led the Silver Hawks with 41 blocks on the season. After the match against Fremont, she had added two more, both solo blocks.
“She’s been a great example of what it means to work hard and be patient,†Kirkendall said. “She didn’t play varsity last year, but she always squared off against our seniors. Now, she’s stepping up against the best, competing, and shining.â€
Harding has also been a key player this season.
After playing behind Julia Trost and Maddie Rink a year ago, Harding has become a reliable point scorer.
She tallied 19 kills on Tuesday and credited her performance to her love for her teammates and the emotion she carried into the match.
“I just wanted to win and play well for Senior Night—not just for me, but for all the other seniors,†Harding said. “It’s definitely sad. I love all these people, and it’s hard knowing I’m leaving them. But we’re excited for the rest of the season, especially after tonight’s outcome.â€
Southwest wraps up its regular season this weekend at the Omaha Westside Invitational.