With 13 wins this season, our volleyball team has maintained a strong reputation. With head coach Allison Reule leading the team to growing victories, the team has paved a path of victories, so far seeing a good end to the season as the Pioneers enter into the tournament season. 

One of the reasons for the team’s success is the focus on relationships. 

“We want to be a family, you know, unity, loving one another, showing gratitude and just playing tough all the time,” Reule says.

Junior Ali Hayes, who has played volleyball for eight years, says that the relationship goal has been successful. “We’re all best friends,” Hayes says. 

The season has not been without hardships. The team lost four seniors to graduation last year, and two have suffered injuries that have impacted the season. Hayes explains how through the hardships of a season, such as injury can strengthen the team providing them chances to bounce back and make changes when due. Hayes explains how sophomore Casey Anderson and junior Addison Garman were pulled up from the JV team to help assist the team 

“We’ve had to pull up people from different teams,” Hayes explains.”for example, Casey [Anderson], she’s our setter and Addie [Garman], after Sarah [Schimmoeller] graduated.” 

Ruele hopes to turn that unity into winning a league title. “We did talk about winning a league title,” Ruele says. “We’re likely to be playing a district championship match here in a couple weeks.”

The team is well on their way to this goal. The team won last night against Tecumseh to finish the regular season with a 15-6 overall record and third place in the CBC. According to Reule, the continued mantra carrying this team through these wins is “pride, passion and playing with a purpose.”

The tournament kicks off with a home game against Walnut Ridge on Oct. 17. at 6 p.m.