Prep volleyball: Seymour dances on to Senior Night sweep of Moravia
Sep. 25—SEYMOUR — It was only the second home match of the season for the Seymour High School volleyball team.
The Warriorettes were determined to make the most out of it.
Facing Bluegrass Conference rival Moravia for the third time this season, Seymour rode their emotional high of Senior Night to their most decisive win yet this season over the Mohawks. Olivia Power, one of Seymour's five seniors honored after the match, hammered home 12 of Seymour's 27 total kills in a 25-15, 25-11, 25-10 sweep on Thursday night.
"They were playing purposeful because it was Senior Night," Seymour head volleyball coach Jennifer Miller said. "We wanted to make sure our two home matches were going to be worth it for the fans. Having five seniors at a tiny school like this is a big deal. The experience shows.
"I'm proud of the girls and the team. We've been struggling recently, but if we play like this, we can beat anybody."
Moravia head volleyball coach Ryan Vanbogaert agreed that Seymour had taken their game to a higher level, improving from a 22-20, 24-22 win over the Mohawks at the Albia Tournament and a 25-22, 25-12 win at a triangular at Southeast Warren last month. Moravia, however, seemed out of rhythm at times defensively trying to counter the Warriorette attack throughout the match.
"I tried to make a decision to change up our blocking scheme a little bit to try and throw them off. I think it confused my girls more than it confused their girls," Vanbogaert said. "That was also the best that (Seymour) has served against us. They controlled the tempo. They controlled the rhythm. They were fired up for their Senior Night and they came out to prove a point."
"Seymour just has our number right now. We need to go back to the film and see what we can fix."
All five Seymour seniors were able to play significant roles in the Senior Night sweep. Gracie Peck added four aces on a perfect 17-17 serving effort while collecting a team-high nine digs while Maysen Trimble led the Warriorettes defensively at the net with four solo blocks.
"Moravia is our biggest rival, so we're always really excited no matter when we play them. Being Senior Night, we really pulled it all together," Trimble said. "We know a lot of teams are coming for us because of our record. It makes it that much better to step up like this and play this well on Senior Night."
Peck, Trimble, Power, Taylor Ruby and Mendon Jellison were also honored following their final home match as part of the Senior Night festivities for the Seymour volleyball team. Fans also joined in for a on-court dance to the playing of 'Cotton-Eye Joe' to close out the final home volleyball match of the regular season.
"After we win and after the Senior Night celebration, we just threw in the dance at the end," Miller said. "This is a fairy-tale ending. It doesn't always end up like that. It was a great night of volleyball together in Seymour, Iowa.
"We hyped it up all day at school. We told everyone to come out for the match," Trimble added. "There are a lot of people that are happy for the five of us. We've been together since third grade. We've been through it all."
Seymour (12-4, 3-0 Bluegrass) faces Melcher-Dallas and top-ranked (1A) Ankeny Christian on Tuesday in a conference triangular. Moravia (11-5, 3-1 Bluegrass) hosts a Bluegrass triangular of their own on Tuesday welcoming in Moulton-Udell and Lamoni.
— Scott Jackson can be reached at sjackson@ottumwacourier.com. Follow him on Twitter@CourierScott.
