Crouched, Varsity assistant coach Katrina Gerber talks with her players Nov. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. This was the Cougars final match for the state tournament. “It had been a long day so we needed to dig deep and forget how tired we were.”

In the air, freshman Tori Creason prepares to set the ball. Creason’s plays as a setter for her team. “My main focus is to make sure I can keep the play going and give my hitters a good hit-able ball,” Creason said. “I also try to run my offense as much as possible to keep the other team on their toes.”

Yelling, senior Rylee Garrett gains a point for team Nov. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The Cougars lost 22-25 in their second set to the Trailblazers. “Volleyball is a game of momentum,” Garrett said. “As a leader on the team I take it upon myself to try to create that energy for our team and it’s contagious then so everyone is hyped up.”

Junior Taylor McCarthy returns the ball Nov. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. McCarthy plays as a hitter for the cougars. “In these situations I’m first of all thinking be aggressive because if you aren’t aggressive they can return it and keep getting points and keep your cool because if you get riled up that makes everyone else go crazy and chaos starts,” McCarthy said.

Huddled up, senior Rylee Garrett talks with her team before their final set Nov. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The Cougars won their first set but had lost their second to the Trailblazers. “When I led that huddle before the last set I just reminded everyone of what they already knew. We can beat this team. We’ve done it before and we will again right now,” Garrett said. “Sometimes everyone needs a reminder of how great they are and I make sure my teammates never forget.”

Freshman Vix Vilott sends the ball back over the net Nov.1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. The Cougars won two out of the four games they played during the State games. “The thing I enjoyed the most about the State matches were how competitive each team was and how determined everyone was to win and just playing with some of my best friends,” Vilott said.

Showing sportsmanship, sophomore Vivian Kieffer meets the opposing team at the net Nov. 1 at Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Kieffer plays Libero for the cougars. “Our final state volleyball match was bittersweet,” Kieffer said. “I was happy about the win against Gardner because they were a pretty good team and we fought hard to win against them. I was also sad because I knew it would be my last time playing with that exact group of girls who I had become really close with over the course of the season.”