Republic’s volleyball seniors led the way on Senior Night, helping the Lady Tigers to a three-set win over Carthage Thursday, 25-14, 25-13, 25-17.
Senior Rilynn Finley led the team with 26 kills. Classmate Aubrey Haynes had a team-high 11 digs. Brooklyn Claxton and Alaina Norman, also seniors, had three service aces apiece. Claxton also led the team with 26 assists. Junior Nevaeh Ghan led the team with three blocks.
Before the match, Republic honored six senior players — Claxton, Haynes, Lexi Mitchell, Finley, Addison Fanning, and Norman — along with senior manager Sara Laster. Coach Allison Davis said she will have a hard time replacing this group of seven seniors.
“It’s hard to put into words what this senior class has meant to this volleyball program. The amount of time that I’ve had with them and what they have dedicated to the program to make it better is indescribable and priceless,” Davis said. “I hate losing seniors every single year, but this class is probably hurting me just a little bit more than any other class. It’s a big class. It’s a very talented class.”
Davis added the versatility of the senior group is something that stands out about them, because they each bring different leadership styles and gifts to the team.
“There are so many of them, and they bring very different things to the team, and I think that’s what’s going to be so hard to replace,” she said. “A lot of them are vocal leaders. A lot of them are leaders… by example. Some are encouragers, or they bring positivity, passion, and competitiveness.”
Another thing the senior group has brought to the program is wins. Republic ends its regular season at 23-5. Over the last three seasons, the Lady Tigers are 67-25.
Republic will open the district tournament at 2:30 p.m. October 21 against Glendale (20-6).