Republic volleyball honored four seniors on Senior Night, falling to Willard in a five-set thriller. The Tigers lost 25-27, 25-19, 25-20, 20-25, 13-15 in front of a home crowd celebrating Adison Gibbs, Reese Frey, Kaylee Cornelsen, and Nevaeh Ghan.
The match was typical of Republic’s competitive season, marking their third five-set loss in their last four matches. It was also the second loss in the past week in which the Lady Tigers won more total points than their opponent but couldn’t secure three sets for the victory.
Coach Allison Davis praised the departing seniors’ impact on the program.
“It’s another hard class to see go. They’re great kids, they’re great athletes, and what they’ve brought to our volleyball program has been amazing,” Davis said. “Just like all the graduating classes, you love them, and then they leave you, and that’s the hard part about it. They’re definitely leaving an impact on this program, and I’m just blessed to have them a part of the program and a part of my life, too.”
The loss dropped Republic’s record to 12-16 on the season. The Lady Tigers host Parkview on Thursday.