On Wednesday, Oct. 29, the LSW varsity volleyball team won their district match against the Millard West Wildcats with a score of 3-1, ultimately sending them to compete at state at the Pinnacle Bank Arena on Nov. 5. The Southwest Silver Hawks are ranked No.20 out of all schools in the NSAA (Nebraska Sports and Activities Association) and is No.6 out of all schools in class A (25 schools). The team had many standout players that helped them reach this achievement such as sophomore Emma Rink, senior Alivia Gustafson and sophomore Taryn Weigel.
“I’m very proud of my season this year. I would definitely say that I have stepped up my game and improved a lot since last season,” Rink said. “Winning at districts was like a breath of fresh air, we were all so hyped up after that game and ready to face anything else that came at us.”
Rink was a top performer in class A with a hitting percentage of 0.286 and 71 total blocks. This victory against Millard West was seen as a redemption to many after LSW lost to them the past three times they have played against each other. Rink’s performance was an integral part of their Oct. 29 win, with her making many strong hits and blocks. However, Rink didn’t do it all on her own. The team’s harmony also plays a major role in their success.
“I think our team plays extremely well together. We all have a strong connection with each other, and I think we all have a certain type of harmony on the court,” Gustafson said. “I love volleyball and my team so much. Graduating and moving on will be extremely hard for me because I really value this community that surrounds the sport, but one thing I’m sure of is that this team is destined for greatness and will do amazing next season.”
During the match against Millard West, Gustafson picked up 17 kills. Gustafson is also a top performer in class A for having 417 kills in total for the 2025 season. The first match for state was on Wednesday Nov. 5 against the Papillion La-Vista South Titans and unfortunately ended with a loss for the LSW varsity volleyball team 3-1.
“It is always super fun to play with my team. When we get to step out on the court, it’s always super exciting because everyone is so supportive and the games are always fun,” Weigel said. “The team was definitely bummed about losing at state, but I have faith that we’ll be able to improve and hopefully win a state title next season.”