Volleyball wins against Plano East on Senior Night

Senior+Brooke+Nichols+waves+to+the+crowd+as+her+name+is+called+before+the+senior+night+game+begins.+Nichols+has+played+on+varsity+all+four+years+of+high+school+and+committed+to+play+at+Old+Dominion+University+next+year+in+college.+

Sarosh Ismail

Senior Brooke Nichols waves to the crowd as her name is called before the senior night game begins. Nichols has played on varsity all four years of high school and committed to play at Old Dominion University next year in college.

Volleyball’s Senior Night took place Nov. 6 before the game against Plano East. The game resulted in a second win against the Wildcats in district, making the team’s current record 5-7. 

 

“We started the game off strong and were very aggressive,” junior Harmony Sample said. “I think that helped us stay ahead.”

 

Friday’s game went to three sets with scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-21. The previous match against Plano East was closer, with five sets that ended with a 3-2 win for Hebron. Each set started with a 5-10 point lead on Plano East. More competitive rallies picked up closer to the end of the game, but Plano East fell short at the end of each set. 

 

“The varsity games are faster than any other pace I’ve played volleyball at,” senior Kya Gray said. “I like it because it gives me a lot of adrenaline.”

 

The seniors: Brooke Nichols, Paige Patrick, Shakya Sanders, Tiana Hammock, Holly Moore, Kya Gray and Audrey Stewart were announced before the game started. Two of the seven seniors have committed to play volleyball in college; Nichols will play Division One at Old Dominion University and Paige Patrick will play at Newberry College. Gray said she is grateful to be a leader for the underclassmen this year.

 

“They look up to me and all of us,” Gray said. “I like that I can leave something with them to carry on.”

 

With two games left in district at Marcus and Flower Mound, both who defeated Hebron earlier in the district season; the Hawks have a chance to make playoffs if they win those games. Flower Mound and Marcus are both ranked in the top 10 of 6A volleyball in the Dallas Morning News. The tough competition and the Hebron tradition of making the playoffs makes the stakes higher for the players going into the next two games. Gray said winning matters, but she is glad the seniors had fun.

 

“We did good and we may not make it to the playoffs, but we had fun which is important,” Gray said.