A different kind of Senior Night
Owen volleyball holds scrimmage to recognize graduating players
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
January 6, 2021
Senior Laila Burk takes the court at Owen High School for the final time in a Senior Night Scrimmage on Jan. 5. Photo by Fred McCormick
In a season in which nothing has been normal, it was only fitting that the Owen High School volleyball team pay tribute to its seniors in a unique way.
The Warlassies held a Senior Night Scrimmage, Jan. 5, after the final home game of the season was canceled.
Owen was originally scheduled to host Western Highlands Conference foe Avery, which modified its volleyball schedule after a two-week quarantine in November. While the Vikings returned to the court in early December, the shuffling of the team’s schedule left the Warlassies with an opening on what would’ve been Senior Night.
Owen senior Madison Austin checks in for Senior Night, Jan. 5, when the Warlassies played an intersquad scrimmage to recognize graduating players on their home court. Photo by Fred McCormick
“We found out this game wouldn’t be played just a few hours before our last home game,” said fifth-year Warlassies head coach Kim Clark. “We decided to hold this scrimmage to give the parents one last chance to see their girls play one more time.”
The program hosted an intersquad scrimmage between the junior varsity and varsity teams Tuesday night, allowing parents of the six seniors on the roster to attend in a socially distant setting.
“This group of seniors is really special,” said Clark. “This is the first group, since I’ve coached, that chose to focus on building relationships on the team when I asked them to set goals prior to the season.”
Seniors Amariah King, left, and captain Hanna Fortson are two of the six players Warlassies head coach Kim Clark credits for the team’s ability to navigate a challenging season. Photo by Fred McCormick
The leadership of Laila Burk, Addy Hamilton, Megan Ogle, Amariah King and captains Hannah Fortson and Addy Hamilton played a key role in navigating a season in the midst of a pandemic.
“It was important for us to recognize their contribution to this team,” Clark said. “This may not be the Senior Night they envisioned when they started playing, but it’s a way to make sure they know how much we appreciate the hard work they’ve done.”
The Warlassies opened the regular season with back-to-back victories over Mitchell in November and carry a 5-5- record into their final match of the season, which will be held at Madison, Friday, Jan. 7. A win against the Patriots will give Owen, which is 5-3 and currently in second place in the conference, a playoff berth.
Banners recognizing the six seniors on the Owen Warlassies volleyball team were displayed in the gym, Jan. 5, as the team held a scrimmage to recognize the players on Senior Night. Photo by Fred McCormick
The Warlassies missed the playoffs last year after losing a coin flip to Mountain Heritage to settle a tie for second place in the conference. When the 2020-21 season began, the coaching staff encouraged players to soak in every minute.
“When we started the season we told them to appreciate every moment, because we never knew which moment would be our last,” Clark said. “They really embraced that and they’ve focused on being ready to play, as a team, every night.”
Addy Hamilton (2), one of two senior captains for the Warlassies, listens to final instructions from head coach Kim Clark before a Senior Night scrimmage, Jan. 5. Photo by Fred McCormick
Following the scrimmage, seniors received gift baskets from the team.
“This has been a challenging season,” Clark said. “But, it would have been impossible to get through without this group of seniors.”
Owen senior Megan Ogle was one of six seniors on the Warlassies roster recognized in a scrimmage on Jan. 5. The team held the event after the final regular season home game against Avery was canceled. Photo by Fred McCormick