Warlassies celebrate Senior Night with a win

Owen closes out regular season in straight sets against Madison

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 18, 2023

Three Owen seniors were greeted by warm applause, Oct. 17, when the Warlassies hosted Madison in their final volleyball match of the 2023 regular season. 

The home team gave its fans plenty more to cheer about on Senior Night, as Owen improved to 15-5 with a 3-0 victory over the Patriots.

Abby Reitzel, Mary Keeter and Hayden Koone were escorted by family members and teammates, as they stepped on the court for the final regular season match of their high school volleyball careers. The trio, head coach Nikki Roland said after the match, is an “amazing group.”

“They really took on a positive role with this team this year, which was something we really needed,” said Roland, whose team finished second in the Western Highlands Conference standings in her first season on the bench. “They’ve adjusted so well to changes we made, and they really bought into what we were trying to do with this program. They have been so committed to what we’ve been trying to do.”

That trend continued as Owen, wearing pink jerseys for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, led through much of the first set against Madison, taking a 1-0 advantage in a 25-18 victory. The Warlassies took the second set, 25-21, before cruising to a 25-12 win in the final frame.

Owen improved to 10-2 in the conference, winning eight of its last nine matches.

“This team, in every aspect of the game, exceeded my expectations in my first year here,” Roland said. “I couldn’t ask for a better start to my coaching career here at Owen, and the credit goes to these girls.”

While the Warlassies have been energized by an influx of young talent, including freshmen Kenzie Robinson and Mia Roland, senior leadership has provided much needed stability for the program, according to the coach.

“Abby played volleyball in the past, but she took last season off to compete in soccer,” Coach Roland said. “She’s been such a consistent player for us, coming back this year. She’s an incredibly smart player and does a great job of blocking at the net. She’s such an asset, and she’s done everything we’ve asked her to do.”

Seniors like veteran defensive specialist Mary Keeter have modeled maturity for younger players on the roster, she added.

“She knew when it was time to step up and be a leader, and then she knew exactly how to do that,” the coach said. “Mary has a soft demeanor, which is something that is really calming for a lot of the other players when they’re upset. She’s really been a leader, even through adversity, with her actions on and off the court.”

Koone, who led the Warlassies with 391 assists coming into Tuesday’s match, plays a vital role in the team’s attack, setting up attackers Robinson and Mia.

“Hayden is a true setter, and she’s known since the beginning of the season that she was going to be our number one setter,” the coach said. “Your game is only as good as your setter, and she’s done a phenomenal job for us.”

Each of the three seniors, Coach Roland continued, “carry themselves very well.”

Owen jumped from a fourth-place finish in the conference last season to a second-place showing in 2023. finishing the campaign No. 14 in the RPI standings NCHSAA 2A West Region, according to MaxPreps. The team is likely to host a first round playoff match, Saturday, Oct. 21, when NCHSAA seeding is announced later this week.

As the Warlassies await word on their first postseason opponent, the team is already preparing, according to the head coach.

“We’re taking no days off,” Coach Roland said. “We’ve done a great job during the regular season, but now it’s time to hustle even more, work harder than ever and continue improving on the little things that solidify our game.”

Photos of Owen Volleyball Senior Night can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.