Four years ago, Aubrey Oleksik, Ali Young, Jenna Mullins and Alyssa Boyd started a journey together as Lady Pioneers. Their paths haven't always looked the same. Their roles certainly haven't been the same this season.
But Tuesday night, they got to finish where they started - together on the court.
Warren County's four seniors were more than the guests of honor on Senior Night at Charlie Dalton Gym. All four played meaningful roles as the Lady Pioneers battled through two nail-biting sets against border rival Cannon County before finally taking control in the third, completing a 29-27, 26-24, 25-11 sweep.
“We came into tonight knowing that we wanted to play for our seniors,” coach Erin Blalock said. “It's a great senior class. They've put a lot of time and effort into this program over the last four years, so we knew we wanted to come in and play big and get a win for them, and they were able to do that.”
Before the match, Young, Oleksik, Boyd and Mullins were individually recognized, with voiceover recordings recounting some of their memorable times as Lady Pioneers. Tuesday will probably be another night they won't soon forget.
For Young and Oleksik, sharing the varsity floor has been commonplace throughout their careers. Both have been fixtures in the lineup, with Oleksik providing a consistent option on the outside and Young anchoring the back row.
Boyd and Mullins have traveled a different path.
Both have spent much of their senior seasons leading Warren County's JV group, accepting roles Blalock has repeatedly praised them for embracing. They've stayed ready, helped younger teammates develop and waited for opportunities to contribute when called upon.
Senior Night brought everybody back together.
“It meant a lot to me,” Young said. “We haven't got to do it since I think it was freshman year, and so it meant a lot just to play with them again.”
They weren't simply on the floor for ceremonial purposes either.
Cannon County made Warren County earn everything in the opening two sets, and the seniors repeatedly found themselves in the middle of the biggest moments.
The Lionettes appeared to have stolen the opening set when a shot was initially ruled in with Warren County facing set point. The call was overturned, however, giving the Lady Pioneers new life.
They made it count.
Mullins went to the service line and helped Warren County dig its way out of the late deficit, with Sloan Youngblood providing a huge slam during the closing stretch.
It was a big blow to Cannon County’s opening effort, but a huge boost to a senior class looking to settle into an emotional night.
“I did have some nerves, but knowing that I had my fellow seniors on the court really helped ease those nerves, and I was able to get it to them, and I felt like I could trust them with the ball,” Mullins said.
The second set brought more of the same.
Neither team could create much separation and once again Warren County found itself needing to execute with the set hanging in the balance. That's been a problem at times this season - Several matches slipped away from the Lady Pioneers after they found themselves in position to finish.
Not Tuesday.
Warren County made enough plays late to escape 26-24 and take a commanding 2-0 advantage.
“I knew we had it, but we just had to fix the little things,” Young said.
By the third, the nerves were gone and so was Cannon County's ability to keep pace.
Warren County rolled to a sweep, improving to 13-12 overall and giving the Lady Pioneers their third straight victory. All three have been sweeps over border rivals as the team followed victories over White County and DeKalb County with another over Cannon County.
Oleksik made sure her final regular-season night at the Dalt included one more big performance. She led Warren County with 11 kills while adding six digs and a block.
“We were trying to have fun because it was senior night and all, but we needed to really focus,” Oleksik said. “And once we did, we were able to put it away pretty easy.”
Boyd and Mullins were busy making sure everybody got opportunities.
Boyd finished with a team-high 18 assists while adding eight digs and two kills. Mullins supplied 14 assists, a team-high nine digs, two aces and a kill.
Together, the two seniors who have spent much of the year directing Warren County's JV group accounted for 32 of the Lady Pioneers' 34 assists on Senior Night.
For Boyd, simply getting the opportunity carried plenty of emotion.
“I was really nervous at first, but I think once I warmed up, it was really fun, and I really enjoyed playing with the girls,” Boyd said.
Young added seven digs, two assists and an ace, meaning all four seniors left their fingerprints on the victory.
They had plenty of help too. Natalie Payne, Brynlee Chisam and Youngblood each finished with five kills. Ella Wells added three kills and a team-high four blocks, Payne had three blocks and Caroline Boyd continued working her way back from injury with three kills.
It was another complete effort for a Warren County team that appears to be finding its best volleyball at the right time.
“It's definitely important to be playing your best ball right here at the end of the season and entering postseason,” Blalock said.
But Tuesday was about more than building postseason momentum. Oleksik, Young, Mullins and Boyd got another victory - another sweep - and, most importantly, they got another chance to play together.
“I was really excited to have everybody all together,” Oleksik said. “It was really fun to get to play with Jenna and Alyssa tonight.”
Boyd felt much the same.
“It felt great,” Boyd said. “I really enjoyed being out there with them and playing with them because we haven't played together in so long. So I really enjoyed it, and I'm really glad we got to.”
And for Mullins, there was only one way to describe it.
“It felt like a blessing come true.”
