The Liberty volleyball season came to an end on Monday, as the girls lost to Johnston High School in five sets. The volleyball team had thirty-two wins this regular season and only two losses. They also won their two regional games. However, the state tournament brought its own set of challenges for the girls. The girls were upset as the number one seed by the Johnston volleyball team, who was the eight seed in the tournament. 

Johnston came ready to play, as they shot out to a 7-1 lead in the first set, before ultimately winning 25-21. Liberty woke up and proceeded to torch Johnston, winning the next two sets 25-17. With Liberty up two sets to one, Johnston showed some fight and played a great fourth set. The Bolts were up 23-20, needing only two points to advance, but lost the fourth set by letting Johnston go on a 6-1 run to steal the fourth set at a final score 26-24. The fifth and final set, only played to 15, was back and forth for almost the entirety of it. The Bolts were up late again, at a score of 12-10, but ending up losing 16-14 in a heartbreaking loss. 

Leading the stat sheet per usual, Cassidy Hartman, junior, finished with 32 kills on 71 attempts, bringing up her total career kills to 1000. Shelby Kimm, junior, finished with 14 kills. Mariah Rollins, sophomore, and Asta Hildebrand, freshmen, combined for a total of 57 assists.

Though an early and upsetting exit for Liberty volleyball, they look to get back to state next year. With almost all team members returning next year, the girls will have a good shot.