As her mother’s eyes brim with tears, senior volleyball player Taryn Eddie (12) is escorted down the court by her parents. She hugs her coach and accepts a bouquet of flowers. Today, Oct. 2, is the date of the last home game Eddie will ever play in her highschool career. As she greets her other senior teammates, Sabrina Williams, Devyn Davis, Keyonna Moore and Dayla Rhodes prepare to play against Southwind High School for their last game before SCIAA championships.

“I have learned the value of teammates and having that connection and support from other people, especially when you are able to connect over the same thing, so it makes that bond a lot stronger,” Eddie said.

The Spartans swept the first set with a score of 25-14. They proceeded to win the second set 25-16 and the third 25-21, ending the regular season with a victory. Coach Teresa Thomas continued the annual tradition of substituting the seniors out and exchanging them for younger players. This symbolizes the continuation of the program whilst honoring the seniors’s legacies.

“I think they just lead by example more than anything. They’re always following the rules and doing what they’re supposed to do on and off the court,” Thomas said.

After the game, the girls celebrated their victory, taking pictures with their parents and teammates. Though they won this game, it is not the end of their season. Now, they will advance into postseason, with the primary goal of winning a state title. 

“To me, there’s no other program like White Station’s volleyball program,” Devyn Davis (12) said.