The volleyball team will play against Wakeland in the arena on Sept. 3 at 7 p.m.

Maxpreps currently ranks Wakeland at No. 18 in the state and Hebron at No. 23. Following a seven-game win streak, the Lady Hawks lost to Highland Park and were stripped of their undefeated record. This is one of their last games before they head into the district season.

“I try not to stress too much about those losses [because] I knew they were going to come,” head coach Rachel Buckley said. “I’ve said it once and I’ll stand by it for the rest of the season: I think we will lose, but I don’t think anybody will beat us. We lost. We [beat] ourselves. [Wakeland’s] got a great program, so it’ll be a good game to get us going into the district season.” 

Following a 21-21 record last year, libero Carola Moreno said the mental aspect of volleyball is one of the biggest challenges the team faces. 

“Volleyball is a very mental game,” Moreno said. “Whenever you’re stressed out or whenever a ball is not working out for you, it’s important to take a second to breathe and reset yourself mentally.” 

Throughout the start of the season, the team has lost two key players to injuries: middle blocker Haley Kerstetter to an ankle sprain and opposite hitter Grace Schneekloth to a dislocated thumb. Buckley said these bumps have impacted the team early in the season, but they’re trying to keep their heads steady, clean and focused.

“Hebron volleyball is known for their discipline, for things that are bigger than just talent,” Buckley said. “If we win, we use that to motivate us and propel us into district. If we [lose,] we’re going to have to learn from it; it has to be a lesson.”

Buckley was handed the reins at the end of last season after former head coach Karin Keeney announced she was retiring. Keeney had been a part of the volleyball program since the school opened and coached the program to multiple state titles. Outside hitter Addison Vary said hearing about Buckley’s success, including winning the state championship as a player at Hebron, makes the goal of reaching the same destination seem achievable. 

“Having [coach Buckley’s] face on that state championship wall is surreal,” Vary said. “Every time we’re doing abs, she’s like ‘I want you to know [the] feeling of being on that wall,’ and everyone is like ‘We have to push and work harder now.’”

Vary said the team aims to keep its record strong for the remainder of the season with hopes of becoming district and state champions. She said Buckley emphasizes the immense feelings that come with winning a title and that to get there, every game counts. 

“My goal is to be district champs, and I want a state title,” Vary said. “One of our goals is to stay in unison when playing our game because we have that H on our chest for a reason. We need to go out there, play our game and not worry about the other side of the net.”