By Lindsey Hester
On Thursday, October 7th the Hackett Lady Hornets hosted the Booneville Lady Bearcats for their annual Pink Out game that honors those who have battled Cancer.
Hornet and Bearcat fans and teams shared a moment of silence prior to the start of the game. With emotions already high this would also be the last night seniors Madeline Freeman, Shayla Foster, Sarah White, and Kenadi Wright would take the court in the Hackett High School Gymnasium.
Freeman said “It was definitely an emotional night, and while it was our last game at Hackett, it’s nowhere near our actual last game, and the best part of the season is yet to come!” These four seniors played on both the 2019 2A and the 2020 3A State Championship teams and they have played important roles in the success of what is quickly becoming the Hackett Volleyball dynasty. “It was a bittersweet thing to do. We all knew it would be here eventually, so we were kind of ready for it, but knowing that it was the last game we will ever play here makes it sad. I’m excited to go to state though and win another ring!” said Foster.
The Lady Hornets came out strong taking the lead early on in the first set winning 25-16. But the Lady Bearcats came back for round two with a new fire, and while the battle was close, the Lady Bearcats pulled ahead for a 25-23 win in the second set. Up to serve first in the 3rd set was a determined Madeline Freeman who helped to quickly give the Lady Hornets a 6-1 lead on their ultimate 25-10 win. The fourth and final set of the night saw the Lady Hornets finish 25-13 over the Lady Bearcats. Junior Mackenzie Mendenhall led the team in kills with 12, followed by sophomore Alona Rothwell and senior Madeline Freeman with 10 each. Rothwell and Freeman also had 3 blocks a piece. Rothwell led the team in aces with 4 followed by Foster with 2. And Foster led in digs with 25. The final home game of the season for the Hackett Lady Hornets finished with another win under their belts.
“It is sad that this is our last home game, but at the same time, I am excited to see what the future has in store for all of us! It also helps that it wasn’t our last game ever. We still have a full season and I’m super excited for the rest of the season and where it takes us!” said White.
The Lady Hornets volleyball program currently has 98 wins since it started 6 years ago. Next week they travel to West Fork on October 12th and Charleston on the 14th, where Head Coach Bridget Freeman is looking for her 100 win for the program.
