By Shaelynn Mayfield |Sports|
LHS Volleyball, like any other sports team, has had a reputation for years.
“The reputation is that we would always lose and that we would be an easy team to beat. More teams are now looking at us, thinking that maybe they should start working harder at practice,” senior Mackenzie Pierson said.
Last year they were 11-22 by the end of the season, and as of September of the 2017/2018 year their current record is 6-8.
Varsity Coach Megan Christensen agrees saying, “The entire team this year has increased the standards for Lincoln High Volleyball- they hold each other accountable and push each other which hasn’t happened in 
the past. We are much improved from where we were last year. They push each other more in practice as well as in the off season, the majority of this group worked really hard-in the weight room playing club volleyball. Also in practices if they are not okay with their teammates effort they make them start over or do some type of conditioning.”
Knowing the reputation from past years is motivating them to make some changes. Senior Hannah Burianek says that she’s noticing many differences this year that are helping the team get better.
“The level of our athletes and how competitive they are has improved a lot this year. And we are just working our way to the top, especially because we have so many seniors, and they would all like to go to state this year,” Burianek said.
Over half of the varsity players this year are seniors, so an obvious goal, like Hannah said, is to be able to attend state during their final year.
“Last year a lot of the seniors were kind of tricked out, and now we are more motivated to do better and to prove that Lincoln High Volleyball is actually pretty good,” Pierson said, “we just want to prove to the student body and staff that we are good, and that they shouldn’t overlook us.”
By tricked out Pierson means, “That the seniors last year weren’t motivated towards the end of the season.”
Changing the thoughts of everybody watching is the team’s biggest motivator. They know that they are capable, and their most recent games prove that fact. The varsity girls will be taking their dedication and determination to the court at 6:30 p.m. this Tuesday at Lincoln North Star.