From freshman jitters to senior send-offs, seven Mt. Lebanon girls\u2019 volleyball seniors have been through it all together. For players who\u2019ve spent years diving across the court, celebrating victories and growing together, the 2025 season marked more than just the end of a schedule\u2014it marked the end of a chapter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior libero and captain Keira Palmer has been a backbone of the team since her freshman year as a four-year varsity player. To Palmer, this season was not about wins or losses; it was about the memories she created and the person she became.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis season was my last year playing school volleyball and the end of my nine-year volleyball career,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cSince it was my last time playing, I just wanted to have fun, always give my full effort, and make good memories to look back on.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior middle blocker Izzy Shane said the most important aspect of her senior season was playing her absolute best and leaving her mark on MTLVB. Shane is committed to play Division III volleyball at Waynesburg University, where she plans to double major in forensic investigation and criminal justice administration. She credits MTLVB for equipping her with the skills to play at the next level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI really just can\u2019t imagine not playing the sport I love,\u201d Shane said. \u201cI love being in the gym and doing drills to better myself and my teammates. I think MTLVB has equipped me for this because I didn\u2019t start really playing on varsity until this year. Last year, being benched truly helped me because I was able to get familiar with playing other positions, which is what my college coach was looking for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shane also credits her mindset for helping her grow throughout the years as both a player and a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe biggest growth in my mindset has been my ability to stay positive, even when we\u2019re down,\u201d Shane said. \u201cI used to really take it to heart and get down on myself, but now I focus on the next play, and that\u2019s really helped my mental game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palmer agrees that maintaining the right mindset is the biggest challenge in volleyball\u2014something she has learned to strengthen over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVolleyball is a game of mistakes, and if you dwell on them, it\u2019s hard to win,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cHave a short memory. Make an adjustment and move on, or it will affect the rest of your game.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Senior middle blocker Lucy McCord, a four-year varsity player, plans to continue her volleyball career in college while studying nursing. McCord credits the team\u2019s bond for making her senior season so special.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis season has meant a lot because it was my last chance to leave everything on the court with my team,\u201d McCord said. \u201cVolleyball and the team mean everything to me. They\u2019re like my second family, and I\u2019m so happy that this sport has brought me my best friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Palmer said the team\u2019s dynamic helped define her senior season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe most meaningful moment in my career is my last game against USC,\u201d Palmer said. \u201cSince I knew it was the last time I was playing, I gave all my effort. Even though we didn\u2019t win, it was so nice how the whole team was working together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before games, the team bonds through pregame huddles, hyping each other up to stay motivated and alert. Shane said those huddles have been among her most meaningful moments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think my most meaningful moment has been leading the huddles before every game,\u201d Shane said. \u201cIt helps me lock in and really focus on all aspects of the game and what to be prepared for.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCord also believes the teamwork and communication she has learned on and off the volleyball court will translate to her everyday life for years to come. To younger players, she urges them to soak in every moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy advice would be to always give 100%, no matter what you\u2019re doing,\u201d McCord said. \u201cNever take any moment for granted, because it all goes by so fast.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the seniors close out their final season, they leave behind more than just stats on a scoreboard\u2014they leave a culture of perseverance, positivity and unity. Their leadership has set the tone for younger players to follow, ensuring that Mt. Lebanon volleyball will continue to thrive for years to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy advice would be to stay positive, even when it gets hard,\u201d Shane said. \u201cBeing able to focus on the fact that volleyball is a sport where you\u2019re meant to have fun really can put everything into perspective and help you have a great season with your teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Seven Blue Devils close their final chapter together, celebrating friendship, growth and the love of the game<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":34121,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"nfd_image_url":"","nfd_onboarding_generated":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-34120","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-high-school"],"yoast_head":"\n