Warlassies rise to the occasion on Senior Night
Owen ends regular season with 3-1 victory over Mountain Heritage
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
October 14, 2026
Seven volleyball players stepped on the court in the Owen gymnasium, Oct. 13, as they prepared to compete in the final regular season home match of their respective high school careers.
Following an emotional pre-game ceremony celebrating Senior Night, the Warlassies gathered themselves in time to close out the campaign with a 3-1 victory over Western Highlands Conference opponent Mountain Heritage.
Tears flowed before the match, as Payten Brockman, Avery Boone, Adeline West, Ava Grant, Kenzie Robinson, Mia Roland and Nikki Schweyen were each escorted across the floor by family members. Lucille Conner, who did not attend, was recognized with her teammates.
The group, which has won a combined 61 matches since joining the program along with head coach Nikki Hinson in 2023, led Owen to a conference championship last season, when the team finished 12-0 against WHC opponents.
“These girls have pretty much been the glue that’s held everything together,” Hinson said. “Not only are they all strong athletes, but they also believe in each other. They know they play well together, as a team, and they understand when they rely on each other they are all better.”
Roland entered the contest with 827 kills and 1,140 digs in her four-year career for the Warlassies, while the setter, Robinson handled the ball more than 4,000 times during the same span of time, recording 1,573 career assists. From her position as middle hitter, West accumulated 464 kills and 300 blocks in four seasons in maroon and white.
Grant, who joined the varsity program as a sophomore, amassed 427 kills, 402 digs and 114 aces in three seasons, while Brockman notched 210 digs in 144 career sets played. Boone’s 252 career digs came in 123 sets.
“These girls just get each other,” Hinson said. “Not only do they get the game, but they get it, together.”
The group of seniors, which helped deliver Owen’s first volleyball conference championship in more than 30 years, has established a legacy within the program, according to the coach.
“They are a special group of players and people,” Hinson said. “I feel very fortunate to have been able to coach them and be part of their lives.”
The Warlassies came into their final regular season contest tied with Hendersonville for first place in the WHC. They established an early lead in the match with a 25-13 victory over the Cougars in the first set, before falling, 25-16, in the second.
Owen led through most of the third set, before recording a 25-23 win and cruising to a 25-17 victory to clinch the match. The Warlassies improved to 16-5, overall, and 11-1 in the conference with the win.
“It feels great to come out here and get these girls a victory on Senior Night, but now we have to focus on the playoffs,” Hinson said. “I think we’re starting to feel some pressure, knowing the playoffs are a one-and-done scenario. These girls really want to have a longer run than they did last season, and it’s our job to keep reiterating that any success we have, we’ll have to do it as a team.”
Photos from Owen volleyball Senior Night can be viewed in the gallery at the top of the page.