GREENVILLE – The Lady Wave swept the visiting Piqua Lady Indians 3-0 on Senior Night in MVL volleyball action, giving the team two 2024 conference wins over Piqua.
“We’re trying to get ready for post-season, but we know we have to put today’s events first,” said Greenville coach Michelle Hardesty. “The seniors really wanted to win this game.”
“We didn’t play the best against Piqua the first time around,” she continued. “We went five and won, but tonight the girls showed what they were made of, and we beat them in three very convincingly even though they were fighting that second and third set. We are super proud of them.”
The Greenville varsity volleyball program honored four seniors: No. 5 Shyanne Gibboney, No. 18 Laci Shepherd, No. 19 Brooke Schmidt, and No. 21 Olivia Flatter, before the night’s Miami Valley League contest.
“This senior class made a huge impact on this program from the day they walked in this gym as freshmen,” Hardesty stated. “They worked hard, wanted to learn, did things outside of season to get better, and it showed. The impact they made on this program is going to be lasting.”
“Very successful,” Coach Hardesty said of the senior’s future. “They are all very smart, resilient young ladies. I see a bright future for them going forward.”
Shyanne Gibboney was recognized for her 1,000th Lady Wave dig.
“I never thought I would have, couldn’t have imagined it,” Gibboney said of her 1,000th dig mark. “I just tried my best at every practice, every game. Every single one of my teammates helped, whether on the court or off the court, cheering for me.”
The Lady Wave easily outdistanced Piqua 25-12 in the opening set and never looked back in earning the team’s last home game of the 2024 season.
Set No. 2 went to Greenville by a 25-21 score, sending the match to the third set with the Lady Wave holding a comfortable 2-0 advantage.
The Greenville girls closed the sweep with a 25-18 third-set win in downing the Lady Indians.
Brooke Schmidt will take her skills to the next level with the Tiffin University Lady Dragons volleyball program, but not before a bitter-sweet final home game for the Lady Wave.
“I didn’t have the realization until I sat down for the last time and I looked at Martin, and I was like, oh my gosh, that’s the last time I’m stepping on this court to play a volleyball game; that’s the last time everybody is going to be able to watch,” Schmidt said. “I worked so hard, and many people have supported me throughout my career. It means the world to me.”
“My family did so much, and I can’t thank them enough,” Brooke continued. “They have helped me so much, and so many other people have helped me to get to this point that I am today, and I can’t thank them enough. I have gotten to do so many things in Greenville that I am beyond blessed, like reaching 1,000 th (kill) and attending college to play volleyball.”
Greenville improves to 13-8 overall and 12-5 in conference play, while Piqua falls to 8-13 overall and 8-9 in the MVL.
