West hosted the annual Live Like Line volleyball tournament on Sept. 13. The Trojans invited 12 teams from the Mississippi Valley Conference for an all-day tournament in the West High gyms.
The Trojans started the day against Cedar Rapids Washington. West won in two sets, each ending 21-11. They then beat Grinnell, winning the first set 21-14 and the second set 21-5. With a 2-0 match record, West placed first in pool play to advance to the first-place bracket.
In bracket play, the Trojans lost their first set against Ankeny 21-17. However, the Trojans then came back to win the second set 21-10. They fell to Ankeny 15-12 in the third set, ultimately losing the match.
The team won two straight sets against Mid-Prairie, 21-17 and 22-20, then lost two sets to Clear Creek Amana, 21-19 and 21-14. They finished third in the first-place bracket.
“I feel like we’ve been building off of our past games. Before, we would go down in some holes. I feel like we’ve been…able to pull through the whole game. And I think in the future we’re just gonna keep continuing that,” outside hitter Taylor Otte ’28 said.
The Live Like Line tournament is an annual event at West to showcase the legacy Caroline Found left behind.
In 2010, setter Found helped lead the West volleyball team to win the state championship. The following year, Found died in a moped accident. While mourning the loss of their setter and friend, the team managed to pull through to the 2011 state championship for a back-to-back win, the most recent state title in West volleyball history.
“It means a lot to the girls, the community and the support has been phenomenal,” volleyball coach Jaedynn Evans said. “And so now I’m very grateful that I get to be a part of it and help keep her legacy moving and growing on forever.”
Despite some setbacks, the team is hoping to push forward with their previous momentum.
“We are really thriving. And I think the biggest piece is that I’m enjoying working with this group of girls so much because they love each other so much,” Evans said.
The Trojans are currently ranked ninth in the state with a 14-4 record. Their next game is against Western Dubuque in the West High School Main Gym on Sept. 23.
