The varsity team after their win.
The CORE Butte volleyball team closed out the regular season in front of a packed home crowd Thursday night, with both the JV and varsity teams taking down Burney. Hundreds from the community filled the gymnasium, cheering and chanting along with every point as the Lynx wrapped up the season heading into next week’s playoffs.
The night began with the JV team, who came out strong and kept control through both sets. CORE took the first 25-17 after a back-and-forth start, then sealed the match in the second 25-21 to win 2-0. Burney kept pressure early in the second set, but CORE’s defense and smart serving helped them hold on to close it out.
Between the two matches was the Senior Night ceremony, where each senior was honored in front of the net with flowers and applause. Shoutout to senior players Macey Ascherman, Zoe Newton, Gracie Rabo, Reagan Coates, Karisa Walborn, Apple Bolton, Allison Freimuth, and Bella Haselton. Athletic Director Stephanie Haas led the recognition, celebrating the seniors for their dedication to the volleyball program and the school.
When the varsity team took the court, CORE led a similar result. They dominated the first set 25-13, then edged out two incredibly close sets 26-24 and 25-23 to complete a 3-0 sweep over Burney. Each set saw quick runs and tight rallies, but CORE stayed composed to finish strong in front of their home crowd.
After the win, Coach Bailey Burke reflected on the match: “This game was good,” Burke said. “We didn’t get quite enough of our heavy hitter Apple (Bolton) tonight. I think the team did great at times, they pulled it together, but there were some issues with communication and passing. Still, it was a good game.”
Senior Apple Bolton also shared her thoughts on the night: “I think tonight was a lot of fun and we did good compared to the last game, and we’re ready for the playoffs.”
The win improves CORE Butte’s varsity record to 19-7 overall (league 7-2), and JV to 6-9 (league 2-4), capping off a strong season heading into the postseason. The Lynx will begin playoffs next Thursday, looking to carry their momentum from Senior Night into the next round.
Go Lynx!