Lone Tree volleyball continues hunt for first victory since 2024

Throughout the season, Lone Tree volleyball has come tantalizingly close to its first win since 2024.

A four-point loss to Highland in the Lions’ first tournament and a loss to Cardinal in extra points both marked narrow misses. With two weeks left in their 2026 slate, the Lions fell just short again in Tuesday’s WACO quad.

After dominating the second set to force a decisive third, the Lions fell to the Warriors 15-7 in the final set of a 2-1 loss before getting swept by Louisa-Muscatine and Keota.

The Lions led early in the first set against WACO, taking a 10-9 lead to open the match, but struggled to close the set, losing 21-14.

“There’s something about us getting going right away and getting our feet settled,” Lone Tree head coach Kyle Holderness said. “That’s something that we have to fix, it’s like we need to play a set before we start or something.”

A pair of 5-0 service runs for Lone Tree seniors Jordyn Tripses and Olivia Magruder gave the Lions a 21-15 win in the second, setting up a decisive third.

The Lions pulled the third set within one at 7-6, but a 6-0 run all but sealed it for WACO, as the Warriors cruised to victory.

Lone Tree struggled in its next three sets against more physical L-M and Keota teams, as the Lions chose to send a solo block against the Falcons and Eagles.

“When you run into teams like L-M, they have such good hitters that if you do something, they’ll adapt right away,” Holderness said.

In the second set against Keota, the defense found its footing, as Harper Kuboushek began to find success at the net deterring potent Keota hitters Elyse Lyle and Jessalyn Aller.

“It’s a lot of space to cover, but I know how fast I am on my feet, so I know they trust me,” freshman libero Maggie Burke said. “We had some good solo blocks anyway, Harper really helped us out, Fiona [Evans] too.”

Lone Tree took a late 19-18 lead, but back-to-back Keota aces clinched the match as the Eagles won the third set 21-19.

Lone Tree went on to go 0-3 at Saturday’s New London tournament.