The Midway Lady Raiders’ postseason run came to an end Thursday night in the regional round of the state volleyball playoffs, falling to a tough Ayden-Grifton squad in straight sets, 25-18, 25-20, 25-20.
It was a hard-fought match that capped a memorable season for the Raiders, who battled through early uncertainty to become one of the region’s most cohesive and competitive teams.
“Honestly, the way our season started out, I was unsure how deep we would go, not how deep we could go, because I always felt we had the ability,” said head coach Susan Clark. “The chemistry is always a very important thing with teams, especially girls. They battled. They were not satisfied with where we started the season, and they just kept pushing.”
Clark said a turning point came after a disappointing performance against Wallace-Rose Hill earlier in the year.
“I think when we lost to Wallace things started shifting in a different direction,” she pointed out. “That wasn’t a bad team; it was just a bad game on our part and a great game on Wallace’s part. But that match was an eye-opener that it could be any game at any time, and it could end just that quickly and just that easily.”
That realization sparked a transformation within the team. “The biggest thing that made the difference is that our girls started being a unit,” Clark said. “They started having more fun together. They did good things outside of the gym and school, and they just became better friends in a sense. The chemistry was great, and they really pushed each other.”
Midway’s offense was led by senior standouts Kaedyn Moran and Gracyn Hall, who combined for 32 of the team’s 36 kills. Moran finished with 18 kills on 26 swings and an impressive .692 hitting percentage, while Hall followed with 14 kills at a .700 mark. Junior Cailyn Hewlett added four kills, hitting .571, as the Raiders totaled 54 attacks with only two errors.
Though the Lady Raiders battled to stay close in each set, Clark said the intensity of the regional round created a different type of challenge. “I honestly think in this last game they pushed and put so much pressure on themselves that it created a sense of anxiety to the point that they couldn’t keep their feet on the ground,” she said.
“But Ayden-Grifton was a tough opponent. When you make it to regionals, the competition doesn’t get easier. I told them going in that it was going to be a battle, and it was a durable battle.”
Clark, who guided Midway to a 25-26 record, said she couldn’t be prouder of the resilience and heart shown by her group throughout the year. “They were not satisfied with being average,” she said. “They worked hard to become better players and better teammates. It’s been such a joy to watch their growth, not only on the court but as young women.”
The program will graduate four seniors, three of whom were part of the starting rotation.
Clark said their impact will be lasting. “This team has made me laugh more than any group I’ve ever coached,” she attested. “We’ve had a good time. If you take the fun out of it, it’s most of the time not worth doing. They reminded me of why I love coaching. Just watching them enjoy each other, it was great.”
Even with key departures, the future remains bright for Midway’s volleyball team.
“I do have some strong players returning, and our JV program was on point this year,” Clark said. “They only lost one game all season, and they handled the non-conference and the conference. That gives us a great base to build from.”
Clark said several of her players continue developing through travel volleyball during the off season, which she believes is key to Midway’s consistency. “It makes a huge difference,” she said. “It helps build confidence, develop stronger skills, and it can’t help but make you better.”
Reflecting on a season that brought both challenges and triumphs, Clark expressed gratitude for the journey. “These girls brought back my joy for coaching,” she said. “They made me laugh, they made me proud, and they showed what it means to stay together through ups and downs. That’s something that will carry over long after volleyball is done.”