The Other Side of the Story

Lanna Schurr wasn’t the leading server or the leading digger or the leading hitter for her high school volleyball team. She was never quoted in newspapers, coaches never focused on blocking her, and even her own teammates and coaches sometimes winced at her unorthodox mechanics. But that’s what made that night four years ago so special for her.

It was the biggest volleyball match of their lives. They had played together for 8 years, and now as seniors, it was time to prove that they belonged among the ranks of the undefeated. They hadn’t lost a single game in the post-season, going 9-0 to this point.

New London would be their biggest test to date. They were taller, better known, ranked much higher, and the match would take place only 10 minutes from their high school.

“I think that’s what made us even more excited. Everyone expected us to fall on our faces. Our coach read us this newspaper article. It was a preview for the match. They had us picked to loose in 3 games, said we weren’t explosive enough,” Schurr said.

Lanna was kind of an implant into this senior class. She had been with the team for six years and had very close friendships among the group, but those two years of club volleyball before Lanna’s family moved to Calamus in the 7th grade had always made her feel like an outsider.

“It was hard sometimes. It was like they just knew where each other would be on the court, or how high they needed their sets, or how to seal blocks together perfectly,” Schurr said.

As the team graduated from middle school and joined the ranks of the Varsity, Lanna continued to develop as a player. Soon she had won her position as the second outside hitter. The biggest start of her life came in the Regional Championship against New London.

“I remember before the match started we were doing hitting lines and I was swinging really hard,” Schurr said. “My coach came up to me and told me that I had to swing that hard in the game. I was so afraid to make mistakes though.”

The Warriors won the toss and elected to serve first, sending their schools all time ace leader to the line. Mason racked up a few early points before New London was able to return the serve. After a long rally Lanna got a quick set outside and swung like she had in warm ups.

“I was going for the cross court angle shot, but I was being too aggressive. I was sure the ball had sailed long, “Schurr said.

The line judge lowered her arms and pointed her hands down signaling in.

“That first hit was what gave me the confidence I needed that night. I did like my coach had said. I was the most aggressive I had ever been, and it really paid off,” Schurr said.

Lanna would go on to be aggressive the entire night. She had a career high 9 kills for the match. But more importantly she took the focus off of the Warriors All-State middle blocker, Megan Jacobi. New London was forced to double block Jacobi in the middle, instead of the dreaded triple block.

They never knew when a quick set might go outside to #3.

The warriors would go on to win the match in straight sets, continuing their unbeaten streak. Lanna Schurr was asked for an interview by a local sports reporter.

“It was so weird. They never wanted to talk to me. More than anything I felt like I had finally contributed,” Schurr said.

Four years later, Lanna remembers this match and this night as the best sporting memory of her life. But it wasn’t about the newspaper article, or swinging hard, or even winning the match. After all, the Warriors would lose the next match, stopping their journey for a state tournament birth, one game short.

“For me, I think that night was a little different. Even though we only played one more match together. I finally had my own identity on the team. “