Emotions were running high at Portage High School on Monday night as the six seniors on the varsity volleyball team took their home court for the final time. The Portage volleyball team hosted senior night on Monday as the lady Indians battled the Wheeler Bearcats. Prior to the match, the seniors were honored in a pregame ceremony. Caitlin Byrd, Ali Johnson, Ari Cummings, Haley Snyder, Kacie McGuire and Carli Piro all took part in the event, accompanied by their parents.
The Bearcats captured the first game 25-18 and the second 26-24. They completed the 3-0 sweep be virtue of a 25-12 win in the final game.
A large and supportive student section was on hand to cheer on the Indians. The theme for the match was sports attire, so the fans sported shoulder pads, catchers gear, baseball pants and football helmets.
Information about the seniors was passed along during the ceremony. Caitlin Byrd has plans of attending college next year to pursue a career in teaching. Her accomplishments include being named the Star of the Game against Morton, participating in Student Council, and making Honor Roll.
Ari Cummings, the Indians libero, plans to major in pediatric nursing at Purdue. Ali Johnson lists her best high school volleyball memory as connecting as a team at the Logansport Tournament and reaching the championship. Setter Kacie McGuire was the 2012 Junior Miss and is the Vice President of National Honor Society. Carli Piro has hopes of attending Indiana University Northwest or Indiana University Purdue Indianapolis next year. Haley Snyder, the final senior to be introduced, enjoys working with children who have learning disabilities.
The juniors, who were in charge of emceeing the senior night ceremony, received a preview of what they will be in store for a year from now.
Portage battled through an up and down regular season in which they totaled ten wins. The highlight of the year was a 3-2 upset victory over Michigan City on Sept. 15.
The Indians enter the postseason on Thursday as they take on Michigan City in the first round of the LaPorte Sectional. The match will get underway at 5:30.