Twice Perfect: Immanuel finishes another undefeated season

Going undefeated is not easy. No matter what sport. No matter what level.

The eighth-grade volleyball team at Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour recently wrapped up a 21-0 season, not losing a set along the way. That followed up a 16-0 mark as seventh-graders.

Any member will tell you that it wasn’t easy putting together a perfect season.

“It’s very hard with the pressure of beating our biggest rivals and beating a team more than once,” setter and right-side hitter Taylor Russell said.

“It’s really difficult because you have to keep your mentality high, and you have to work hard every game to win,” left-side hitter and back-row player Lauren Fleetwood said.

Janet VanLiew has coached this group of girls since they were fifth-graders. She is proud of her team for putting together back-to-back solid seasons.

“I think last year, as we went through the season, (going undefeated) might have been a goal, but I’m not sure that was truly what they thought they would do,” VanLiew said. “The schools around here are very good, and this eighth-grade class all around this area is very strong. I think any of the coaches would tell you that.”

Going undefeated in seventh grade put a target on the team’s back this fall.

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