1 week Ago By Lauren Rosenberg
The Elysian Fields Lady Yellowjackets historical season came to an end on Tuesday in a 3-0 sweep at the hands of the Frankston Maidens in the Class 2A regional semifinals. Elysian Fields fell 25-14, 25-13 and 25-19. Frankston took an immediate 7-2 lead due to hitting errors by Elysian Fields and perfectly placed attacks between Lady Jackets defenders.
After a 5-1 run, with the kill coming from Madison Owens, Elysian Fields took another timeout. They were able to squander up 11 more points due to timely kills by Owens and Kyleigh Stephens but ultimately fell. Set two kicked off Frankston’s way.
The Maidens scored six straight forcing an Elysian Fields timeout. After some service errors and kills by the Lady Jackets, Elysian Fields dropped the second set 25-12. Set three held a different tone then the first two.
The Lady Jackets were locked in despite being down 18-10. They would fall 25-19. They amounted several runs to start a comeback, but fell short of their goal.
The game might not have gone as planned, but their season was historical. Coach Crystal O’Brien told the jam-packed Elysian Fields gym at Meet the Jackets that this team had what it took to make it far in the playoffs. There was an immediate vibe on this squad from the moment they were introduced to the end of their season that a coach is lucky to have.
“The girls had an amazing season and I couldn’t ask for a better group. They worked hard and gave me everything they had. Everyday at practice they showed up, they talked and they were a family.
They were there for each other and I just knew they had the light, spark and determination to make [history] happen. You could see that early on that we just had all the pieces that were put to together at the right time and we were able to make history,” said Coach O’Brien. This Lady Jackets squad was like a family.
When they were down, the team would hype each other up and never let any negativity come in their direction. They all bought into everything O’Brien preached and took it to a whole other level. One of the greatest impacts on the team was back when O’Brien took the squad to Nacogdoches to watch Stephen F.
Austin play Southeastern Louisiana. When they were at Chick-fil-A after the match, the head coach of Southeastern Louisiana approached the team and gave them some advice on how important each team member is to building a winning culture. “We talked to [Coach Jeremy White] about how the culture of the bench is so important to the team.
They were really bought into what Coach White said. Everybody is part of the team, even the people on the bench, and my girls get really hyped when it’s loud. When the bench gets going, it gives everyone a reason to get excited and for most of the season, they were able to do that,” said O’Brien.
Even though the team made some errors against Frankston, O’Brien reiterated her love for the team and how she wouldn’t want any other group of girls to finish this season with. Although it was the last game for the five seniors, the way they led the team throughout the season shows how much the younger girls on the squad look up to them. “I would never ask for a better team to play with this season.
Personally, they made my senior year so special. Obviously making history, we were the best team [Elysian Fields] has had and I’m just so proud of everyone and I wouldn’t ask for anyone better,” said Shelby Roberts. “This team has an amazing bond.
The way we’ve [grown] from the beginning of the season is insane. We’ve gotten so good and we just bonded as a family. I couldn’t have asked for a better team and better season because these girls are everything to me.
I’ll always want to be their friend no matter what,” said Ava Henigan. Both Roberts and Henigan noted how their favorite memories were not only making history on the court, but the way they got closer off the court. For both of them, singing on the bus to the music and dancing in the locker rooms to get the energy going is their favorite memory of the season.
Purely bonding in any way is what made these two seniors seasons so special, something that a final score or record can’t replace. The 2024 Elysian Fields Lady Jackets history making team would not have been possible without seniors Allison O’Brien, Carson Davis, Kyleigh Stephens, Ava Henigan and Shelby Roberts, junior Madison Owens, sophomores Kaylen Commander and Taylor Youngblood, and fresmen Layla Akins, Avery Woodley, Kaleigh Presley, Rylie Golden, Abby Hooten and Peyton McDonald..
