By Ryan Molini
Sports Editor 
Walking into Jean Walker Field House Tuesday night, Oct. 21, there seemed to be an energetic, yet emotional, atmosphere weighing down on the gym.  Not only was it the last home volleyball match for Prospect, but it was the Mid-Suburban League crossover game against Barrington.
Five Knights would be ending their volleyball career at home. The team wanted to finish the way they started their season playing at Prospect, winning.
“It’s nice to sandwich our season coming in with a victory our first [home] game,” head coach Gabrielle Lovin said. “And leaving with a victory our last home game.”
The first game, the Phillies jumped out to a quick 13-8 lead before Lovin called a timeout. After the timeout junior right side hitter Brenda Kendziera (3 kills) answered for the Knights with a side out kill, looking to spark a comeback.
With another 5-0 run by the Phillies, they led 20-13. However, a kill by junior outside hitter Sammy Withey started off a Prospect 8-0 run, with the team never looking back and closing the game 25-23.
“Communicating and being energetic with each other, that’s what brought us back, and that’s what led to the victory,” Lovin said.
The second game played out very similar to the first. The beginning was back and forth action until the Knights took advantage of a missed serve by the Phillies narrowing the deficit to 17-18.  From that point on the Knights closed the game and the match winning eight of the next nine points.
Leading the team in kills was sophomore outside hitter Kaeli Myers (8 kills) and sophomore middle Maggie Porwit (7 kills).
The night went as planned for the Knights while the seniors got to say their emotional goodbyes to their careers inside Jean Walker Field House.
“It was nice to win our last home game,” senior middle Catherine Sherwood said. “It hasn’t really fully hit me yet. I think later tonight, or later this week it will be really emotional.”
Sherwood’s career inside the fieldhouse is not completely over yet due to the upcoming basketball and track seasons. But for some others, their athletic career inside Prospect are over.
“I live and breathe volleyball,’ senior libero Sarah Cutaia (15 digs) said. “It’s just depressing it’s the last time I’ll ever play in this gym.”