It was the 5th set of the heated LHS vs. Olathe Northwest varsity volleyball game. During the final point of the match tension was not the only thing in the air. A resident bat of the Lawrence High gymnasium swooped down on the court, squeaking and startling players and spectators, causing a fifteen minute delay at the end of the game.
Freshman JV volleyball player Libby English was there to witness the different reactions to the disruption.
“The players on the court were just confused and trying to get the game over with, but everybody in the student section just started throwing their shoes at it and ducking,” English said. “I just sat down because I was not trying to get attacked by the bat.”
One spectator, junior Wyatt Hendricks, fearlessly held up a jacket to keep the bat contained in a corner.
“I was standing with a jacket there so he wouldn’t go back out. Luckily, there was only one point left in the game.” Hendricks said.
Although it was unexpected, the LHS players had heard bats in the gym before and managed to stay focused and pull out the win.
“All of us had heard about the bat before, and [we] kind of just kept warm,” said senior Aubrie Magnuson who played during the game. “So once the bat went up in the corner we were just like ‘alright, let’s get this going’, because all of us just wanted to go home.”
The Olathe Northwest team was more affected by the flying mammal.
“The other team was just amused by it, so I think during the last point they weren’t focused on their serve. So, we won,” English said.
Magnuson believes the volleyball team’s secret weapon may be surprise bat attacks.
“We’ve had bats in the gym for ages,” Magnuson said. “Sometimes we just hear them squeaking around. . . that’s what home court advantage is for LHS, having bats on the court.”