October 20, 2025—This season, Osborne High School’s volleyball team made history—not by winning a state title or breaking a record for championships, but by winning seven games. At first glance, that number might not seem monumental, but for Osborne, it represents something far greater: progress, perseverance, and pride.
The team set a new single-season wins record with a victory over Salem High School. Their seventh win represents significant growth in a sport that has not traditionally been a strength at the school.
Osborne's athletic director, Ron Boggs, is known for emphasizing the philosophy that he wants his Athletic Department to embrace with a simple but powerful word: GRIT. For Boggs, it’s more than just a slogan; it's a mindset reshaping the Osborne community—students, athletes, and staff alike.
"Grit is mental and physical toughness that fights through adversity and sticks to the processes that lead to continual improvement. Our volleyball ladies have exemplified grit by preparing to be their best. I am very proud of them and what they've accomplished this season," AD Boggs said.
Head Coach Lee Spoor didn't realize that seven wins were the most in the school's recorded history. In fact, he was more impressed with how the girls responded as a team to his direction and to one another as teammates.
"I really had no idea about the history of wins and losses. As a coach, I focus on the next game and learning from losses. I wasn't really thinking of it as historic," Coach Spoor said.
"This team never gave up and kept a positive attitude at all times," he continued. "I have honestly never seen them get down as a team. One person might be down after a certain play, but they all pick each other up. They have great attitudes and we are trying to set a bar for future teams to surpass."
The seven wins are a milestone for the program, but they symbolize much more than match victories. The true victory is found in the resilience, teamwork, and character the student-athletes acquired along the way.
"I hope they use this as a baseline and build for next year. I don't want them to be satisfied. When I arrived, I had to teach them everything, even rotations. Now, they look like a team and play well together, and seeing that growth and improvement is the single most gratifying thing to me," concluded Coach Spoor proudly.
Osborne’s 2025 volleyball season is a reminder that history is not written in banners and trophies but in the daily commitment to grow together as a team. Through grit and determination, the Lady Cardinals are proof that real victory is measured in resilience—and in the pride of achieving something that’s never been done before.
