RAPID CITY — In the winter of 1989, the Lennox Orioles made the state volleyball tournament in Huron and Tammy Adney remembers one specific detail.  

“It was cold,” Adney said. “The snow was blowing underneath the door at the Pheasant (Dakota Inn) and we slept with our coats on because the snow was not melting. It was very cold and my mom and dad drove the bus. I remember my dad going out a lot to start the bus and we couldn’t really see the parents because it was snowing so bad.”

This season, Lennox’s cold spell is over and it’s back in the state tournament for the first time in 34 years. Lennox’s also made it in 1987. 

Adney, who was a member of the 1989 team, can still remember the buzz around town when the Orioles qualified all those years ago. 

“It was very exciting and we had only made it one other time,” Adney said. “So it’s kind of like right now. So very exciting and the whole town got behind us. It was something that hadn’t happened in a while. We are a basketball town. So for volleyball to make it, that was kind of a big honor.”

Adney, whose maiden name is Bruns, is experiencing another Lennox state volleyball tournament. But this time as a mother. 

Her daughter, Hannah Adney, is a sophomore setter for the Orioles and Tammy had previously coached many of the current players. 

Tammy coached Hannah and many of the Orioles in Junior Olympic tournaments and Chester league matches. And that’s when Tammy had an inkling a state tournament berth was possible. 

“I told them when they were 12-years old we are going to put a banner in our gym,” Tammy said. “I said ‘I believe in you guys and we are going to do this.’ ”

Lennox's Hannah Adney (4) and Lennox's Andie Peters (10) watch Sioux Falls Christian warm up during the first day of the state tournament on Thursday at Summit Arena at The Monument. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

The Orioles entered the Class A tournament as the No. 8 seed and drew No. 1 Sioux Falls Christian. But Lennox entered the tournament playing well, having earned a win over fellow Class A participant Dell Rapids on Oct. 14.

The Orioles also took a set off Sioux Falls Christian on Oct. 23 and beat Region 4A No. 1 seed Canton to earn a spot in the SoDak 16. 

Those results only backed Tammy’s belief in the Orioles. 

“It’s so overwhelming and I have been very emotional,” Tammy said. “I have always believed that they were going to do it and so just to see them accomplish it is just awesome.”

What would Tammy’s advice be to the Orioles?

“Enjoy it,” she said. “Because you might not get back there again because it’s been 34 years. So just enjoy it and enjoy the moment accomplishing your first goal of getting here. I would always say don't just be satisfied with just getting here. Play your heart out, play so hard and just go for it.”