GREENFIELD — In a year where so much has changed, most of Greenfield-Central’s volleyball team has stayed the same.
The 2020 season will provide a lot of first-time challenges with COVID-19 related protocol, but behind those protective masks are a lot of familiar faces.
Greenfield-Central had a solid 2019 season. The Cougars finished 18-13. Though there Hoosier Heritage Conference record was 2-5, it has to be taken into consideration the HHC is the strongest league in the state. The league includes 2019 state champion New Castle and three other teams — Yorktown, Mt. Vernon and Pendleton Heights — that spent most of the season ranked in the state’s top 15.
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Those familiar faces have a lot of varsity experience against some of the top teams in the state.
Ron Heck’s second season as the Cougars head coach could be better than the first.
The team is led by eight seniors and nine players total with considerable playing experience. Along with the returning Cougars, Greenfield-Central has added move-in Rachel Campbell, a back row standout that played last season at Southport.
“For us, we have so many returning seniors that have so much high-pressure experience, it’s going to be to their advantage,” Heck said. “We’re looking for a very successful season this year. We’re ready to play in the toughest conference in the state.”
Heck’s hitters are back. His blockers are back. His passers, plus-one, are back.
All signs are pointing upward for a special season.
Heck has had both of his G-C teams pick a hashtag to go with their season. In 2019, the team chose #AllIn. This year’s club is going with #SomethingToProve.
“Their mindset is already there,” he said.
The talent is there, too.
Seniors Ava Antic and Makayla Price are two big-time outside hitter and six-rotation players.
Antic will likely graduate hitting the 1,000 milestones for both kills and digs.
“She puts her hard hat on and comes to work,” Heck said. “She comes in and does her job every day. She’s coachable and she is a leader. She’s a vocal leader, but also a leader by example.”
In 2019, Antic was third in the county in total kills (277) and one of only three players to have over 200 kills and 200 digs (243). She was also named to the All-HHC team.
Price should hit the 1,000-mark for kills, but may fall short on a four-digit number for digs. She’s missed some time in the past due to injury.
“She played on a bad Achilles last year, but she’s full strength this year,” Heck said. “Keeping Price healthy will be a big key to our run.”
Right-side hitter Brooke Herrell, another senior, had 172 kills last year, just five less than Price.
Marissa Grigsby (libero) and Morgan Hornaday (setter), along with Price, were honorable mention all-county selections last year.
Hornaday is the lone junior of the veteran crew. She’s been seeing playing time since her freshman season. Heck believes she could leave the school as its all-time leader in assists.
Senior Ali Knecht adds more depth and experience to the setting position.
Already returning the strong defensive and passing play of Grigsby, the Cougars expect to have an added benefit in the back with Campbell.
“Adding Rachel Campbell to our back row is going to really elevate the play of every one of players and the accuracy of passing in the back row,” Heck said. “We’re going to be able to run a faster offense this year.”
And, with the stronger passing game expect senior middle hitters Molly Schwarzkopf and Kenley Carpenter to be more involved in the offensive, giving the Cougars additional weapons to go with their solid pin hitters.
Schwarzkopf led G-C in blocks last season with 58.
As strong as the veteran players will be, Heck thinks a newcomer could fit in the mix, too. Sophomore Emma Berty was a junior varsity player last year. At 5-11, expect Berty to push for time either hitting on the outside or in the middle.
“We have a lot of protocol that we have to follow, by the IHSAA,” Heck added. “As long as we follow that and our guidelines, I hope we have a complete season for these eight seniors. These eight girls deserve a full season.
“This is our season to prove a point that every team that we play against needs to be prepared for us.”
Heck’s group got off to a good start in the season opener Saturday.
The Cougars picked up a 3-0 victory at Hamilton Heights, winning by set scores of 25-14, 25-23, 25-19.
Campbell showed right away she would be a key addition, recording 22 digs. Antic had a double-double with 11 kills and 11 digs. Schwarzkopf had eight kills.
The team played at Scecina Monday. The first home contest isn’t scheduled until the sixth game of the season. The Cougars are slated to host Eastern Hancock on Aug. 27.
