CHARLOTTESVILLE — The Greenfield-Central Cougars needed to turn the corner, and they did with a resounding 3-0 sweep of rival Eastern Hancock on Thursday night.
Entering its third game in three days, the youthful Cougars volleyball team split the first two at home on Tuesday and Wednesday against Connersville and Richmond, respectively.
Thursday’s road meeting, however, was crucial in many respects.
“I’m really proud of our kids after back-to-back-to-back nights,” G-C head coach Ron Heck said. “Our coaching staff honestly didn’t know what we were going to be up against because Eastern has improved. They have some very aggressive players.”
The Cougars (2-3) proved to have resolve, surviving a back-and-forth first set that was highlighted by five ties and three lead changes before orchestrating a 12-6 run to seize a 1-0 lead en route to the eventual sweep.
The Cougars won the first set 25-18, went wire-to-wire in the second, 25-19, and nearly pitched a perfect game in the third — recording only two errors — to win 25-7.
“That first set kind of dictated how we were going to roll, and this week we’ve had a problem of not playing together and not supporting one another. Tonight, it was a 180,” Heck said. “I’m extremely happy for the kids. They needed this win. More mentally than anything, in my opinion.”
Sophomore outside hitter Mya Grigsby put the Cougars minds at ease, finishing with a game-high 15 kills. Her 11 digs secured the double-double.
Grigsby hammer home the match’s final point, posting a hitting percentage of .800 in the final set.
In the first set, Grigsby had four key kills through the Cougars’ decisive 12-6 run to turn a 13-12 lead into a seven-point victory. She had six more kills in the second set, including three during Greenfield-Central’s initial 7-0 run to open the game and one more to put the Cougars ahead 8-1.
“Unfortunately, two nights ago and last night, we had the lead and then we kind of relaxed every set and slowly let them back into it. That kind of broke them down mentally,” Heck said. “Then, they took the lead and I told them tonight, ‘I want your goal to not play chase.’”
On Tuesday, the Cougars bested Connersville, 3-0, though they let off the accelerator on occasion. The pattern hurt their chances at a two-match winning streak on Wednesday as Richmond prevailed 3-2.
Eastern Hancock (5-3) challenged in the first set, taking the lead twice before 11 errors contributed to the visiting Cougars’ late rally.
“We kill ourselves every time. It’s very frustrating,” Eastern Hancock head coach Cory Rainbolt said. “We have a lot of seniors and we just need them to step up. Right now, I have one senior stepping up, so it makes it kind of difficult and easy for a team to key on one player.”
Senior Lili Hunt recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Senior Megan Retherford followed with five kills and senior Sydni Bednarski had four with 11 digs.
Sophomore setter Sydney Hayes found her hitters with 20 assists, but the overall execution wasn’t consistent with another eight errors in the second set and 12 in the third.
“Greenfield is good. They read the floor very well, and it’s something I’ve stressed to our girls that you have to be able to see the court,” Rainbolt said. “Our serve receive didn’t help too much tonight either. We lost our momentum, and we just kind of gave it to them. The girls even admitted it.”
The Cougars refused to give anything away even though the Royals cut a seven-point, second set deficit to four points, four times in the game. Eastern Hancock put together a 6-3 and 7-2 run to close the gap, but Greenfield-Central turned to Grigsby and middles Harper Holden, a freshman, and Emma Berty, a junior.
Holden had six kills, while Berty added six of her own. Sophomore libero Finnley Greene had nine digs and three assists. Senior setter Morgan Hornaday had 33 assists.
“I told them, to stay aggressive. Don’t back off, and we saw that tonight. They stayed aggressive,” Heck said.
Greenfield-Central opened the third set with an 8-1 lead and a 6-0 run later pushed the margin to 14-2. A 9-2 rally put the set away at 23-7 before a pair of Grigsby kills sealed the match.
The Cougars led 18-5 before recording their first error in the third set, and their defense only allowed three kills.
“I’m a young team. I have three freshmen that are starters. They’re slowly taking baby steps, and they’re finally understanding you don’t have to put the ball down on the 10-foot line. A tip or roll shot is still worth one point,” Heck said. “That’s what I’m happy about. They’re understanding ball placement.”
The Cougars return home for their next match against Hoosier Heritage Conference foe Delta on Tuesday. They travel to New Palestine on Thursday, Sept. 2.
“It was a great run tonight,” Heck said. “I think this is what this group of kids needed because they’re so young.”
The Royals head to the Indiana School for the Deaf on Saturday for an invitational. They are back at home on Thursday, Sept. 2 against Mid-Eastern Conference opponent Blue River Valley.
