FORTVILLE — With a new coach and a lot of new players, the Mt. Vernon girls volleyball program may not look like it has in the past.

They would still like to have the same kind of success.

Samantha Grider is the new coach. She takes over for Eric Bulmahn, who in eight seasons went 195-60 with seven 20-win seasons, a couple of sectional titles and an annual ranking among the state’s Top 15.

“(I am) definitely super-excited to coach (this team),” Grider said. “There are a little nerves with the expectations high. We did lose a lot of seniors and there are big shoes to fill. We do have a pretty good younger class coming in, so I think we’ll be OK.”

The Marauders were 24-7 last season. Three of the graduates are now playing Division I volleyball, including 2021 Hancock County Player of the Year Cecilia Bulmahn (Southern Illinois), right side/defensive specialist Delaney Bowser (UAB) and outside hitter Meredith Hohnbaum (New Hampshire). Also gone are All-Hoosier Heritage Conference setter Rylee Ugen and standout middle hitter Macy Lyons.

What Grider does have are veteran defensive specialists.

That’s ideal for a coach that strives on having teams that can pass and set off opposition’s attacks.

“I am super, super, super focused on defense,” Grider said. “My philosophy is that if we can keep the ball off the ground we are going to win games. I am really focused on my defense, which is good because I have three returning back row seniors that played for Eric.

“We’re pretty tall in the front row, so hopefully we can work on the block and get that going as well.”

Abby Herman played both as a defensive specialist and libero. She led the team in 2021 with 436 digs. Libby Gee-Weiler, played both back row spots, too. She is back after having 329 digs. Herman was the team leader in service aces with 61. Gee-Weiler was third with 39.

Junior Ainsley Baer is another player expected to help along the back line.

Up front, the only player with substantial varsity experience is middle hitter Sophia Damer. She had 50 kills and 52 total blocks, third on the team. The team graduated nearly 1,200 of their 1,268 kills from last season.

For attacking, Grider will rely on a lot of young kids, including freshmen Sierra Holverson and Alivia Morgan. Sophomore Olivia Johnson returns after playing a few varsity sets last season.

Junior Easton Wampler is another hitter, though mostly on the junior varsity level, that has played some varsity matches. Junior outside hitter Kate Ferguson played some last season and was one of the better servers with 24 aces.

The player getting the ball to the big hitters will be a newcomer, too. Ava Whitmore, a sophomore, will be taking over setting duties.

“My senior DS’s leading the pack and controlling the back is what is going to help us get our foot in the door to start the year,” Grider said. “Slowly, my younger kids in the front row are going to get up to speed and we’ll have the whole package. Defense is going to keep us in games to start the season.”

Grider is a first-time varsity head coach. She had been the junior varsity coach at Cardinal Ritter for four seasons. Most of her coaching and volleyball experience comes from the club level. Starting out as a coach at Team Indiana, Grider began her own club, Indy United, in 2020.

Overall, she has eight years of volleyball coaching experience. She played high school volleyball at Jeffersonville.

“I’ve been wanting to coach (varsity) high school for a few years now,” she said. “I coached club and own a club now. I finally felt I had enough under my belt that I could take over a program and help it grow. Mt. Vernon has a great program and a great group of kids in the center of it. As soon as I saw (the job) posted, I jumped all over it.”

The Marauders will again play one of the stronger schedules in the state, including matches against HHC teams, Yorktown, New Palestine, Pendleton Heights and Greenfield-Central.

The first three matches are on the road, beginning Saturday at Greenwood, followed by Monday at Cathedral and Wednesday at Noblesville. There are non-conference matches along the way against stellar programs like Roncalli and Brownsburg.

The first home match is Aug. 18 against Heritage Christian. The HHC season begins Aug. 25 at Pendleton Heights.