Mt. Vernon’s Easton Wampler and Alivia Morgan (13) celebrate a point against Greenfield-Central, Tuesday.
Tom Russo | The Daily Reporter
GREENFIELD — Something had to give Tuesday.
Tough schedules and youthful teams have led to a rough spot in the middle of the season for both Mt. Vernon and Greenfield-Central.
The Hancock County volleyball teams, and members of the Hoosier Heritage Conference, were looking to get things turned around when they went head-to-head at Dellen Automotive Gymnasium Tuesday.
The Marauders came in on a seven-match losing streak. The Cougars were 1-6 over that same span. Both clubs were looking for their first HHC win.
Mt. Vernon came away the happier of the two, defeating its rival 3-0 by set scores of 25-19, 25-17, 27-25.
The Marauders are 5-11 overall and 1-3 in the HHC. The Cougars are 5-9 and 0-4.
“It definitely helps our confidence level,” Mt. Vernon head coach Samantha Grider said. “Hopefully the rut is done and over with. We’ve talked about there is nothing we can do about the past but we can always better the future.”
The teams played a back-and-forth first set. Mt. Vernon led 6-2 early before Greenfield-Central went on a run to take a 17-14 lead. The Marauders finished the set strong to win 25-19, the final point coming on a tip-kill by sophomore setter Ava Whitmore.
The Cougars led 6-3 in the second before the Marauders took control during a 6-1 run. Junior Easton Wampler wrapped up the run with a kill that gave MV a 9-7 lead. The Marauders extended the lead to 16-10, which included a run of points on kills from frosh Sierra Holverson, junior Sophia Damer, and senior libero Libby Gee-Weiler. The run ended on a service ace from frosh Aubry Dowling.
Mt. Vernon dominated the third set and looked to be cruising to a quick win. It led 21-9 when the Cougars put together a strong rally to take the lead 25-24.
Junior outside hitter Mya Grigsby had four kills during the comeback. The Cougars also scored eight straight points on her serve — including three service aces — to take the lead.
A G-C hitting error tied the set 25-25. Mt. Vernon took the lead on a service ace from Gee-Weiler. The final point came on a Wampler kill. It was her 10th of the match, a season high.
“We played well except for the end of that third set,” Grider added. “We go in these ruts where we can’t put the ball away. We figured it out and finished.”
The Marauders start two freshmen and two sophomores and bring another freshman off the bench. Both seniors that played –Gee-Weiler and Caroline Shipe – are back row players.
Greenfield-Central is young, too. The Cougars play just one senior, middle hitter Emma Berty. They start three sophomores.
G-C coach Jon Vernon said his club needs to figure out how to stop the opposition’s runs. He said the Cougars have had struggles moving on to the next point.
“We have to find a way to mentally stay with a set all the way through” Vernon said. “We let too many little things bother us. Instead of shaking it off and going to the next point, we replay the last point over again. That’s a mental thing. Physically, we have the talent. We have to figure out a way to be better and let things go and play the next point.”
Grigsby finished with a double-double. She had 18 kills and 10 digs, to go with three service aces. Along with Wampler’s kills, Gee-Weiler had 16 digs.
“I thought we played better in that last set,” Vernon added. “It’s always easier to play from behind. We have to learn how to play from out front … We haven’t figured out how to win yet.”
Both teams continue conference play Thursday. Greenfield-Central visits Shelbyville. Mt. Vernon will play host to New Castle.
