<p>In April, Jamie Brown verbally committed to play volleyball at Indiana State, an announcement that will ultimately benefit two programs.</p>
<p>The Sycamores, in time, will take advantage of Brown’s skills at the net. The senior is presently among the main reasons Center Grove (27-6) has qualified to play in the Class 4A regional at Bloomington North on Saturday.</p>
<p>“I think that gave me more confidence in that I really can play at the next level,” said Brown, a 6-foot-1 middle blocker who is second on the team in kills and blocks. “I started believing everything people were telling me.”</p>
<p>Unlike classmates Madison Hammill, Anna Line, Ashley Eck and Calista Stafford — all of whom gained valuable varsity experience as freshmen during the 2016 season — Brown’s path to the starting lineup was more conventional.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>She played on Center Grove’s freshman squad before moving to junior varsity as a 10th-grader.</p>
<p>"I was all the way down on the freshman team. I didn’t start. I was just trying to work my way up," Brown said. "I came into high school with the goal of starting varsity my junior year, and I just really worked in the offseason. In my 16s year at club, I realized, ‘I can do this. I can play varsity.’"</p>
<p>Just as she had hoped, Brown burst onto the scene last season with 173 kills and 89 blocks. She is one of nine seniors on a varsity roster looking to claim its ninth regional title overall and first since 2015.</p>
<p>“Once Jamie committed to Indiana State, I think that was a big relief for her. Since then, she’s felt a lot more comfortable on the court,” second-year Trojans coach Chris Due said. “Jamie has really stepped up. The last two years, she really has been more of a common name around here.</p>
<p>"When we’re getting our passing going, and are able to run her at things she’s comfortable running, she’s a big threat at the net. Teams are going to be keying on her because of that. Jamie has improved so much. Not just during the high school season, but the offseason. She’s been working really hard the last couple of years."</p>
<p>Brown, who has dealt with a stress fracture in the second metatarsal bone in her right foot the past two weeks, isn’t going to let some physical discomfort slow her down. She’s an integral part of trying to lead one of the state’s best volleyball teams as far as possible in the postseason.</p>
<p>Just the way she envisioned.</p>
<p>"It feels amazing," Brown said. “It’s everything I thought it would be and more."</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="If you go" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p><p><strong>Class 4A Bloomington North Regional</strong></p>
<p><p><strong>Saturday</strong></p>
<p>Providence vs. Castle, 11 a.m.</p>
<p>Columbus East vs. Center Grove, 1 p.m.</p>
<p>Championship, 7 p.m.</p>
<p>Tickets: $8 per session or $10 for full day</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
