Ashley Eck doesn’t normally get too frazzled on the volleyball court. But when both of Center Grove’s setters — senior All-State player Madison Hammill and junior Jenna Otto — wound up sidelined in the middle of the season and Eck was thrust into that position for the first time, she couldn’t help but freak out a little bit.
"I kind of panicked because I was worried about my serve receive and all that, and how it was different from right back and left back," Eck said. "But once it finally happened, I went into the first few games and I kind of got more comfortable with it as I kept progressing. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would have been."
By the time the state tournament arrived, Eck was back in her more familiar role as the libero, the anchor of the Trojans’ back row. Her play at both spots earned her first-team All-State recognition — and she closes out her high school career as the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.
Though it took her out of her comfort zone for a little while, Eck says that spending some time at setter helped prepare her and her teammates for a successful postseason run. Center Grove knocked off nemesis Providence in the Class 4A regional final and took the first set off of New Castle, the nation’s No. 1 team, in the semistate before falling in four.
"After being a setter, it helped me be more of a leader," Eck said. "MJ (Hammill) wasn’t on the court, so I had to be more vocal and talk more than I normally do — and help the whole team rather than just the back row. Once I got to libero again, it just helped my all-around game with helping people and different things."
Eck, who finished her final season with 447 digs, 351 assists and 53 service aces, will take her talents to Indiana State next year along with classmate Jamie Brown.
The rest of her Center Grove teammates will be going their separate ways, but Eck won’t soon forget her four years sporting the Trojan red.
"It was honestly just so much fun playing with all of them," she said. "We’re all best friends, we’re super close, and it was just a great experience. I know we didn’t win (a state title) like we wanted to or like we expected, but it was still a great time playing with them."
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The 2019 All-County team for girls volleyball:
Grace Boggess, Center Grove junior: Led the Trojans with 122 blocks and added 233 kills … A second-team All-State selection and an All-MIC and All-District pick.
Jamie Brown, Center Grove senior: Named to the All-District team after collecting 246 kills and 73 blocks, both good for second on her team. … Committed to play at Indiana State.
Kabria Chapman, Franklin junior: Finished with 293 kills on a .408 hitting percentage for the Grizzly Cubs and collected 219 digs, 31 aces and a team-high 128 blocks.
Ashley Eck, Center Grove senior: Made the All-State first team after totaling 447 digs and 53 aces … Added 351 assists while filling in at setter during the season. … Will play at Indiana State.
Katie Egenolf, Center Grove sophomore: Led the Trojans in kills with 354, including 28 in a semistate loss to New Castle … Added 63 blocks and 52 digs.
Madison Hammill, Center Grove senior: Wisconsin recruit was a repeat first-team All-State pick despite missing four weeks after an appendectomy … Totaled 688 assists, 167 digs, 63 kills, 54 aces and 47 blocks.
Cami Kelsay, Franklin junior: Led the Grizzly Cubs with 299 kills and 276 digs, adding 37 blocks and 31 service aces on the way to another conference championship.
Honorable mention
Mya Ayro, Greenwood; Averie Baker, Center Grove; Jada Beetz, Center Grove; Paige Burton, Edinburgh; Emily Chappelow, Edinburgh; Anna Cruser, Greenwood; Maddie Durst, Franklin; Avery Hensley, Indian Creek; Hilliari Hensley, Franklin; Makena Hogue, Indian Creek; Lindsey Howard, Center Grove; Megan Johns, Greenwood; Lindsey Jones, Whiteland; Toni Joyner, Whiteland; Haley Kunz, Whiteland; Anna Line, Center Grove; Joy Maze, Greenwood; Rylie McMahen, Center Grove; Jessica Miller, GCA; Cordelia Mockler, Indian Creek; Izzy Reed, GCA; Sarah Scott, Whiteland; Maya Schundelmier, GCA; Calista Stafford, Center Grove; Megan Thompson, Franklin
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