Center Grove’s volleyball team took a bit of offense to the idea that the Johnson County tournament title could end up in the hands of anyone else.
Katie Egenolf and Avery Holubar, the only two seniors on the Trojans’ roster, made sure it didn’t.
The two veterans combined for 24 kills to lead the charge for a young Center Grove squad as it defeated an upset-minded Greenwood squad 25-18, 25-14, 25-18 in the championship match Thursday night at Edinburgh.
This marks the eighth year in a row that the Trojans (16-7) have hoisted the trophy.
“We have had a different type of year,” said Egenolf, who finished with a match-high 14 kills. “We’re showing how well we can fight through adversity, winning six matches in five sets … that’s a lot of mentally challenging situations that we’re put in, and I think here, it showed.”
Greenwood (17-12) took it to the Trojans early, staying aggressive and building an early lead that grew as large as four points. Center Grove still trailed 17-14 before regrouping and closing the first set with an 11-1 run, finishing it off on Avery Holubar’s fourth kill.
Egenolf early and often in the second set. The Ball State recruit had eight kills, including a run of three in a row that helped Center Grove take control at 18-10. Egenolf and freshman middle blocker Reese Dunkle had another big moment later in the set, combining on a stuff of Greenwood outside hitter Mya Ayro to prevent the Woodmen from gathering any momentum for a potential comeback.
In the third set, the two teams battled back and forth early to the tune of 10 ties, and the Woodmen pulled ahead 13-12 when Abbey Gregory came up with a block on Egenolf. But Egenolf answered back with a kill on the next point to tie it, starting a run of three straight points that put Center Grove ahead to stay. Holubar came up big down the stretch, putting down three of the Trojans’ last seven points.
“Avery didn’t get to play a lot last year with injuries,” Center Grove coach Jennifer Hawk said, “so I know she was super excited to make things happen. And I think Katie, having her alongside, it’s fun for them doing it together.
“They’re our go-tos. They work hard, they’re great leaders and good teammates; they’ve just really been a blessing to have.”
The Woodmen made it into the title match by surviving a 25-19, 18-25, 11-25, 25-14, 15-11 battle with Franklin, their second five-set victory over the Grizzly Cubs this season. The Trojans had to sit and wait on that showdown for an hour after polishing off Indian Creek in the other semifinal, 25-12, 25-17, 25-12.
For a lot of Center Grove’s younger players, getting a chance to win a tournament championship should serve as good preparation for the upcoming state tournament.
“The younger ones don’t know this,” Hawk said of the winner-take-all environment, “so it’s a good start for them. This has got to be the expectation.”
“It definitely lets them know that we have a reputation of winning,” Egenolf added. “Just because we don’t have as many seniors as we’ve had … we still are Center Grove. We have a reputation and we need to hold ourselves up to that reputation.”
