Ellen Zapp elevates to spike the ball for Center Grove during last season’s regional match against Floyd Central.
Daily Journal file photo
Of the countless ways to slap one’s name next to a career milestone, Ellen Zapp experienced what is perhaps the most unique.
Center Grove’s senior outside hitter sunk her right fist into her 1,000th career kill in what turned out to be the final point in her team’s 25-18, 21-25, 25-21, 25-18 victory over visiting Perry Meridian last week.
Much as Zapp would love to be able to say that sequence — spike … open floor … brief celebration … post-match handshakes — was planned, it wasn’t.
Nonetheless, the 6-footer with the lightning bolt of arm swings was happy to be parked on a career sum requiring a comma when Center Grove (12-5), ranked seventh in Class 4A, traveled to Fishers on Monday evening.
“I remember as a freshman, I saw (current Ball State player Katie Egenolf) get her 1,000th kill. I think it’s a big deal,” Zapp said. “With all of us hitters, you would normally get to 1,000 kills by your senior year.”
These and Zapp’s other statistics, whether from this or any of her previous varsity seasons, are rooted in her passion for the sport and the countless hours of gym time required to develop timing, chemistry, muscle memory and power.
Zapp started playing as a 10-year-old, though at that point no one peered into a crystal ball and spotted her contributing 1,000 career kills for one of central Indiana’s most respected volleyball programs.
“I can tell you, I was not good,” said Zapp, laughing. “I was very uncoordinated, but I would say the friendships were the big thing for me back then.”
Over time, however, her volleyball skill set expanded, making Zapp a legitimate threat at the net by the time she entered high school. Used primarily as a backup as a freshman, she’s since been a starter for a Trojans team that is 80-37 during her career.
Entering Monday, Zapp led her team in kills with 227, a total that includes a trio of 20-kill performances. She was also tied for first in service aces (26) with sophomore setter Anabelle Schembra and fourth in digs (100).
The senior’s career-best kill total for a single match is the 24 she provided Center Grove in its four-set victory over Bloomington North during last season’s sectional semifinal at Greenwood.
Zapp’s swift follow-through on kills makes her distinct.
“She’s quick, and in general can play pretty much anywhere in the front row,” Center Grove coach Jennifer Hawk said. “This year, we’re pretty balanced, so when Ellen does have the tiniest space, her arm speed is fast enough where she can squeeze it through there before they can close a block.”
That wasn’t necessarily planned.
“I have absolutely no idea, but that’s what people have been telling me for a long time … that my arm swing is so fast,” Zapp said. “I would say that’s my most complimented thing in volleyball. Everybody is different, but that’s just how I hit.”
In March, Zapp verbally committed to play volleyball at Oakland University, a Division I school in Rochester, Michigan. She’ll sign her national letter of intent this fall.
“It was my very first visit, and I loved it,” said Zapp, who sports a 4.2 grade-point average at Center Grove and is considering majoring in biology at Oakland. “The campus is beautiful, and I really love the culture of the team.”
Zapp’s focus is currently centered on helping the Trojans finish the season strong. Now and always, she’s part of CG’s sorority of players making it to 1,000 career kills.
“That’s a hard, hard accomplishment,” said Hawk, a Center Grove graduate who as Jennifer Gandolph accumulated 1,562 kills during her time as a University of Michigan outside hitter (2001-04).
“Anybody who can get there, it means you’ve been with the program for a while. It’s a really great milestone.”
