AVON
Center Grove’s volleyball team approaches its annual early-season matchup with state power Avon as somewhat of a measuring stick.
Because of that, Trojans coach Chris Due hopes the team is able to use Tuesday’s match as a learning experience.
The host Orioles, ranked third in the Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association preseason Class 4A poll, controlled the match most of the way, cruising to a 25-15, 25-19, 27-25 win over the fifth-ranked Trojans.
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Click here to purchase photos from this gallery“That’s why we load up our schedule at the start of the year,” Due said. “We don’t play for the start of the year; we play for the end of the year. It’s good to play teams like this early.”
Avon, the defending 4A state champ, lost to the Trojans during the regular-season matchup between the squads last year. This time, the Orioles took control early, reeling off six straight points to break a 10-10 tie and seize control of the first game.
They bolted from a 10-9 second-game deficit to score eight of the next nine points and build a 17-11 lead. In the third game, Center Grove led 18-16 and 24-23, but Avon came back from both deficits.
“Saturday (in a season-opening win), we went on long rallies against New Castle, but tonight, Avon went on long rallies against us,” Due said. “I was impressed with their back-row play. It’s demoralizing when you think you’ve put a ball down, but then they come back. At almost every hitting position, they have really good attackers and good depth.”
Ashley Eck led Center Grove’s back row with 13 digs Tuesday, while Santina Schembra added 10. Anna Line’s seven kills paced the Trojans offensively, while Madison Hammill totaled 21 assists.
While Avon will easily be Center Grove’s toughest challenge in the early portion of the season, potentially tougher regular-season opponents await. The Trojans could see second-ranked Providence or eighth-ranked Cathedral at the Sept. 1 Providence Early Bird Tournament, and they close out the regular season Oct. 6 at top-ranked Yorktown.
“We were still resilient and didn’t give up,” Due said of Tuesday’s loss. “In that third set, we really battled. This team has a lot of heart and fight.
“Our season’s not based off one match,” Due added. “It’s not a conference match, it’s not a county match, it’s not a sectional match, and we saw some things we can work on.”
Center Grove returns to action Thursday when it hosts Martinsville.
