Regardless of how long Carolyn Ray coaches volleyball, the current season is one she’ll never forget.
The past few months have been a dizzying combination of emotions for Ray, 29, the second-year Whiteland coach determined to gradually build the program into something special despite its mostly forgettable recent past.
On the court and off, she’s experiencing triumphs.
Ray gave birth to her son, Kellen, on Aug. 27, right in the middle of the regular season. Nine days later, the Trafalgar resident made the short drive to Indian Creek to coach Whiteland to a five-set victory over the Braves.
She missed just four of her team’s matches — three immediately following the delivery and then a match at Plainfield the night after the Indian Creek win. Ray has been back with the team ever since.
Prior to Kellen’s arrival, Ray coached Whiteland through the Ben Davis Invitational on Aug. 25. A little more than 48 hours later, the youngest family member, all of 6 pounds, 12 ounces, entered the world at 8:55 p.m. at Community Hospital South.
“I went to the doctor on Monday morning, they sent me home and my water broke on the way home,” Ray said. “I was supposed to go to practice that day, so I’m trying to call everyone. It’s just a bunch of emotions at that point.
“When we found out I was pregnant, the first thing I did was talk to (athletic director Ken) Sears about a coaching schedule. My pregnancy was so easy that my doctor said to coach as long as I’m not exhausted.”
During her brief hiatus, Ray’s three assistant coaches ran practices and led the squad during matches. Ray, a Greensburg native who played three seasons of volleyball at Franklin College as Carolyn Moore, was a welcome addition upon her return.
“We still had three other coaches who did well in her place, but it was still great when coach Ray came back,” said senior co-captain Rhyan Walden, a two-year starter at libero.
“When she came back for the games, she told us what we were doing wrong and how to fix it. She is a confidence booster. That’s how most of our team sees it.”
With a 13-17 record, this year, the improvement the Warriors are making is obvious after they won just 13 of 115 matches from 2014-17. The program has captured just two sectional championships, the most recent of those 24 years ago.
Entering the season, the Whiteland wanted to reach double figures in victories. It did so with a defeat of Daleville at Greenfield-Central’s Cougar Invitational on September 22. The Warriors went into the Johnson County tournament seeded fourth, but finished third by beating Indian Creek a second time in the consolation match.
“We honestly will tell kids that 13 is an unlucky number, but they’re making history,” said Ray, whose squad plays Martinsville in the second match tonight at the Greenwood Sectional. “We know we’ll go into the sectional and people will write us off. Thirteen wins is great, but the best thing is earning respect.”
Baby steps.
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Class 4A Greenwood Sectional
Today
Franklin vs. Franklin Central, 6 p.m.
Whiteland vs. Martinsville, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Greenwood vs. Franklin/Franklin Central winner, 6 p.m.
Center Grove vs. Whiteland/Martinsville winner, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Championship, 10 a.m.
Class 3A Tri-West Sectional
Today
Manual vs. Herron, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Beech Grove vs. Tri-West, 6 p.m.
Saturday
Indian Creek vs. Manual/Herron winner, 10 a.m.
Danville vs. Beech Grove/Tri-West winner, noon
Championship, 6 p.m.
Class A Morristown Sectional
Today
Providence Cristo Rey vs. Christel House, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Greenwood Christian vs. Central Christian, 6 p.m.
Morristown vs. Indianapolis Lighthouse, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Indianapolis Lutheran vs. today’s winner, 11 a.m.
Thursday’s winners, 12:30 p.m.
Championship, 7 p.m.
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Class 3A Center Grove Sectional
Players to watch: Center Grove — Grace Boggess, Ashley Eck, Madison Hammill, Calista Stafford; Franklin — Kabria Chapman, Cami Kelsay, Brooklyn Peddycord, Brooke Phillips; Franklin Central — Emily Jarrell, Jenna Riley, Dayton Thompson; Greenwood — Megan Johns, Maddy Limbach, Joy Maze, Alyssa Stilley; Martinsville — Marlayna Kemp, Erin Kresse, Sydney Lyon; Whiteland — Tabby Holzhausen, Toni Joyner, Sarah Staples, Hannah Williams
Outlook: The bracketing seems to point to another Franklin-Center Grove match for the title, though the Grizzly Cubs must first get past the Flashes in tonight’s first round. During the regular season, Franklin won two of three sets; this evening’s second match between Whiteland and Martinsville could also be close as the Artesians prevailed in five sets last month.
Class 3A Tri-West Sectional
Players to watch: Beech Grove — Tyonna Baxter, Arial Keown, Bre Small; Danville — Hannah Hoskins, Kiersten Johnson, Callie Sharkey; Indian Creek — Malea Brownfield, Taylor Burkett, Morgan Frash, Jessie Hart; Tri-West — Megan Duffy, Josie McClara, Jolee Owens
Outlook: Drawing a bye into the semifinal round puts Indian Creek in good position to make it to the championship match, where the Braves would likely play either Tri-West or Danville. The latter scored a 3-0 victory against the Bruins on October 1, but every set was close. Indian Creek lost a five-set marathon to Tri-West early in the season, but didn’t play Danville.
Class A Morristown Sectional
Players to watch: Central Christian — Megan Lance, Erin Sexauer; Greenwood Christian — Maggie Booher, Jessica Miller, Izzy Reed; Indianapolis Lutheran — Chloe Andre, Dara Milivojoc, Rylee Morris; Morristown — Raegan Butcher, Gracie Laster, Emma Theobald
Outlook: To reach the title match, the Cougars will likely need to win a semifinal match against a Morristown team that beat them in four sets last week. GCA hopes to benefit from the experience gained from playing big-school programs such as Greenwood, Greenfield-Central, Hamilton Southeastern, New Castle, Warren Central and Whiteland.
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