Franklin’s Aubrey Runyon (2) and Elizabeth Worland (13) react after winning Tuesday’s match at Greenwood.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
The start wasn’t what Franklin coach Patrick Carlson had been envisioning, but his team became a speeding locomotive once it hit a flat stretch of track.
In the end, the Grizzly Cubs, fueled by the 15 kills of junior outside hitter Rose Mahin, dominated their season opener, scoring a 25-11, 25-13, 25-14 victory at Mid-State Conference rival Greenwood.
Mahin received plenty of help, especially in the serving department. Five different Franklin players teamed to deliver 15 aces, sophomore setter Karlin Burton leading the way with six followed by Mahin with four and senior defensive specialist Maggie Doty with three.
All this after the Woodmen jumped to a quick 4-0 advantage in the opening set.
“I think, as a team, since we have a lot of new players, we try to stay really composed and uplift each other,” Doty said. “It’s just supporting each other through it, keeping our heads up and reacting. I feel like confidence is a main part of volleyball, so we try to carry that with us.”
Not surprisingly, it was an ace delivered by Burton that first got the Grizzly Cubs on the board. Franklin finished the first set alone with seven aces, including a trio from Mahin that, along with a pair of kills from junior outside hitter Addie Martin, lifted the visitors to a 10-6 advantage.
Greenwood closed to within two at 12-10, the final points coming on Karissa Harris’s ace and one of Tori Ortman’s four kills. Franklin allowed the Woodmen a single point the remainder of the set, then jumped to a 10-1 lead to open the second.
So much for that somewhat sluggish start.
“We were actually out in the hallway doing fast-walking races and just having fun,” said Grizzly Cubs senior libero Kate Pinnick, referring to the team’s pre-match method of loosening up. “I know I was really looking forward to this.”
Greenwood (0-2, 0-1 Mid-State) provided the most resistance in the final set in terms of points tallied, but Franklin made it extremely difficult with another fast start — scoring the first eight points in a run that included three more aces from Burton.
The 5-foot-8 Martin was next in kills for the Cubs with six, while Burton, senior hitter Lizzi Worland and sophomore middle hitter Ava Lilly added three apiece.
Rarely are season openers lessons in pinpoint execution, but Carlson thought his team performed well.
“I felt that we were being too careful with everything, and they’re such nice kids that are such people pleasers, they were doing exactly what I told them to do instead of being athletes,” Carlson said. “Once we loosened up and stuff, it was a lot more fun to do that kind of thing.
“I’ve got older kids serving the ball who have played varsity for four years. They hit zones really well. They hit spots really well. That’s been ingrained in us for quite a while, so I’m pretty happy with that.”
The Grizzly Cubs play their home opener on Thursday against Columbus East and then travel north for the LaPorte Invitational on Saturday. Greenwood travels to Beech Grove for a Thursday match before taking part in the Plainfield Invite on Saturday.
