Trojans return from a 26-10 season and sectional championship with expectations to make more noise in the playoffs.
Coach Maggie Harbison has the tools to do it with four determined and talented seniors – 5-11 outside hitter Ellen McMasters (Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville commit), 448 kills, 99 blocks, 50 aces; 5-6 libero Devynn Merriman (Indiana State commit), 519 digs; 6-0 middle blocker Emma Jones (University of Indianapolis commit), 205 kills and 97 blocks; and 5-10 middle hitter Taylor Dempewolf, 115 blocks
And then mix in sophomore sensation MJ Hammil, a 6-0 setter who had 1,163 assists, 148 kills and 64 blocks and ranks third among career Trojans in assists after her first varsity season.
Center Grove also is deep in talent with 6-2 freshman middle blocker Grace Boggess, sophomores Anna Line and Ashley Eck and juniors Santina Schembra, Graci Gasper and newcomer Amanda Emerson.
“Our experience is huge,” Harbison said. “Last year we were relatively young, only one senior (Macy Carrabine, University of Denver), but we had some talented freshmen. This group is so competitive. We certainly don’t play a fluffy schedule; we have a good team but there are a lot of good teams out there.”