Elks look to take first step to state
Centerville enters sectional as top seed, to face Butler.
The high CENTERVILLE — school volleyball season started with a school-record, 15-game winning streak for the Centerville Elks. They’d be thrilled with half that streak to finish it out.
And just like their senior captain MacKenzie Conner, the Elks aren’t ones to shy away from a challenge. The 5-foot-6 Conner could have played libero this season but instead took on the role of outside hitter, often going to the net against taller opponents.
The challenge for the Elks is a lofty one, too. Four of the top five teams in the Division I state poll are in Centerville’s district or regional bracket with No. 1 Ursuline Academy, No. 2 Mount Notre Dame, No. 3 Mother of Mercy and No. 5 Mason. The Elks are ranked No. 18.
“I’m pretty impressed with how we’ve done,” Conner said. “But we can’t stop. I think sometimes we think we’re good enough. But it’s never good enough. We have to get better.”
Top-seeded Centerville (20-2) opens its D-I sectional tournament against No. 9 Butler (13-10) at 4 p.m. today at Vandalia’s Student Activity Center. It’s the first step toward the ultimate goal — that first trip to the state tournament. To put that in perspective, Mount Notre Dame (14), Ursuline (11) and Mother of Mercy (9) have combined for 34 state appearances.
But this year’s Centerville team is different. The Elks have Conner, who will play her college volleyball at Cleveland State University. They also have, among others, sophomore setter and University of Michigan recruit Scottee Johnson.
Conner is one of four seniors on the roster along with setter Sydnee Johnson, middle hitter and co-captain Remy Gerken and defensive specialist Caitlin Wetzel.
“These girls, when they are on fire they are unstoppable,” Elks coach Tina Collins said. “There’s no one superstar. They’re a team and they stand out together.”
Conner leads the Elks with 371 digs and 271 service receptions. She’s also second with 179 kills. Scottee Johnson leads the team with 185 kills, 36 aces, 329 assists and is second with 37 blocks. Sophomore middle hitter Danielle Sargent has a team-high 41 blocks.
Among other contributors, Sydnee Johnson has 213 digs, 327 assists and 137 kills, Gerken has 33 blocks and sophomore defensive specialist Ava Penley 211 service receptions.
The Elks knew they had talent this season. The key was getting it to all come together putting players in the right spots. One of those was shifting Conner to outside hitter.
“MacKenzie has been a great leader,” Collins said. “I’d say she’s one of the top five players (to come through the program). She as a leader has taken that and achieved so much with this team. She keeps the team glued together . ... I needed her to help push the team.”
Centerville won the Greater Western Ohio Conference’s National East Division with a 12-0 record. The lone non-conference losses came to Miami East (ranked No. 5 in D-III and the defending state champs) and Alter (No. 2 in D-II). The loss to the Vikings snapped that 15-game streak to start the season.