Seven games into the 2015 volleyballl season, Polk County had a 4-3 record and an identity problem.
True, the Wolverines had lost to three very good teams – Brevard, Enka and the Asheville Trailblazers. But it was the final of those three losses, a 3-0 loss at Enka on Sept. 3, that led Polk County head coach Molly Hill to begin making some changes.
“I feel like that game against Enka was a big eye-opener for everyone on my team, including for me and my assistant coach (Christen Smith),” Hill said. “I knew that I had to make some changes and start to challenge these nine girls to give it their absolute 100 percent effort.
Get PolkSports delivered to your inbox
Sign up for our free newsletter →
“I changed our lineup and moved Ashley Love back to the middle. With her vertical (leap) and speed, she needed to be in the middle because it pushed her more than the outside hitting position. I also started to really push and challenge the girls during games and practice to give it their all. Not as one person, but as a unit and true team on the court. I knew the potential that this group of nine girls had, I just had to make them believe it.”
The changes worked wonders. Polk County won 12 of its next 13 matches, earned the Western Highlands Conference regular-season championship and reached the state quarterfinals before falling in four sets on Saturday at Maiden. During the 20-8 season, one of the best in school history, all eight losses came against teams that finished with winning records.
For a team that began the season with five sophomores and freshmen on the nine-player roster, a team that had to replace two key seniors from the previous season, Hill couldn’t have asked for much more.
“I think this season went well and everyone on my team grew as volleyball players and learned a lot,” Hill said. “Even throughout the season, all the way to the last week of the season, I changed my lineup over and over, constantly moving people and changing things up to try to throw off the other team and match our strengths with the other team’s strengths.
“My girls really started to play together and understand their potential during that long winning streak. It was like a light bulb went off and at that moment they all had the common goal and we gradually started seeing more and more people step up. It was exciting to see that happening.
“I would definitely say that this season met my expectations and I am very proud of my nine girls. We proved a lot of people wrong and made it far with our season despite the fact that we had a lot of challenges to overcome.”
Foremost among those obstacles was replacing 2014 Western Highlands Conference player of the year and standout setter Kara Overholt. Hill decided shortly after the season to move rising senior Savannah Ross to setter, spending the offseason helping Ross to relearn a position she hadn’t played since her freshman year. Ross finished the season as one of the conference’s top setters and teamed with Love to provide veteran leadership on the court.
“Savannah, 100 percent, met and exceeded every expectation I had for her,” Hill said. “I am so proud of that young woman and all she accomplished this year with really only a couple of months of training before her senior season began, especially seeing that she would be stepping up into a role that was left behind by someone so special and talented like Kara Overholt.
“When I approached her with the idea of changing her position, she was extremely excited and wanted to get to work immediately. That is exactly the kind of mentality I needed from not only my setter, but from my senior leader. Savannah didn’t ever fold under the pressure of being the setter, or running our offense, or stepping into the extremely large footsteps that Kara Overholt left behind. I couldn’t be more proud of Savannah and all she did for this team this season. Without her, we wouldn’t have been where we were or as successful as we were.”
That success included a win over Hendersonville, a key win at Mountain Heritage when the Cougars were undefeated, non-conference wins over Enka and T.C. Roberson and a 3-2 comeback victory at Brevard in the third round of the state 2A playoffs. But as memorable as those wins were, Hill said there are other things she will long treasure about the 2015 Wolverines.
“My mom, who coached volleyball for 31 years, always taught me to be a leader, especially a vocal leader, so I tried really hard to teach that to all of my girls on my team,” Hill said. “I believe that leadership can come from any age and that it has to come from a true genuine place to be received by others. I loved watching Savannah, Ashley and Reagan (Waddell) really lead this team with confidence and without hesitation.
“I learned a lot about these nine girls this season and feel like I have grown with each of them. It is always rewarding to feel that way and see that happening, so that is definitely something I will remember the most.”
Her second season at Polk complete, Hill heads into the offseason in much the same position as last year, with two standout seniors to replace, including a setter. Determining who will fill that key position will again be a priority, though Hill will have the luxury of returning seven players from this year’s squad.
“I have to have someone who can effectively run our offense and be pushed to the absolutel limit,” Hill said. “Setting is the hardest position in volleyball. The setter literally touches the ball every single time it comes across our net. Training and preparation for this position has to happen and again it has to be someone who can lead this team.
“I am confident in the returners I have and in the ones coming and joining the team next year from the middle school. Losing athletes is never easy but I always enjoy a new challenge and helping volleyball players reach their full potential so I am looking forward it and preparing these girls for next year’s season.”
