By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Corrinne (Stringer) McGreevy played in 100s of big matches as a volleyball star for Hayden and at the Division I and II college level.
But McGreevy was in a whole new position on Monday night, making her debut as the head coach at her alma mater in a dual match at Topeka High.
Former Hayden star Corrinne McGreevy made a triumphant debut as the Wildcats' volleyball coach Monday night, with Hayden taking a 3-0 dual win at Topeka High. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"I was more nervous than any high school game or college volleyball game,'' McGreevy said. " I'm not going to lie, more nervous than I ever have been.in volleyball.''
Fortunately for McGreevy, her Hayden team did its best to put her nerves at ease, rolling to a 25-10, 25-23, 25-10 dual win over Centennial League foe Topeka High.
"We're getting to know each other and building that trust and they had to see me on the sidelines as their coach, like, 'How's she going to be?' '' McGreevy said. "I know I can be a little fiery, a little nutty, but I mean well.
"We all have to trust each other and connect and that's what it's about is trust because when you can trust each other and you want those people in your foxhole, good things are going to happen.''
Hayden celebrates its 25-10 first-set victory over Topeka High in Monday's 3-0 dual sweep over the Trojans. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Hayden rolled to wins in the first and third sets, but the Wildcats' most impressive win might have come in the middle set as McGreevy's team rallied 17-11 and 19-15 deficits to pull out the win and take a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.
"I was so proud of them because they have got to believe in themselves,'' McGreevy said. "We've had some preseason stuff where we've been up and we let up and then we give up.
"We've also had times where we're down and we just give up and we don't believe in ourselves and I told them, 'You've got to show me your fight right now. You all are gamers, you can do this,' and they did exactly that.''
Hayden jumped out to an 11-4 advantage in the opening set and went up 15-7 on a kill from senior Hannah Schmitz, the start of a 6-0 run that was capped by a kill from junior Bella Reid.
The Wildcats closed out the win with the final two points of the set.
Topeka High played much better in the second set, taking a 12-10 advantage on a kill from senior Kenya German and going up 14-11on a kill from sophomore Jayana Washington.
The Trojans appeared to be in a good position to to even the match before Hayden used a 6-1 run to take a 21-20 lead on a kill from sophomore Kadence Watts.
Topeka High tied the set at 21 but the Wildcats took control with three straight points and held on for the win.
Hayden was never threatened in the third and deciding set after scoring the first five points.
The Wildcats took an 8-2 lead on a kill from sophomore Reese Huscher and went up 16-5 on a kill from senior Reagan Huscher.
A kill from sophomore Carsyn Broxterman put Hayden in front 18-6 and back-to-back kills from Reese Huscher and Schmitz gave the Wildcats a 21-7 advantage en route to closing out the match.
MATCH RESULTS
Hayden def. Topeka High, 25-10, 25-23, 25-10.
