by John Sorce
Special to The Leaven
TOPEKA — Another year led to another trip to the Class 4A state tournament for the Hayden Catholic High School volleyball team here.
The Wildcats featured a balanced roster this season with one senior, six juniors, three sophomores and one freshman.
Fourth-year head coach Corrinne McGreevy credited her team’s success with their ability to limit distractions over the course of the season.
“I tell them all the time, when you step inside those volleyball lines, you are one unit,” McGreevy said. “We want them to put everything else aside and play together. Play Hayden volleyball.
“We talk about being a pack of coyotes and sticking together, even when times get tough, and take care of each other.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
The team dealt with injuries throughout the season that required them to use several lineups.
But McGreevy said the players kept their focus on what they could control.
“As an athlete, there are going to be off days,” she said. “But there are three things that you can control and that is how hard you work, being a great teammate and communication.
“If your level of play is off, you can still work hard, cheer for your team and be the best communicator on the court.”
One of the team’s top moments from the season came early on, when they played in a quad with Manhattan, Shawnee Mission East and Washburn Rural, where all three of their matches went to three sets.
“We played over 225 points of volleyball that night,” McGreevy said. “One of the games we were down 11-3 and came back to win.
“It would have been easy for our girls to give up because they were exhausted. But they dug deep and kept working. They pushed themselves for every point and found a way to win.”
LEAVEN PHOTO BY JAY SOLDNER
McGreevy uses volleyball as a tool to teach the players lessons they will carry into their lives long after their athletic careers are over.
“I hold my players to a high standard because there are rules and standards everywhere you go,” she said. “Life can be awesome, but it can also be very hard.
“Playing sports builds you up so you know how to get back up and keep fighting when life knocks you down.”
Hayden concluded its season with a 26-14 record after going 1-2 in pool play at the Class 4A state tournament in Hutchinson at the end of October.
While the success on the court is what gets celebrated, McGreevy keeps the bigger picture in mind when it comes to mentoring her players.
“I remind our girls they are not always going to agree with the coaches, and that is okay,” she said. “But when it is all said and done, we want what is best for them not only as volleyball players, but as people.
“We want our girls to be reliable, trustworthy and dependable adults. God gave our team a lot of gifts, and they need to use those gifts he gave them and use them to the best of their abilities.”
