Macy Carrabine has experienced plenty of change during her high school volleyball career.
A 5-foot-10 senior, Carrabine at different stages of the past three seasons lined up either as a starting libero or outside hitter for Center Grove.
Later this summer she’ll play for a first-year head coach, former Avon assistant Maggie Harbison.
If Carrabine, who in December committed to play at the University of Denver in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, will be thrown off course by new responsibilities and philosophies, she hides it well.
Carrabine looks forward to the start of what will be her final go-round in a Trojans uniform.
“Our main thing this year will be our ball control and defense,” she said. “I think ball control, defense and passing are big parts of the game.
“I would think I would be an outside hitter this season because we have a lot of defensive specialists. I love playing the outside because you get a chance to finish the play.”
Carrabine is the lone senior among Center Grove’s returning players, which includes juniors Ellen LeMasters, Gabby Pugliese, Devyn Merriman and Emma Jones.
Merriman will be the Trojans’ libero, LeMasters an outside hitter, Pugliese one of the Trojans’ best passers and the 6-1 Jones a middle blocker.
Freshman M.J. Hammill, the sister of four-year starting setter Taylor Hammill, who soon begins her freshman year at Auburn University, is expected to be the Trojans’ setter.
Last season, Carrabine finished first on Center Grove’s Class 4A semistate team in digs (383), serves received (535) and service aces (55). She was third in assists (35) and fifth in kills (123).
Her freshman season, she was named to the Daily Journal’s All-County Team as a libero after recording 270 digs, 45 aces and 20 assists. Carrabine was honored the following season after amassing 470 digs and 66 aces.
Carrabine is a libero for her travel volleyball team. It’s likely the position she’ll play at Denver, where coach Tom Hogan’s NCAA Division I program is coming off a 27-8 season.
The Pioneers have advanced to the NCAA Tournament the past two seasons, last year dropping a 25-12, 25-14, 25-12 decision to No. 1 Washington.
Carrabine insists switching back and forth isn’t difficult or frustrating, even though they are entirely different positions.
“Macy, in a perfect world, would be my libero, but I’ll probably have her at outside,” said Harbison, who has spent the past couple of weeks familiarizing herself with the players she’ll be coaching. “I think she’ll be big and physical for us.
“When I was at Avon we had two huge outside hitters, and I was wondering what we would do once they were gone. But we were just as successful (the following season).”
Carrabine, who possesses the court savvy of a player who’s been part of 107 high school matches since the outset of the 2013-14 school year, said she believes the Trojans could buck the odds.
“A big advantage for me is outsides normally have to pass, as well,” Carrabine said. “Going from libero to outside hitter was a big transition, but I think it went well.”
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THE CARRABINE FILE
Name: Macy Carrabine
Age: 16
Born: Greenwood
Family: Parents, Mike and Stacy; brother, Zack, 19
Favorite TV show: “Ridiculousness”
Favorite food: Filet mignon
Favorite movie: “Finding Dory”
Favorite athlete: Tim Tebow
Favorite team: Denver Broncos
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