Fate has tested Jenna Otto’s patience like none other over the last three years.
Of course, the Center Grove setter knew what she was getting into when she arrived as a freshman and slid into the backup role behind Madison Hammill, who was one year ahead of her and already considered one of the top players in the country. Opportunities for meaningful varsity reps were going to be scarce.
When they came, Otto proved more than capable. She stepped in for an injured Hammill in 2017 and helped steer the Trojans to victory in the Johnson County tournament, and she totaled 84 assists in two matches last fall after Hammill was sidelined again due to an emergency appendectomy.
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Otto’s time in the spotlight then was supposed to have lasted another three or four weeks while Hammill recovered — but a freak ankle injury put Otto on the shelf as well.
“That was really tough,” her said. “When I went down, and I just knew I was hurt — it was just really frustrating to know that I couldn’t do it anymore and couldn’t be in that spot anymore.”
Now, as a senior, the spot is finally hers.
Otto takes over as the setter for a Trojan squad that graduated nine seniors from last year’s semistate qualifier but still has plenty of talent on board, including a pair of big-time weapons up front in senior middle blocker Grace Boggess and junior outside hitter Katie Egenolf.
Center Grove coach Chris Due feels more than comfortable handing the keys to Otto, and he’s thrilled to see her patience finally get rewarded.
“I’m really excited for her; I know she’s been waiting a long time for this moment,” Due said. “It’s hard when you have a player that’s a class ahead of you at that high of a level where it’s going to be very tough to beat that player out, so it’s kind of a waiting game. Sometimes by being in that position, you can lose your love of the sport, it deters you from playing — but Jenna, she stuck with it, she kept working hard and improving, and she also used it as a learning experience.
“Obviously, those are some big shoes to fill, but I know she’s really excited to step in and fill in the way she can.”
In an era defined by instant gratification, when young athletes are often seen transferring left and right in search of immediate playing time, Otto likely could have gone to any number of schools and become the starting setter right away.
Otto, though, never contemplated leaving. She enjoyed working with Hammill in practice — “I love MJ to death,” she said — and being a part of the Center Grove family.
“People have talked to me about (leaving), but I never entertained the thought because I love all the girls, I love my teammates,” Otto said. “I’ve been with them all my life, and being under MJ, she taught me every single day, so it was a good opportunity.”
The opportunity to play full-time is finally here for Otto, and the expectation is that the transition from one setter to another will be seamless, just as it was when she’s stepped in previously.
“We’ve played with each other before, so we connect really well,” Boggess said of Otto. “We’re really excited. She’s waited three years, and she finally has the chance.”
Replacing half of last year’s roster, including three girls who are now playing at Division I colleges, won’t be an easy task. Expectations never get lowered at Center Grove, though, and neither does the confidence.
“We all know we have some pretty big shoes to fill, but I think we’re all ready for the challenge,” Otto said. “A lot of us, now, it’s our time to shine, so we’re really excited to get the opportunity.”
It’s been a long time coming.
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Center Grove Trojans
Coach: Chris Due
Last season: 29-7, won MIC, county, sectional and regional titles; lost to New Castle in Class 4A semistate
Key returnees: Grace Boggess, Emma Goss, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Rylie McMahen and Jenna Otto, seniors; Katie Egenolf and Avery Holubar, juniors
Top newcomers: Taryn Kennedy and Julianna Weems, sophomores
Outlook: Few teams in the country graduated as much talent as the Trojans, who need to replace a group of nine seniors that included three Division I college players. Fortunately for Due, the cupboard is far from bare. Boggess and Egenolf both played major roles up front on last year’s semistate team, and libero McMahen did the same in the back. Otto, who excelled when given the chance to fill in at setter the last three years, now has the job to herself. McMahen anchors what should again be a strong back line. Center Grove isn’t as deep as in years past, but if it can stay healthy, this team still has the potential to win big.
Edinburgh Lancers
Coach: Jamie Turner
Last season: 8-21, lost to Morristown in Class A sectional semifinal
Key returnees: Carly Cowan and Callie Hancock, juniors; Gracie Crawhorn and Gracie Myers, sophomores
Top newcomers: Alyssa Funkhouser, junior; Jessica Walsh, freshman
Outlook: Turner, an assistant last season, is enjoying a resurgence in numbers — the Lancers, who couldn’t even field a sectional lineup in 2018, now have 20 players and will have a JV team again. The team is young, with Cowan and Crawhorn the top returning players offensively, but Turner is eager to continue building with what she considers a very enthusiastic group.
Franklin Grizzly Cubs
Coach: Jess Giles
Last season: 19-11, won Mid-State Conference title; lost to Center Grove in Class 4A sectional final
Key returnees: Cami Kelsay and Lauren Sandrock, seniors; Haley Haldeman, Jenna Hash and Chloe Hoy, juniors
Top newcomers: Paris Johnson, junior; Scarlett Kimbrell, freshman
Outlook: Former Grizzly Cub star Giles takes over at her alma mater looking to extend a string of Mid-State Conference dominance that stretches back to her playing days more than half a decade ago. The go-to hitter will be Kelsay, an All-County pick last year, but she should have help up front from the likes of Sandrock and Kimbrell, who has impressed as a rookie. A veteran back row gets a lift with the addition of Johnson, a Roncalli transfer. Giles likes the competitive energy of this Franklin team, which should again be in contention for league, county and sectional titles.
Greenwood Woodmen
Coach: Natalie Kitchin
Last season: 18-13, lost to Center Grove in Class 4A sectional opener
Key returnees: Anna Cruser, Siena Halfaker, Kamryn Mayo and Ashlee Walton, seniors; Jenna Armstrong and Melia Gorrell, juniors; Mya Ayro and Ella Dean, sophomores
Top newcomer: Brooklyn Bell, freshman
Outlook: First-year coach Kitchin comes in from Daleville and inherits a veteran club that lost two key seniors but has plenty of experienced talent back. Ayro, Halfaker and Armstrong figure to be mainstays up front, with Cruser anchoring the back row. Gorrell and Dean are still battling it out for the starting setter spot as Kitchin tries to figure out her rotations and which pieces fit best together. The Woodmen have gone from nine to 12 to 18 wins the last three seasons, and the potential is there for another 17 to 20 victories this fall.
Greenwood Christian Cougars
Coach: Tasha Vessely
Last season: 15-14, lost to Morristown in first round of Class A sectional
Key returnees: Hannah Farley, Riley Ratliff, Izzy Reed and Mayah Shundelmier, seniors; Dory O’Dell, junior; Kayla Crosby and Olivia Shingleton, sophomores
Top newcomers: Maddie Smith, sophomore; Naomi Hillenburg and Milana Shundelmier, freshmen
Outlook: The Cougars return their two kill leaders from a year ago in Reed and Mayah Shundelmier, giving libero-turned-setter Ratliff some powerful hitters to work with. Farley and O’Dell should also help up front, with Crosby and a couple of the newcomers likely to fill out the back row. GCA was "devastated" when it fell short of the sectional final in 2019; the goal this fall is to make it back to that title match and win it. A tough league slate should help the Cougars prepare.
Indian Creek Braves
Coach: Andi Ferris
Last season: 7-19, lost to Cardinal Ritter in Class 3A sectional semifinal
Key returnees: Jessie Hart, Delaney Heminger, Makena Hogue, Tori Iaria and Hannah Smith, seniors; Ava McClanahan and Emily Scott, juniors
Outlook: The Braves struggled last season, largely due to injuries and the inability to find a consistent setter. Ferris hopes that she’s found a solution to the latter problem with Hart, who moves into the role after playing on the back row in the past. Indian Creek has a lot of returning players who got meaningful experience last fall, and it should get some help from a talented freshman class at some point. If healthy, Ferris believes this team will be able to compete for conference and sectional titles.
Whiteland Warriors
Coach: Jill Cain
Last season: 7-21, lost to Center Grove in Class 4A sectional semifinal
Outlook: A still-young Warriors team hopes to improve after taking its share of lumps a year ago.
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