How do you replace five key players, including arguably the greatest hitter in school history and still have aspirations for a regional title?
Central Hardin coach Bill Rineker is confident he has a talented group of players returning who could help the school unseat Elizabethtown as the region champs.
“I believe this may be one of our very best teams ever,” he said. “We have some very experienced players back who proved themselves against top teams in the state the past couple of years. We also have a group of young, talented players who have been waiting their turn to show what they can do.”
Rineker was pleasantly surprised at how his team performed at a team camp at Western Kentucky University. Central Hardin finished 32-2 against strong competition and won the camp championship.
“I know we lost some talented players from last year,” he said. “Addie Atcher was an All-Region player the last three years and All-State the last two. Addie broke our program record for most kills in a season last year with 612, and for a career with 1,704.”
Rineker also must replace setters Makenna Cox and Anna Lewis as well as defensive specialists Luz Delgado and Grace Thompson.
He does have six returning starters that are fueling his hope to repeat as 17th District champions.
The group includes senior left side hitter Addison Keith who was tied for second on the team in 2022 with 241 kills.
“Addison has tons of athletic ability and has a great swing,” Rineker said. “She hits with lots of power and can jump out of the gym. Addison is also a skilled passer and has an excellent serve. She is a very well-rounded player. “
Keith said the 2022 season did not end well as the Bruins beat Elizabethtown in the district finals before losing to them the next week in the regional title game for a shot at the state tournament.
“I think that motivated us to work a lot harder since then,” she said. “That was a tough loss for us in the region. A lot of us have been working out more, training harder and going to the gym.”
Middle hitter Harper Lewis, senior, had 61 blocks and 169 kills last year and her coach thinks opponents will struggle to get balls around her.
“She has every shot in the book so she can pick defenses apart,” Rineker said.
There will be another Atcher playing a key role this season. Addie’s sister Sadie will move from her spot as a left side hitter to fill her sister’s spot on the right side. Sadie Atcher is a junior.
Junior libero Samantha Nelson enters her third year in the starting line-up.
“Sam plays with energy that is off the charts,” Rineker said. “She is a great passer who can also make miraculous, diving saves all over the court look really easy.”
Katie Vest was a right side hitter and defensive specialist last year but will move to setter this season.
“Setter which is her natural position,” Rineker said. “She is our quarterback on the floor and runs our offense with great efficiency.”
The coach is expecting big things from junior middle hitter Larkin Taylor who led the team in blocks last season with 80.
“Larkin has always been an excellent blocker, but she has made big improvements in her offensive game over this past year,” Rineker said.
Sophomores Klaire Warrell and Harper Jones, freshman Katie Camenzi and junior Ella Downs also will see varsity action.
Rineker gives rival Elizabethtown the edge in the district and to contend for their fourth region title in the last five years.
“They will definitely be our biggest competition in the district,” he said. “They only had one senior last year, so they return a very experienced team that won the region title and finished the year ranked No. 9 in the state coaches’ poll.”
Rineker added every 17th District match-up will push his team.