CENTERBURG — The Ontario High School gym might be mistaken for Rome’s Colosseum on Wednesday night when the Centerburg volleyball team meets undefeated Marion Pleasant.
The 6 p.m. Division V Regional semifinal pits the Trojans, sporting a 23-2 record, against the Spartans, who at 25-0 have yet to be conquered.
“We are expecting a very competitive match on Wednesday,” Abby Boudinot said. “We have been hard at work in the gym to focus on being aggressive at the service line and relentless at the net.”
Following the Trojan victory over Northmor, which clinched the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference championship, the Centerburg alum said she has a personal investment in the program.
“Centerburg volleyball means everything to me,” Boudinot said. “This is where I found and developed my love for coaching and teaching.”
After playing volleyball at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Boudinot has come full circle.
“It is my whole heart,” she said. “I was coaching in college for a long time and then I came back here to my alma mater and just could not be more proud to be their head coach.”
Looking ahead, Boudinot is cautiously confident.
“It is going to be a rough road, and tough challenges, but one that I believe we can meet,” she said.
On the other side of the net and looking to make that road as rough as possible is Pleasant caoch Kory Ute. She believes that depth and experience have been two of the tools used in posting an unblemished record this year and 26-2 in the 25-26 campaign.
“We are blessed that our 10 varsity players were all underclassmen last year so they have all returned,” Ute said.
Bringing with that experience are some intangibles.
“Our strong points would be the culture that volleyball has created and the team’s will to win is as strong as their work ethic,” Ute said.
Looking to the Wednesday match, Ute knows her charges have their work cut out for them.
“Centerburg is very well-coached and disciplined,” Ute said. “We have to be the same and stay focused on who is across the net from us and what their tendencies are to win the match.”