By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — Adrenaline was running high and a raucous crowd was abuzz on Sept. 2 in the Holmes Convocation Center. It may not have been the prettiest volleyball — but pretty enough as App State swept by visiting Elon, 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-20).
Each of the three sets had a similar personality: the Mountaineers started shaky and The Phoenix jumped to an early lead, App State rallied to tie and inch ahead, and then the Mountaineers edged ahead without fully taking control, but played just well enough to maintain the lead and secure the victory.
Among the most visible offensive stalwarts on this night was the dynamic duo of setter Addison Heidemann and middle blocker Maya Winterhoff. A redshirt senior setter from Diller, Neb., and 2024 transfer from Iowa State, Heidemann recorded 36 assists over the three sets, while Winterhoff finished with 14 kills and a .545 hitting percentage. She added six critical blocks for her evening’s work.
“We are a talented team,” said App State’s head coach Chad Sutton after the match, adding, “We just have a few holes in our play right now. We’re not cleaning up. It is early (in the season) and we are all new with six transfers to go with the returners and a new staff. We need to clean it up. We talked about it (in the locker room afterwards). It takes a little bit of time. I’m sure the girls were jazzed up for the home opener. We have to get to a point where the adrenaline is running high and we are comfortable with it and play within ourselves.”
Sutton reserved high praise for Heidemann and Winterhoff.
“To take over a program with perhaps the best middle blocker in the conference and a grad setter with experience gives us time to develop other people, so we can be successful now and later. We are very blessed to have both of those girls,” said Sutton, in his first year at the helm of the App State volleyball program.
Sutton also observed the growing role of Watauga High School alum, Caroline Farthing.
“We talked about it a couple of weeks ago,” Sutton shared. “We were struggling to pass the ball. Even when we were struggling tonight, we needed a couple of players to step up and Caroline did that. She has really settled in on serve receive and passing. We just talked about it in the locker room, how proud we are of Caroline for really filling a void and need on the team. She stepped up in a big way.”
For Winterhoff, at least, the Sept. 2 home opener had a purpose.
“We knew Elon had a tough weekend, so they were looking for their first win tonight,” said the 6-2, senior middle blocker from Charlottesville, Va. “We knew they were going to put up a fight, but we didn’t want that first win to come against us.”
“Addie is my best friend off the court,” said Winterhoff of her setter, “so that makes it just that much easier on the court. We trust each other. It may not be perfect every time but I know she has my back and I have her back.”
“Being able to set for somebody like Maya is the best feeling in the world,” said Heidemann. “She is always up. I can always hear her, wherever I am on the court. We have such a great connection that even when I am falling off the court, I can still find her. That is rare for a hitter and setter.”
Next up for the Mountaineers is a trip to Winterhoff’s hometown, Charlottesville, Va., for a pair of matchups against Virginia Commonwealth on Sept. 5 (2 p.m.), then against tournament host Virginia on Saturday, Sept. 6 (2 p.m.). They follow that up on Sept. 12 in north Atlanta against Michigan State (2 p.m.), then against tournament host Kennesaw State on Sept. 13 (12 noon).
Their early season road trips aren’t quite done, as they are slated to play North Carolina in Chapel Hill on Tuesday, Sept 16 (6 p.m.), before returning home to host Duke and Davidson in the Mountaineer Classic on Sept. 19 (6 p.m.) and Sept. 21 (2 p.m.), respectively.
STATISTICAL LEADERS VS. ELON
- Kills: Maya Winterhoff (14), Keionna Mackey (12), Delanie Grevengoed (10)
- Assists: Addison Heidemann (36)
- Digs: MeMe Davis (21), Addison Heidemann (6), Keionna Mackey (6), Bella Dafforn (6), Ali Morris (5) Caroline Farthing (5)
- Blocks: Maya Winterhoff (6), Delanie Grevengoed (3), Lou Johnson (3), Keionna Mackey (2)
BONUS PHOTOS (click any image for SLIDE SHOW mode)
All photographic images by David Rogers for High Country Sports
