MADISON TOWNSHIP — If volleyball or basketball doesn’t work out, maybe Mekaila Grose can pursue a career in dance.
Madison’s senior middle hitter and middle blocker can pirouette with the best of them.
This week’s Richland Source Athlete of the Week, Grose likes to have fun on the volleyball court. Her infectious smile — not to mention a surprising arsenal of ballet movements — were on display in last week’s three game win over Wooster. The 5-foot-11 Grose also showed off her skills at the net with 11 kills and three blocks.
The Rams added two more wins and took runner-up honors at the Cloverleaf tournament over the weekend, falling to Olmsted Falls in the championship match. Grose was selected Madison’s player of the match in a 25-16, 25-12 win over Norwayne in the opener at Cloverleaf. She had five kills and four blocks.
As for all those dance moves, Grose says its a way for her and her teammates to blow off a little steam.
“I feel like we play better when we’re silly and giggly and having fun,” Grose said after the victory over Wooster. “When we’re not like that, things start to get a little stressful.”
Grose’s stress relieving tactics have served the Rams well. Madison is 8-1 overall and 3-0 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference after Tuesday’s win over West Holmes and was ranked first in Division II in the first Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association state poll, released over the weekend. The Rams had 29 votes and 194 points, while Parma Padua was second with 24 votes and 193 points.
“We are happy to be ranked No. 1 in the state. I think the ranking is based on our reputation and the way we played over the summer and early in the season,” Madison coach Brian Votaw said. “It’s a great compliment.”
It was Padua that ended Madison’s season in the regional semifinals last fall at Ontario High School. Padua would go on to win the Division II state title.
“We made a nice run last year, but we were a little disappointed that the season ended when it did,” Grose said. “I feel like the team we have now can make a run. I believe in us.”
The Rams already have faced their share of adversity this fall. Madison lost four-year letter winning libero Chase Carper to a knee injury. The extent of Carper’s injury was unknown as the All-Ohio candidate was scheduled for an MRI last week.
“Playing without Chase has been tough,” Grose said. “We’ve had to move some people around and everybody is still getting used to their new responsibilities.”
Votaw agreed.
Grose’s roll hasn’t changed much. Going into Saturday’s championship match against Olmsted Falls, she led the Rams with 85 kills and 29 blocks.
“We feel very confident with Mekaila in the front row,” Votaw said. “She is big and athletic and not too many people are going to stop her.
“If we are in the fifth game of a match and the score is tied 12-12 and we’re going to 15, I can breath a sigh of relief knowing she is up there.”
