MELROSE —The tallest Central Catholic hitters all get some time to rest on the bench during matches.
The reason why this is makes sense.
But the reason is not because they get too tired.
Central coach Gannon Paris said he, for instance, rotates defensive specialist Alexis Michal in for 6-foot-2 Kendall Desrosiers when it's time for Desrosiers to play the back row simply because Michal is better in the back.
"I think we have more skilled players defensively," Paris said. "Kendall, when she's in the front row she can pass and she moves well but we have a player who subs in for her — Alexis Michal — who in my opinion covers more court and is a more consistent passer. It helps to give (hitters) the break (for rest) but that's not the reason for doing it. Carolyn (Eddy) and Maggie (Hillman), they both stay in there and don't come out."
Central does a lot of substituting during a match. But in the midst of it all Eddy, the setter, and Hillman, the do-it-all outside hitter, usually stay on the court for every point. They are the mainstays on a a Central squad with depth.
Eddy and Hillman — two of the four senior captains — both helped Central sweep Quincy 25-20, 25-15, 25-20 in a Division 1 semifinal at Melrose High School yesterday.
Eddy recorded 23 assists and five kills. Meanwhile, Hillman posted seven digs, four kills, 11 service points and two aces.
But their hustle — not their statistics — stood out yesterday.
Eddy sprinted full speed all the way to her team's bench to save a ball and keep it in play during the second game.
Hillman made at least two digs where she fully extended her body to save very hard hit balls.
"She (hustles) and we just follow her lead basically," sophomore libero Kayla Maloney said about Eddy.
"(Hillman) is amazing," Maloney added. "She basically gets everything. She has so much hustle and she's so aggressive."
Hillman needed to provide a spark defensively as Quincy had strong servers with a lot of movement on their serves.
"She's our defensive leader," Paris said about Hillman. "Ever since her sophomore year she's been relentless with her body. She's fearless. She's a tremendous leader.
"Maggie and Carolyn have been practicing like this (with great hustle) for years now," Paris added. "And the girls who come in to play with them, they see that and that becomes the norm for them."
The substitutions work for Central. For instance, Desrosiers posted six kills and her back row sub — Michal — was second on the team with eight digs.
But as for Eddy and Hillman — it's always better when they are always on the court.
"We all have important roles on the team and we all contribute," Hillman said. "Each captain brings their own and each player brings their own. We all have strengths."
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