Healthy Grenadier, pivotal underclassmen pave way for Country Day volleyball

BLOOMFIELD HILLS — The essence of being a team is going through the ebbs and flows of emotion together, overcoming whatever stands in their path hand-in-hand.

Country Day volleyball will be the first to say they were trending downwards in the moral category last season.

“We just were tired,” senior Morgan Anderson said. “We were focused on the millions of other things we had to do, and our head really wasn’t in it.”

Add on an injury to now-senior Olivia Grenadier, a 6-foot-1, 2024 Miss Volleyball candidate who was sidelined for the majority of the regular season, and state tournament success just wasn’t in the cards for the Yellowjackets.

Grenadier, a University of Colorado commit, fought her way back to make an appearance in the district semifinals matchup against Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, but everything was simply too much for Country Day to overcome.

But the reason it’s an ebb and flow is that great teams respond. Great teams collect themselves and rub the dirt off in an effort to return stronger than ever.

Grenadier was stronger than ever for the start of the year. Junior Elise Hiemstra, who Country Day relied upon heavily after Grenadier’s injury, was stronger than ever as she continued to elevate her game. Country Day as a whole mirrored both of them to perfection.

Country Day has reintroduced themselves to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 volleyball scene, holding a 25-1 record. They’re currently on a 25-game win streak after dropping their first match of the year to Farmington Hills Mercy, ranked No. 1 in Division 1.

Notable wins for Country Day have been Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe South, Fenton, Rochester Adams, Lake Orion and Hartland.

Everything moves more fluidly for the No. 3 ranked Yellowjackets when Grenadier is on the court, and her 282 kills, 50 aces, 33 total blocks, 153 digs, and 373 serve receives are only the statistical aspect of what she brings to the court.

“She not only leads us with her play because she’s so consistent in her kills, and her hitting percentage is insane, but she’s just so composed all the time,” Country Day head coach Kim Lockhart said. “It’s actually really nice having a leader like that on the floor. She doesn’t get rattled. She’s pretty level the entire time, and it’s nice because when games get to be a little close she’s just the same. It’s left this feeling on the team where it’s no big deal and they got this.”

Now she has a partner in crime, for Hiemstra and Grenadier have been an explosive 1-2 punch for the Yellowjackets.

When the pressure was on her to perform last year, Hiemstra answered with 207 kills and 360 serve receives.

Her junior campaign has only been a continuation of that success, posting 247 kills, 56 aces, 184 digs and 217 serve receives.

“Oh man, she’s just improved tremendously,” Lockhart said. “She definitely is a force to be reckoned with because of her athleticism. She brings so much force and power, and versatility. Both her and Olivia, they’re just passing, defending and hitting all along the net. They’re just doing it all.”

Country Day already had enough firepower with two likely all-Staters traveling all over the court, but a loaded underclassman group brought an embarrassment of riches.

Enter sophomore Demi McCoy, who is second on the team in serve receives with 240; sophomore Leah Green; sophomore Aliyah Potapenko, a 6-foot-2 newcomer from Tennessee; freshman Payton Woodruff; and freshman Sici Guerrant.

Woodruff, who plays club volleyball for Legacy, is no stranger to Hiemstra and Grenadier, who both play for Legacy (different age group) as well, so the chemistry was already strong between the three.

But high school volleyball is not the club scene — it moves differently. There’s bigger, taller and older players on the other side. And the stakes are different.

Fortunately for Country Day, Woodruff is “cool as a cucumber,” as Lockhart would describe her, and she took to the varsity scene immediately.

“Middle and setter connections can be tricky to figure out sometimes,” Grenadier said. “It probably took us one or two games, but she’s really an amazing setter. When I heard she was coming to Country (Day), I was so excited.”

Woodruff is having an all-State caliber season herself, posting a team-high 686 assists and averaging 10 assists per set.

It helps having two dynamic hitters at your disposal, but Woodruff said she was prepared to take on the starting role.

“Going into it, I know as a setter with different hitters that you have to adjust,” Woodruff said. “Every hitter likes a different ball, so my role in that is just figuring out how to put them in the best position and what types of balls they hit well.”

Guerrant, along with her 67 kills and 18 total blocks, brings a vibrant personality that keeps the team feeling loose, and she’s not afraid to take charge when needed.

“Sici is so vocal,” Guerrant said. “She’s probably one of the more vocal girls on the team as a freshman. She’s out there just talking constantly and talking about what’s going on here. She’s really put herself out there as a freshman.”

Potapenko is a natural athlete who can dominate with her size, but what stands out about her, Green and Guerrant is their versatility — being able to play anywhere Lockhart needs them to.

The defensive effort is still hoping to find its consistency, but Anderson switching from setter to defensive specialist has been a key move for the Yellowjackets.

“Honestly, I was excited about it (switching to defensive specialist),” Anderson said. “I’m not opposed to change. I’m just glad I can help this team out any way I can.”

Country Day was slated to end its regular season Oct. 29 against Birmingham Groves before the MHSAA Division 2 state tournament begins Nov. 4.

Country Day is slated to be in District 59 with Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Pontiac and Waterford Oakside Prep.

The Yellowjackets are firing on all cylinders, showing no signs of slowing down, but it’s all about keeping the tempo going.

Luckily for Country, its freshman phenom has an inkling for how the season is going to play out.

“I just have a really good feeling about this season and that I feel we are capable of winning a state championship,” Woodruff said. “It’s one thing to think about it, but I really have a feeling.”