Veteran volleyball coach Donna Carhill likes it when a large number of freshmen play volleyball, and the coach has her wish this season. Close to half of the 30 or so girls out for the sport at Greene County High School are ninth graders. “We like to see a lot of participation, especially when they enter high school. They get a feel for what it’s like to compete at that level.”

Only two letter winners return from the 11-25 squad of a season ago. They are seniors Megan Durbin, a first team all-conference performer, and Samantha Hardaway.

Coach Carhill was asked to comment about the Heart of Iowa Activities Conference, of which Greene County is a member. “The conference graduated a pretty significant senior class last year. There were some great athletes that have left the conference and moved on. Gilbert probably has as many returning starters as anybody, you can never count Nevada out, and Roland-Story has an excellent outside hitter.

Greene County doesn’t play a match that counts on the season record until Sept. 2.