Pullman cruises again behind dynamic duo

For the record, high school volleyball season in Washington began in late August. For the Pullman Greyhounds, though, the real season will start at the end of this month when they will go for back-to-back state titles.

While all high school teams dream about qualifying for – or even winning – the state tournament, the Greyhounds (11-0 in the Great Northern League) actually have a realistic chance to reach that pinnacle again. It would be impossible, head coach Jennifer Greeny said, without her co-captains Grethe Vogel and Katie Hinrichs.

“I think without either one of them our team would not have the success that it has this year,” Greeny said. “They are both irreplaceable right now in my mind.”

Vogel and Hinrichs are quite the pair. The girls have played with or against each other since they were in the third grade. Now the seniors, who both played on last year’s championship team, can’t stop complimenting one another.

“(Grethe) is a phenomenal volleyball player,” Hinrichs said. “She isn’t as vocal. She’s more laid back. She leads by action on the court. We complement each other very well. I’m intense and I get in your face and she’s more of a calm-down-and-let’s-do-this player.”

The 5-10 middle hitter is the Greyhounds’ key offensive player this season. She has led the team in kills in every match. Both Vogel and her coach attribute her success to hard work over the past year.

“She is our go-to player, which she hasn’t been before this year so it is nice to see her step into that role and really embrace it,” Greeny said.

“I played club volleyball basically from the time school got out until the end of June,” Vogel said. “It kept me going. I never stopped playing.”

While Vogel is the hard-hitting captain with unmatched prowess on her team, Hinrichs, the Greyhounds’ libero, is the inspirational leader.

“She is the hardest worker on our team,” Vogel said. “She’s definitely a leader. She is always pushing us to do better and is always the person you can hear during the points.”

Her coach agrees.

“Katie is, in my opinion, just so fun to coach,” Greeny said. “She is intense. She pushes her teammates and herself, and to have a kid on your team that leads like that is just phenomenal.”

Both girls have 3.4 grade-point averages and are active in various school activities. After this year it is unlikely the two will be teammates again. While Vogel hopes to continue playing volleyball in college, Hinrichs will pursue softball, her favorite sport, most likely at Colorado State University.