Published: Friday, Oct. 23, 2009 / Updated: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 11:47 PM

'Cats Elder gets birthday present with region win

Rock Hill High School is no place to keep a secret. Volleyball coach Cindy Elder knows that by now.

Elder has been the face of Rock Hill volleyball for years. She is in her 19th season. The coach won't turn 50 until Sunday, but it seemed anyone associated with Bearcats volleyball — now or in years past — was keenly aware of the coach's impending milestone.

Why wait? Players, former players, parents, former volleyball parents and students alike celebrated together Thursday night with a regular season-ending win over South Pointe in the Rock Hill High gym.

Even her mother, Mary “Teet” Elder, was there. Teet said she doesn't usually go to her daughter's games. “I'm afraid she'll lose.”

But this night was special. This one had redeeming value. It was a night to remember.

To start, it was Senior Night; a night Elder obviously plans for and cares about each season.

In a pre-game ceremony, each of her eight seniors walked out on the gym floor — one by one with their families. Elder greeted them at midcourt. The coach gave flowers and hugs to each girl.

The match started, and Rock Hill won the first game in convincing fashion.

The ‘Cats were up 23-14 in the second game when South Pointe called for a timeout. An impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday” came from the stands. It was sung perfectly horribly by a group of about 10 shirtless, chest-and-back-painted male students. They sang for coach Elder.

Rock Hill, the state's fifth-ranked team, won the match, 3-0.

Afterward, standing near the service line where senior Victoria Cox had just served the game-winning point, Elder talked with a stream of people for several minutes. When Elder was asked how many career wins she had, the coach's dead-serious answer was “I have no idea.”

“260,” JV volleyball coach Carla Berry said. Someone had looked it up in the library.

With that matter settled, Elder was whisked from the gym floor to a darkened lobby. A crowd awaited her arrival. A cake with flickering candles sat atop tables that had been set up by loyal parents.

Elder soaked it all in. “It means a lot to have kids and parents come back,” she said.

Thursday night's win capped a 9-1 Region 4-AAAA regular season. Rock Hill should get a No. 1 seed in the upcoming state playoffs. The Bearcats will host their first-round game on Tuesday night against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

Undoubtedly, a loyal cast of Elder followers will be at the game.