Varsity volleyball players for Marysville High School are from left, front row, Kaitlyn DeLauter, Alyssa Codner, Peyton Ingle and Kami Carter; second row, Miali Bard, Sarah Peterson, Carys Gossett, Rhiannon Gossett and Larissa Smith; back row, Madi Bentz, Maddie Brown, Jazmine Williams, Carissa Baker and Danielle Jarvi.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Bethany Bentz, Marysville High School’s second-year head volleyball coach, has several veterans returning from a 2017 squad that fell to Olentangy during the second round of the Division I tournament.
Those veterans include seniors Carissa Baker (outside hitter), Jazmine Williams (middle blocker), libero Madi Bentz and defensive specialists Danielle Jarvi and Maddie Brown.
The lettermen will be joined by newcomers Miali Bard (setter), Kaitlyn DeLauter (outside hitter), Alyssa Codner (middle blocker/right side hitter), setter Sarah Peterson and middle blocker/right side hitter Carys Gossett.
Additional members of the roster include defensive specialist Kami Carter, middle blocker Larissa Smith and setter/defensive specialist Peyton Ingle.
Marysville will be without the services for a time of right side hitter/middle blocker Rhiannon Gossett, who is injured.
“We hope to have Rhiannon back by the start of league play,” said Bentz.
The Lady Monarch coach likes what she has seen from her team in the preseason.
“We have good team chemistry and the girls have great attitudes,” she said. “I’ve seen good ball control, quickness and fierce hitting from all of our positions.”
Bentz feels MHS is going to surprise a number of opponents on its schedule.
“This year, the Lady Monarchs are going to surprise all those who underestimate their ability,” she said. “Although we are young, we have strong senior leadership and we are a team of perseverance and talent.
“We have talent in various positions at each grade level,” she said, “and we have athletes who can play various positions.”
Bentz said the key to success this fall as the team goes through a tough schedule will be to stay hungry and not become satisfied.
“We must strive to better ourselves as individuals and a team each practice and each match,” she said. “Finally we must continue to believe that we can and we will do those things.”
The Lady Monarchs must contend with an Ohio Capital Conference Central Division that features teams such as Dublin Coffman, Upper Arlington and Hilliard Davidson.
“We are in the strongest division in the OCC,” said Bentz. “Along with Coffman, Upper Arlington and Davidson, Central Crossing and Westland are always improving and cannot be overlooked.”
Marysville will also face a difficult non-conference slate of matches, which will include Olentangy Liberty, Big Walnut, Olentangy and Newark Catholic.
Bentz outlined the goals for the season.
“We must stick to the process of progress to create a competitive culture where we compete with the Big 3 (Coffman, Upper Arlington, and Hilliard Davidson) of the division,” she said.
“We have set a goal to finish in the top three of our division.”