Marysville High School varsity volleyball coach Bethany Bentz gives instructions during a recent youth camp. Bentz coached her club team to a second-place finish during this summer’s national tournament. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School volleyball coach Bethany Bentz got an additonal leg up on her craft prior to the start of the 2021 preseason.
Bentz, who is also a club coach for the Elite Volleyball Center of Plain City, coached in the USA Volleyball Nationals earlier this summer.
The tournament was held in Orlando, Fla.
“Our club team from Plain City was entered into the nationals by Randy (Cline),” said Bentz.
Cline owns the Plain City facility and formerly served as the head coach of the Lady Monarch program.
Bentz was one of Cline’s assistant coaches at Marysville High School for several years.
Her team competed in the 16U portion of the national tournament and placed second in that age bracket.
“We played matches on four consecutive days,” she said. “That totaled 16 matches.”
The local team posted a 9-7 record to earn its runner-up status.
“We lost in the finals to a team from Tennessee,” she said.
A trio of Lady Monarchs played on Bentz’s team.
They were Rylee Dundon, Mo Shick and Ellie Morris.
“You’re playing at a very high level of volleyball when you compete in the national tournament,” said the Lady Monarch coach. “The competition was fierce and it was a great experience for all of us.
“Our players got good touches on the ball during the tournament and learned additional strategy at a very high level,” she said. “I was also able to collaborate with other coaches from around the country.
“We discussed schemes and offenses and were able to form good bonds with other coaches.”
The Lady Monarchs will begin preseason practices on Monday, Aug. 2.
They will be working on the gymnasium floors in the high school’s field house.
That’s due to the fact the competition gym is undergoing a major renovation project.
Marysville will open the 2021 season with several matches on opponents’ courts.
The first home contest for the Lady Monarchs is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 11.