These youngsters recently participated in the Marysville youth volleyball camp. It was the largest turnout for the camp in the past decade. (Photo submitted)
It would appear the number of girls interested in playing volleyball at Marysville continues to grow and grow.
Lady Monarch head coach Bethany Bentz recently conducted a youth camp that attracted 75 girls who will be entering grades 4-8 for the 2021-22 academic year.
The coach told me that’s the highest number of participants in the past decade she has been associated with the MHS program.
As a matter of fact, it’s nearly more than double what camp participation has been over the years.
That’s an encouraging sign.
There are many high school sports programs that have struggled with numbers over the years.
Marysville doesn’t appear to be among those schools as the numbers for most sports have remained steady or have elevated.
Tryouts for the three high school teams (varsity, freshman and junior varsity) began Monday and concluded today.
More than 50 athletes competed for spots on one of those three rosters.
That certainly gives the Lady Monarch coaching staff a wide variety of athletes from which to choose.
Volleyball is a sport that has gone through peaks and valleys at Marysville High School since I began covering the Lady Monarchs years ago.
There have been a few good teams (MHS won a district championship in 2008) and there have been some lean seasons.
The 2020 campaign, played amid the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, resulted in just seven victories in 21 matches.
It’s a season from which the Lady Monarchs want to learn.
However, it’s also one they want to put way back in their rear-view mirror.
I feel the program could be ready to turn the corner.
With as much interest in the sport that was found during the recent camp, I hope there are good things ahead for the Lady Monarch spikers.