High school volleyball preview: Sport returns to action a few months removed from the 2021 spring season

A Messalonskee volleyball participant returns a provide all through a activity in opposition to Cony on Oct. 5, 2020 in Augusta. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

Right after the Cony volleyball workforce held its first exercise, coach Lindsey Morin reported it felt like a fairly return to normalcy. 

“It’s not strange, it feels like common again to faculty,” said Morin. “More so this calendar year than last for sure.”

Volleyball, like most athletics, was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The MPA introduced in September that it could not sponsor indoor volleyball or soccer in the slide 2020 mainly because of coronavirus security fears. However, lots of volleyball groups made the decision to maintain outside practices and matches on makeshift courts. Cony, Gardiner and Messalonskee all competed exterior in the drop.

This tumble, the sport moves back indoors and championships will after all over again be contested. Host colleges will establish if these attending the match should be masked or not. 

Initially-yr Brunswick/Mt. Ararat co-op coach Janey Martin mentioned it is interesting to have an chance to perform a slide year just months just after spring. 

“Returning players are significantly fresher with their ability sets,” she explained. “Reaching that new level of perform faster with possessing the spring jumpstart is only likely to reward gamers as individuals, as a crew, and the program as a full.”

Messalonskee has a new but familiar deal with in cost for its initially-ever year of varsity volleyball. Jennifer Croft, who was a volunteer assistant for the past 3 seasons, will lead the Eagles this time. 

“The enhancement that I have observed just over the first week has been spectacular,” said Croft. “We really do not know what to be expecting for ourselves this year, but we like what we’ve found consequently much.”

Just after forming as a club workforce in 2018, Messalonskee was set to have its initially season of varsity volleyball in 2020 just before the period was postponed. With zero seniors on the’ roster, Croft is hoping to build the foundation of the system.

“I would say we’re definitely in a creating stage but can get the job done off the good results we experienced in the spring,” said Croft. “I do experience like we will be aggressive in the convention, but I’m form of in a wait around-and-see method.”

Messalonskee returns just two starters from past period, and its roster is comprised of seven juniors and eight sophomores.

Cony volleyball players contend throughout a Sept. 10, 2020 follow at Cony Higher School. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal

“Development will be vital for us at both of those the varsity and junior varsity stage,” Croft extra.

Although Messalonskee is continue to searching to come across its identification, Gardiner is hoping for massive factors this time. 

“We’re an older staff. I’m expecting very a bit out of them this year,” explained Gardiner head mentor Tiffany Grover. “We’re seasoned and have a lot of knowledge, especially from how a lot we have gotten to perform with each other more than the past 12 months.”

In contrast to most teams, Gardiner was capable to keep some tactics outside the house in the drop before the shortened time took location in the spring. 

“We handled the spring as a true time, we labored and played tricky and required to acquire like any other season,” explained Grover. “To be back currently is a bit odd, but it’s a wonderful emotion to be again in the gymnasium with the team collectively.”

Morin, Cony’s coach, suggests the Rams are getting valuable knowledge in the early going, as very well.

“We have sturdy junior expertise and a potent freshman class that we’re thrilled about,” stated Morin. “This year our objective is to boost our attacking rather of relying on serves and protection. We also need to have to increase our communication on the courtroom.”

The Brunswick/Mt. Ararat volleyball staff competes in the course of a March 11 apply at Brunswick Large University. Eli Canfield/The Occasions Document

Schedules will be related to pre-pandemic existence, and the postseason will be performed for the initially time since the slide of 2019.

Numerous coaches agreed that it’s tough to gauge which teams will contend. 

“It’s really hard to ascertain that correct now to my knowledge there need to be a ton of evenly matched groups in Class B,” reported Grover.

Brunswick/Mt. Ararat will when once again perform in Course A but will enjoy a rather mixed plan. The Dragons deal with Cony, Messalonksee, Gardiner, Hampden Academy, and North Yarmouth Academy. 

“I’m assured we will be aggressive within our match program and will be putting in the effort to gain ourselves a spot in the postseason bracket,” said Martin, whose staff opens up its regular period on Sept. 8 at residence vs Gardiner. 

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