2023 will be season of growth for MFL MarMac
Members of the MFL MarMac volleyball team are (front, left to right) Emily Troester, MacKenzie Bark, Kaitlin Picha, Makayla Morrissey, Ella Corlett, Hannah Bogdonovich, Mallory Lang, Hayley Hartson; (back) head coach Becky Johnson, Avery Lamborn, Devon Meyer, Lily Johnson, Keagan Echard, Maddie Keehner, Lauryn Johnson, Autumn Shaw and assistant coaches Angie Pape and Angela Rumph. Not pictured is Mindy Keehner. (Photo by Audrey Posten)
By Audrey Posten, Times-Register
New MFL MarMac volleyball coach Becky Johnson hopes 2023 will be a year of strong growth for the program.
With three daughters who have played at the club level, Johnson has long been passionate about the sport and wants to bring that out in the Bulldogs.
“I wanted to do it because we’re passionate, and we have a lot of girls on the team who are obviously very passionate about it too. I wanted that to continue for them,” she shared. “My goal is to hopefully grow the volleyball program, not to just playing for two and a half months together, but hopefully getting some club teams that are a feeder for our program.”
Johnson saw good participation at open gyms over the summer, where players worked on everything from the basics to hitting and passing. That was important for a young team that returns only three starters in seniors Ella Corlett, Hannah Bogdonovich and Makayla Morrissey. Senior Mindy Keehner also saw some playing time a year ago.
Morrissey was MFL MarMac’s lone setter last season, but Johnson plans to run a second in senior Mallory Lang—and possibly a third. The team will offensively rely on its middles—Corlett and sophomore Maddie Keehner—as well as Bogdonovich. Junior Avery Lamborn will look to be a strong front row hitter too.
“Hitting, I hope we can show that off,” Johnson said. “We’re going to build around our middles. Then Hannah, also, as far as the offense goes. Those are going to be our keys on the hitting side.”
Senior Kaitlin Picha, who missed last season due to injury, will slot into the back row and defensive side. Sophomore Lauryn Johnson will join her as a back defender. Johnson is still determining which of the two will be the libero.
“They’re both really strong passers. That’s what I’m looking for is who’s going to be the most consistent passer so we can start our offense off,” Johnson explained.
Johnson acknowledged defense will likely be MFL MarMac’s weakest spot as the season gets underway.
“We’ve got some great hitters and I want to show them off, but it’s got to start with that pass. We’re working on that and serve receive, then the blocking piece of it too. Defense is a big area we need to improve upon,” she said.
Serving will also be an emphasis. The Bulldogs had a combined 75.7 percent serve efficiency a year ago, a number Johnson stressed will have to improve.
Goals this year include developing younger players and the program, according to the coach. Already, noted Johnson, “The girls play really well together. They get along. They enjoy playing with each other.”
She’s also encouraged player intensity.
“They have to get excited about every single point,” Johnson said.
When players make a mistake, they have to likewise brush it off, put it to bed and move on. Johnson hopes weekly mindset training will help with that.
For her, momentum is key.
“We can play the most skilled team out there,” Johnson said, “but if we have the momentum and we start it off, we can hang with anybody out there.”
MFL MarMac will kick off the season Aug. 22, at Cascade.
