Volleyball season comes to a close

   On Nov. 1, the Muskingum volleyball team ended its 2011 season with a loss to a number nine-ranked veteran Heidelberg squad. The Muskies finished the year with an overall record of 12-16 and 2-7 in Ohio Athletic Conference play.

  Coach Zicha commented on the tough game that the Lady Muskies played against a solid team like Heidelberg, although they lost 3-0.

  "I understand what people saw on the scores, but the other night we played Heidelberg tough," said Zicha. "We really did."

  While the season turned out not exactly how they wanted to, it paved the way for the talented underclassman that will be returning to the court come next season.

  "I have a lot of talent in my freshman class," said Zicha. "But you know what that means, you gotta put them out there and they get to make mistakes because the game is fast."

  The Muskies celebrated the careers of just two seniors on the squad, which were also the team's only setters. 

 For the upcoming seasons Zicha will look to her younger players to step up and fill those positions.

  "Molly and McKensie were our setters, so our [new] setter will have to come from a new position," said Zicha. "I do have one setter in the program. I do think that person will be young."

  Junior middle hitter, Lauren Tullis who ended her third year with 176 kills, will be one of the key returning upper classman.

  "I think the season did not go as everyone planned," said Tullis. "We started off strong and I don't think our record reflects how great of a team we can be. A weakness we have is that we have to carry how intense we play in practice, against each other, into our games."

  This being a vital part of the volleyball squad's performance also goes along with preparation in the off-season

  It's important for players to get better and improve their individual work ethic during the summer months.

  "You've gotta go home in the summer and you've gotta work out," said Zicha. "And if you don't come in, in good shape, you're not playing."

  Laying it all out for the younger players to step up in the upcoming years, Coach Zicha expects great things from the younger girls in the program.

  "I thought we had been through our tough times, but I think the future is bright, if they all stay out," said Zicha.

  Even though the 2011 season was not all that it was expected to be for the lady Muskies, the graduating seniors should be celebrated for the four years they dedicated to the program.

  "The most important thing I learned about playing is that a team is much more than a team," said senior Captain McKensie Smith. "A team is a family. Anyone of my teammates would do anything for me, not because we were on the same team but because we created a bond between each other."

  This kind of attitude shows just how much of an impact that playing Muskie volleyball had, despite the turnout of the season being not what was expected.