Source: The Observer/Eccentric

Author: Dan O'Meara

If Farmington Hills Mercy continues on its current pace, the Marlins can anticipate 2014 being another outstanding year in the game of volleyball.

They already have established themselves as one of the top teams in the state and have the potential to do great things this season.

Mercy, ranked No. 2 in the latest coaches poll, has won three consecutive tournaments and compiled a 22-1-1 record to date.

The Marlins have won 18 straight matches since losing to Chelsea in the final round of the Ann Arbor Pioneer Invitational. Subsequently, they won tournaments at Lake Orion, Marian and Saline.

“Maybe the result wasn’t what we wanted (at Pioneer), but we came back, made a few adjustments and changed the lineup and responsibilities a little bit,” coach Loretta Vogel said. “When we went to Lake Orion, things changed dramatically. That’s why we stayed with a specific lineup and rotation and it’s been successful for us.

“I thought that was a big tournament for us. Novi, Lake Orion, Clarkston and Mount Morris have great teams this year. It was one of those kind of days.”

Ten of the 14 varsity players return from last year’s team that went 41-16-2 and was a Class A regional runner-up to Livonia Stevenson.

The top player on a well-balanced club is senior Jenna Lerg, a four-year varsity player and two-time all-area selection who has committed to Michigan.

She has mostly played libero, but she also has been a setter and will have multiple roles this year. The Marlins will use her more in the attack and she will start in the front row as a hitter.

“That means she hits, she passes, she defends for us,” Vogel said. “She needs to touch the ball twice on our side of the court.

“It’s a different role for Jenna compared to her club team, where she’s a libero. She’s doing a great job for us as the left front.”

Senior Shanleigh Conlan is a returning starter at setter, while senior Monica Shuk moves into the starting lineup as the new libero.

Senior Emoly Crowley and junior Sloan Horejsi are returning defensive specialists and two of Mercy’s top three servers.

Junior Haley Schultz is another defender and varsity returnee, but she’s coming back from a knee injury and will work her way into playing time gradually.

The Marlins lost much of their front court, including all-area hitter Jenna Reinhold, middle Christa Greenwood and outside Jessica Rieckhoff.

But they have experience at those positions and the Mercy attack hasn’t skipped a beat despite the losses to graduation.

Senior outside MaryBeth Robert and senior middle Kayla Fisher are veterans of several varsity seasons and will complement Lerg nicely.

“We have seven seniors on this team and I think leadership is an element they have,” Vogel said. “People talk about leadership and, well, what is that? To me they have very good composure about them. If a team gets up on us, we’re going to figure it out.”

Junior right-side Colleen Hadley and sophomore Bella McDonald also return from last year’s team and lend depth to the attack positions.

The new varsity players are junior defensive specialist and No. 2 server Carmen Compton, junior defender and backup setter Molly Schwalm, sophomore hitter Jordyn Kreucher and freshman left front Lauren Hunter.

While some individuals might be more prominent players, everyone will have a role to play and get on the court, according to Vogel.

“Everyone has their own little part of the game they contribute,” she said. “Maybe it’s a single role. If you’re a serving specialist and you can get us two or three points, that’s big.”

Like other Mercy teams, the Marlins don’t have a lot of height and will rely on execution and good defense.

“What has been successful for us is doing the little things correctly,” Vogel said. “In volleyball that’s what it’s all about.

“We don’t rely on one individual. Some other programs will have that one standout. For us, the overall game depends on everyone.

“We’re not big compared to other programs. I don’t think Mercy has ever been truly big. We need to move the ball around and disrupt the opponent’s defense.”

The Marlins would like to win the Catholic League crown and go farther in the state tournament, but they will face tough competition.

Mercy has beaten arch-rival Marian (No. 4 Class A) once, in the final of the Marian tournament, 25-21, 25-18. They were likely to meet again Saturday in the Michigan Elite Volleyball Club’s Program Cup.

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (No. 1 Class B) is the defending league champion. Dearborn Divine Child and Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard are honorable mentions in that division.

“There’s just a lot of very good competition,” Vogel said. “Personally, I like that because everyone gets better when you play good competition.”

While there are a lot of “nice teams right here in Oakland County,” she added it’s way too early to think about the state tournament and what might happen in November.

“I found out through all these years, it’s not how I live the game,” Vogel said. “You don’t set those expectations.

“Tomorrow’s practice and how we build for the next day is what we try to stress. That’s what the program is about.”