Goodrich varsity volleyball coach Richard Sirna expects this season to be one where a lot of new faces will see significant playing time.
The Martians, who were scheduled to open their season Saturday, Dec. 16 with their annual Goodrich Early Bird Volleyball Tournament, lost six starters from last year’s team.
Last season, the Martians went 28-17-6 and finished in second place in the Genesee Area Conference Red Division, one-half point behind Mt. Morris, and went undefeated in the league tournament. They advanced to the district finals before losing to Flint Powers.
This season, the Martians return four seniors (Ashley Short, Ally Robb, Renee Bell and Brittany Tiedeman) and two juniors (Alicia Kushuba and Amanda Skiver). Of those six players, Sirna said Short was the only one that was consistently in the starting lineup, while Kushuba was a part-time starter.
They will be joined by three new juniors (Samantha Sinclair, Kayla Hammermeister and Lauren Warner) and two new sophomores (Niki McKerracher and Sara Eisinger).
Sirna said he expects a lot out of two newcomers in particular, Warner and McKerracher, who will be patrolling the middle for them. ‘The whole key is passing the ball,? he said.
As far as what the team hopes to accomplish this season, Sirna said one goal is advancing further in the playoffs. The Martians have two new teams in their district this season, Flint Northwestern and Lake Fenton, to go along with three returning teams, Flint Powers, Flint Southwestern and Linden.
Sirna also figures the Genesee Area Conference Red Division race to be competitive this season, with Durand, Mt. Morris, Byron, New Lothrop and Bendle expected to provide strong competition.
Just the same, Sirna sees this as a welcome trend.
‘I’d like to see a little more parity in the league,? he said. ‘That makes it more exciting. I think it will come down to New Lothrop, Mt. Morris, LakeVille and us.?