Maidens unite to turn program around
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RONAN — With very few practices under her belt, the new Ronan coach Naomi Mock doesn’t really know what to expect from her team this season and she plans to keep it that way.
“I have no long term expectations for them,” Mock said. “In the short term, I just want them to work hard and keep their intensity up. The rest will follow. They have to come ready to earn their spot.”
Mock believes if the Maidens can ratchet up their intensity they have the pieces in place that could turn around the club that went winless last season. This turnaround may take some time, and Mock is hoping the team can keep together while it takes place
“I’m hoping it’s team unity, so we can persevere through the rough spots, “ Mock said, when asked what her team’s strengths are. “We have strengths in all areas, it’s just a matter of finding the right combinations.”
Mock has coached volleyball at Ronan for the past six years, spending the last three coaching the middle school. She takes over for Shae Hutchinson. She inherits from Hutchinson a nice one-two combination of outside hittters in Alice Van Gunten and Tailyr Irvine.
Mock said Van Gunten, a two-year starter, still doesn’t know how good she can be.
“It’s just a matter of getting her to realize she can be a monster.”
What Van Gunten may lack in aggression, Irvine more than makes up for it. Though smaller than most outside hitters, Irvine gives the Maidens a strong presence at the net.
“She (Irvine) plays a wonderful net. She has great net sense and she has really quick feet,” Mock said.
Junior Darian Blixt-Leo, has impressed Mock in the few practices the Maidens have had and should join Irvine and Van Gunten on the front row in the middle. Listed at 6-foot Blixt-Leo is Ronan’s tallest player. Though the Maidens will be smaller than most teams in the Northwestern A, Mock doesn’t think this will hamper their offense.
“We can still do damage when we need to, we just need to find the right match ups,” Mock said.
Mock is still in the process of determining who will play the Maidens’ setter and libero position. Two-year starter Taylor Lynch has played both positions. While Lynch’s position still hasn’t been decided, Mock does know she will be an asset to the younger teammates wherever she plays.
“She doesn’t get real excited. She doesn’t get riled up too easy, so she has a calming effect on the rest of the team. She’ll provide some great leadership,” Mock said.
Polson transfer Marissa McCrea will also give Mock some experience on the back row.
Underclassmen Courtney Clairmont and Ashley Lynch should bolster the Maidens’ back row. Mock said she also has a strong freshman core that had a lot of success last year in the middle school ranks.
“It’s going to be fun to watch them come into their own,” Mock said.
“We have great potential. It’s just a matter of us getting our intensity up to fulfill that potential,” Mock said.
The Maidens will start trying to fulfill their potential at the Whitefish Starter Tournament Aug. 28.
