The Marblehead girls volleyball season is just around the corner and head coach Killeen Miller is eager to get her 11th season underway. Miller started the program in 2013 and has seen success throughout her coaching career. 

“We’re beyond excited for this upcoming season. We have a strong team coming back this year that is committed, driven, and excited to compete,” Miller said. “This group has been working hard in the off-season to prepare for this upcoming fall and I’m so impressed with their efforts.” 

The Magicians failed to qualify for the postseason after a 7-11 record last fall. Despite not making the postseason last year it proved to be valuable as Marblehead had a young squad that gained a ton of experience. 

“Last year was a tough year for our program and our underclassmen felt every part of our 7-11 record.  Not making a postseason run was tough, but it gave them so much perspective,” Miller said. “This coming year, this team knows what they want. They are excited for the work to get there and go out and compete hard. 

“Our team is quite young, but has a lot of depth. Our senior class is small, but mighty, led by defensive player and captain Meg Parkman,” Miller said. “Our junior class has been a tight unit since their freshman year and we expect big things from Greta Sachs, Eva Burke, and Marianna Modryznksa. All three of them will take on larger roles this coming season.”

In addition to the juniors and seniors, the Magicians have sophomores who are ready to take a step up. 

“Our sophomore class will come back even stronger than last year.  Sydney Faris on defense will be a big asset for us, not only in the back row but also in her depth of the game and competitiveness,” Miller said. “Lilah Moniz and Sammy Walker have worked hard in the offseason and I expect them to be a big influence on our offense.”

In addition to the experience, Miller is excited about her team’s attitude and believes that will be one of their strengths. 

“A big strength this upcoming season will be the attitude of this team. They are a tight unit, have high expectations of one another, and hold each up,” Miller said. “They are athletic, competitive, and have a lot of respect for one another. This is a special group and this dynamic will take us to new levels this upcoming season.” 

On August 19, Miller and the players can officially start practicing. Miller has a clear idea of how she wants to attack the preseason. 

“Within the first few weeks, our focus will be on establishing culture, understanding our systems and communication, and laying out the framework for what it will take to succeed,” Miller said. “This team has the talent, now we need to put the pieces in place to take us to that next level.”

Marblehead’s first regular season game is on the road when it travels to Masconomet for a 5:30 p.m. match on September 4.