This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/20/2016 12:00 AMTaylor Marnett’s athletic career took a big change in direction during her freshman year at Morgan, but she’s taken her new path and followed it to success as a member of the Huskies’ volleyball squad.
Taylor played soccer all the way from kindergarten through 8th grade before attending a volleyball clinic that was run by then-Head Coach Joe Grippo. Taylor quickly took to the sport and decided that volleyball would be her athletic venture at Morgan during the fall. Now in her third season, Taylor, a junior who plays the back row, has established herself as a top passer and defender for the Huskies who’s recorded 375 digs through the team’s first 14 matches.
“I joined volleyball after that summer clinic held by Coach Grippo and I just loved the intensity of the game, the gym setting, and the pressure of being on the court,” says Taylor. “A lot of my success is just about that confidence as a back row player. I focus on what is in front of me and not being distracted. I focus on the next play if I make a mistake. I do whatever I have to do to get others involved in the game and win it.”
When it comes to either feeding the ball to a fellow Husky near the net or hustling to keep a point alive, Taylor says that it’s all about focusing on her job, while anticipating the ball’s next destination.
“It’s necessary, I feel, to just focus on what’s in front of you and start moving as soon as the ball is hit on the other side,” says Taylor. “We work on a lot of agility stuff in practice and I also watch what’s happening on the other side, such as how hard and light they are hitting the ball.”
Morgan’s first-year Head Coach Paige Trusty says that she couldn’t ask for a better all-around, A-plus player than Taylor in terms of both the acumen and attitude that she brings to the court.
“Taylor’s biggest asset to our team is her leadership and attitude. She shows up to each practice ready to play, work, and encourage. Taylor is an unbelievable passer. She hustles on the court to get each pass and covers her teammates when needed,” says Trusty. “Despite her great achievements on the court, Taylor is always humble. She works hard to improve her skills and teaches the younger girls. She lifts her teammates up and is one of the most selfless players I have ever worked with both as a coach and a player.”
Taylor remembers that she felt a bit timid upon joining the Morgan volleyball program as a freshman. That’s why she now uses her role as an upperclass athlete to give the younger Huskies that welcoming feeling.
“I love to see the younger girls get experience as freshmen because that’s what helped me. It also helps to calm them down when you work with them,” Taylor says. “I also try to show them that we all can make mistakes on the court, too. I tell them to be ready for anything and focus on what’s coming.”
As the Huskies look to lock down a State Tournament berth entering the home stretch of the regular season, Taylor feels one of the most important things is for them to adopt a close-out mentality in those long four- and five-set matches.
“Physically, we have a chance to go far, so our whole thing this year has been mental with not finishing games,” says Taylor, who thanks Grippo, Trusty, plus her teammates and family. “We have the potential to go far if we focus on the final outcome of things and put our best effort in. We have to play hard from the first set to the last.”