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Burgin junior Liz Marcinek, shown going for a kill in a win over Lincoln County last week, said that she has become a smarter player, and is not just relying on her power to get points for the Bulldogs. (Hal Morris / August 30, 2012) |
BURGIN — Liz Marcinek always had the power to be a strong hitter for the Burgin volleyball team.
But now the Bulldogs junior is starting to become a smarter, and she says, more well-rounded player.
“I’ve just gotten smarter and I’ve gotten better over the years,” said Marcinek, who had never played volleyball until her freshman season. “So I just learned how to do it. I learn where the weaker passers are and I hit it to them.”
Her first two seasons, Marcinek just tried to power the ball to get a kill. Now she realizes she doesn’t have to try and put the ball through the floor to get her team points.
“I try to hit the holes where people aren’t, or I am looking for a certain person. I just learn to look around the floor and see where I need to hit it to,” she said.
Burgin coach Maggie McKnight has definitely noticed a different player this season.
“I don’t think she played with the mental acuity she is now. Last year she relied more on power. She’s been our most powerful hitter for last season and this season,”¿she said. “But what I ike is seeing her beginning to understand that is not always going to work, so she needs to rely on other aspects of her game to get points for the team. She’s thinking about what’s best for the team and not just her stats, and that makes her a great team player.
“If she spots a hole, that’s what she targets, and she can tip it right over a blocker. So she knows when to use her strength, and when to kind of back off and play smart.”
Marcinek agreed she has not worried about how many kills she may get in a match, which she said may have helped her get more.
“I don’t worry about my stats as much as i do helping out the team,” she said. “So I’m worried more about getting it over the net than working on my stats.”
And with more confidence in her game, Marcinek has started becoming more aggressive.
“I’ve worked on my passing. Last year I could not pass well. This year, I’m husting all over the floor and I’m not scared to dive,” she said. “Last year, I was a little timid and I’ve learned to just go after it.”
Marcinek has been a huge key to the Bulldogs, who are 8-6 going into tonight’s match at Danville, being one of the best teams in the area the last few years. But she credits McKnight for getting her and the rest of the Bulldogs so good so quick.
“I just saw the volleyball team (as a freshman) and came in here and said, ‘Oh, this looks fun.’ I’ve learned a lot. Maggie has camps and stuff that we’ll go to, and I’ve learned a lot since then,” she said. “We went to the Lindsey Wilson camp, and that was a big one. And during the season, we try to play harder games so we’ll get the experience.
“We went to the Bluegrasss Invitational, and those teams were really top-notch, and we got a lot better just by playing them. And we’d rather play teams that are good and lose than just keep playing weaker teams. So the more we learn from them, the better we’ll be.”
But now the Bulldogs junior is starting to become a smarter, and she says, more well-rounded player.
“I’ve just gotten smarter and I’ve gotten better over the years,” said Marcinek, who had never played volleyball until her freshman season. “So I just learned how to do it. I learn where the weaker passers are and I hit it to them.”
Her first two seasons, Marcinek just tried to power the ball to get a kill. Now she realizes she doesn’t have to try and put the ball through the floor to get her team points.
“I try to hit the holes where people aren’t, or I am looking for a certain person. I just learn to look around the floor and see where I need to hit it to,” she said.
Burgin coach Maggie McKnight has definitely noticed a different player this season.
“I don’t think she played with the mental acuity she is now. Last year she relied more on power. She’s been our most powerful hitter for last season and this season,”¿she said. “But what I ike is seeing her beginning to understand that is not always going to work, so she needs to rely on other aspects of her game to get points for the team. She’s thinking about what’s best for the team and not just her stats, and that makes her a great team player.
“If she spots a hole, that’s what she targets, and she can tip it right over a blocker. So she knows when to use her strength, and when to kind of back off and play smart.”
Marcinek agreed she has not worried about how many kills she may get in a match, which she said may have helped her get more.
“I don’t worry about my stats as much as i do helping out the team,” she said. “So I’m worried more about getting it over the net than working on my stats.”
And with more confidence in her game, Marcinek has started becoming more aggressive.
“I’ve worked on my passing. Last year I could not pass well. This year, I’m husting all over the floor and I’m not scared to dive,” she said. “Last year, I was a little timid and I’ve learned to just go after it.”
Marcinek has been a huge key to the Bulldogs, who are 8-6 going into tonight’s match at Danville, being one of the best teams in the area the last few years. But she credits McKnight for getting her and the rest of the Bulldogs so good so quick.
“I just saw the volleyball team (as a freshman) and came in here and said, ‘Oh, this looks fun.’ I’ve learned a lot. Maggie has camps and stuff that we’ll go to, and I’ve learned a lot since then,” she said. “We went to the Lindsey Wilson camp, and that was a big one. And during the season, we try to play harder games so we’ll get the experience.
“We went to the Bluegrasss Invitational, and those teams were really top-notch, and we got a lot better just by playing them. And we’d rather play teams that are good and lose than just keep playing weaker teams. So the more we learn from them, the better we’ll be.”
