Among the six seniors returning from last year’s team are three 2022 All-OTM players — middle hitters Alice Garzon and Mae Mae Lacey (below), and setter Hannah Parant (above).By Rubin E. Grant
The Mountain Brook volleyball team has adopted a motto from gold medal-winning swimmer Michael Phelps in its hopes to reclaim the state championship.
The Spartans saw their bid for a third consecutive Class 6A title in 2022 end in a semifinal loss to Bayside Academy. Bayside went on to capture its national record 21st consecutive title across six classifications.
“We fell short,” Mountain Brook coach Mattie Gardner said. “We didn’t handle it well.”
So Gardner, entering her third season as the Spartans’ head coach, met with her assistants to see how they could get back on top in 2023.
They turned to an old Under Armour commercial in which Phelps says, “It’s what you do in the dark that puts you in the light.”
“That’s been our focus during the offseason,” Gardner said. “We wanted to bring that to the forefront of our minds.”
The Spartans also stepped up their skill training, put a nutrition plan in place and brought in a strength and conditioning coach to improve their stamina.
“We’ve had a great offseason,” Gardner said. “It started in the spring and continued during the summer. We participated in all the team camps and the power league during nights at the Finley Center.”
The Spartans return six seniors from last year’s team, which finished with a 38-17 record. “Six seniors is a big number for us,” Gardner said. “We had only three last year.”
Among the six are three 2022 All-OTM players — middle hitters Alice Garzon and Mae Mae Lacey, and setter Hannah Parant. The others are Lacey’s twin sister Annie, a right side player; Parant’s twin sister, Paige, an outside hitter; and Ava Gillis, a libero.
“I feel like senior classes will make or break the culture of your team,” Gardner said. “Our group of seniors are totally invested in the team. They are servant oriented and are doing a great job of servant leadership with the younger players who are now to the varsity. They are doing a good job of wrapping their arms around them and bringing them along.”
Junior outside hitter Mae Mae Beatty expects to play a significant role this season along with defensive specialist Ella Kate Wright.
Junior Grace Stewart will spell Hannah Parant some at setter. Two other juniors, setter Lulu Bateh and Julianne Malatesta, a middle hitter/opposite hitter; sophomores Samantha Settle, a middle blocker, and Ava Ruth Borland, outside hitter; and freshman outside hitter Maddie Walter round out the roster.
“I think Maddie is the first freshman to make varsity since Hannah (Parant) was a freshman,” Gardner said. “I think that says a lot about her and a lot about how good our team has been.”
Mountain Brook will open the season on Aug. 24 at home against Spanish Fort. They will compete in Class 6A, Area 10 along with Pell City, Shades Valley and Woodlawn.
“I think we will have a great serve and pass team and great serve and receive team,” Gardner said. “You can have great hitters and a great setter, but it doesn’t matter if you don’t serve and pass well.
“The goal is always the same: to win a state championship. But what I want is more steadiness. Last year, we went through ups and downs and highs and lows. I want us to think about what our base standard is and play to it, no matter who we’re playing or how tired we might be.”
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