An Interview with Assistant Volleyball Coach Shari Mayner

Q: I always love to watch a MCC Women's volleyball team play. They are always well-coached and competitive. This year you ended the season with many successes. Let us know what some of your favorite highlights were this past season. Memorable moments? Great Wins? Watching a player getting better?

This year we emphasized doing some things that were fun and team-building such as a water park trip coinciding with a fundraiser. We went to a comedy show in Grand Rapids and had some really great laughs.

We had more competition in our ball control department and setting roles than in the past which made it fun and challenging for the coaching staff.

There was more leadership this season largely brought on by the ownership of the program that was introduced with some more experienced players.

This group had just the right amount of fun mixed with drive and hard work. Seeing our players request more time with us to discuss matches or watch films had to be a favorite of this team.

Q: When you end a season, you are likely already starting to plan for the next season. What are some of the building blocks you already have in place from this team?

We had our largest roster ever this season. Bringing back more players for next season will be a win. Many of our first-year players we made available to play a lot and that will help us drive forward for next year. 

Q: Recruiting is likely the best way to build this team. With Recruiting happening in real-time, is there any future player or players you are excited about that you have committed for next season?

Recruiting literally never stops for us. We are excited to have 2 players committed for 2024. Bri and Alissa Ricci (L and MB) from McHenry. We have a goal annually of being done recruiting by 12/31 (which is typically 4-7 players depending on the year) but have not accomplished that just yet in our tenure.

Q: When you are coaching, there are stats that are kept, what statistics do you see as the most important to help acknowledge this team's progress? Kills? Assists? Hit percentage? And why?

We have several goals that we talk about daily in our huddles. Passing rating, serve efficiency, blocking, and hitting % is how we prioritize.  Part of our program fundamentals are A, B, C's (Academic Excellence, Ball Control, C you at Nationals)  Our passing rating on a 3.0 scale will help us understand if we are controlling the controllables. Serving is the one thing in our game we control, our goal is to be more than 90% as a team in a match. Blocking goals are set to manage both affecting the other team and supporting our defensive effort. Hitting % helps us generally understand who is scoring.

Q: How many consecutive 20-win seasons have your teams had? What do you "most" contribute to your success as a team that has perpetuated this wonderful run?

Every season since 2014 we have had >20 wins, so 10 (minus the COVID spring season), and in 4 of those seasons, we had >30 wins.  We should hit the 300-win mark in 2024 as a coaching staff (283 wins so far)

Having the leadership from our athletics department and senior leadership has allowed for our coaching staff to remain the same and believe that the tools provided helped us support our student-athletes in greater ways.

Q: When you started this season, your team was seeking a lineup that had chemistry; what do you look for that allows your teams to play at their best? I ask because I saw this team start to really work together and bond as you got deeper into the season, with much more chemistry than at the start of the season.

The players really own this part. Coaches try to find the best amount of talent and behavior that will allow for success. With one of our more talented groups – this was a bit of a struggle for us, but it was welcomed with so many great people.

Q: I know there is disappointment in not making the National Tournament, and that must be a goal every year, but when you have success as your teams have, what is the biggest goal outside of the national tournament that keeps the coaching staff inspired? You are always great at getting the most out of a player so, what are some of the other goals you have for your players throughout the season?

Volleyball likes to hang banners in our gym. It starts with the All-Academic team banners.  We practice the motto of "Team, Teammate, Self" in our program, and seeing our players live is something great.  What really keeps us going as a staff is seeing how great our players become and when they come back hearing all the great things they have done or accomplished.

Q: Thanks for your time. Your teams are always amazing and so fun to watch.

We look forward to working with you more. Glad to have you on board.