By Matt O'Hern
Sports writer
Great teams don't rebuild, they reload, and Merritt Island Christian School's volleyball team is a prime example.
"We have more talent across the board this year," coach Laurie Haines said. "They're as good as last year, and I almost say that we're better than last year."
Like their counterparts at Merritt Island High School, the Lady Cougars have established themselves as one of the most dominant programs in Brevard County.
Since 2003, MICS has compiled a total record of 95 wins and only 19 losses, during a run that includes four district and conference championships. As the Lady Cougars aim to maintain their legacy, they have a humble mindset about the new year.
"They don't take for granted that they've won districts," Haines said. "They work for it each year."
With a revitalized roster, the Lady Cougars hope to continue their dominant run in 2007. Key returning players include talented veterans such as outside hitters Stephanie Quinn and Aimee Dewitt, along with middle blocker Bailey Scott and defensive specialists Haleigh Campbell and Sarah Becker.
"We have sped up our offense this year," Haines said. "We are running a switch offense this year, because we have the athletes who can do it."
Quinn, who is only a sophomore, entered this season with 316 assists, 219 digs, 145 aces and 133 kills. Dewitt has a career total of 51 blocks and 48 kills. Campbell, a junior, had 173 digs and 69 aces.
Despite the graduation of middle blocker Amanda Weekley and outside hitter Jessica Quinn, MICS is still the favorite to win its district. Weekley will be replaced by junior middle blocker Erica Robes, who is only 5-feet 8-inches tall, but compensates for her lack of height with a great vertical jump.
"You can't teach them to be tall," Haines said. "We try to make up for (small size) with good defense."
New names on the 2007 roster include three seniors - right side hitter Colleen Crawford and Jenny Stanton and Rebecca Wilson, who both play as defensive specialists.
Other newcomers include, junior middle blocker Katie Dewitt, sophomore right side hitter Kaitlyn Bryant, sophomore outside hitter Amber Hubert, and two sophomore defensive specialists - Taylor Helms and Katie Higginbotham.
MICS opened the 2007 season last Tuesday with a win over their district rival Temple Christian. While the Cougars showed a few first game jitters, they still managed to sweep the Lions in three games with scores of 25-9, 25-17 and 25-20.
Erica Robes and Kacie Paulk each recorded five kills. Paulk also had nine assists and six digs during the win over the Lions.
With a dynamic combination of experience and emerging talent, the Cougars' lineup is capable of producing another 20-win season. One of the most unique aspects of the group is that three of four seniors are playing their first year at the varsity level.
"The underclassmen have more experience than my seniors, and that means I return most of my team next year," Haines said. "I really have a two-year plan for my girls, but the seniors are very committed and very good at leading. One or two of them will start on a regular basis."
MICS flexed its offensive muscle at Palm Beach Atlantic University's summer camp, where the Lady Cougars won the tournament championship. While the tournament win was a nice morale boost, the best off-season news for MICS was when their arch-nemesis Orangewood announced its ascension to Class 2A.
During the past two seasons, Orangewood was the roadblock on MICS' path to the state finals, as the Rams went on to win consecutive state championships.
"They've been our nemesis all of these years," Haines said. "They've knocked us out during the past two playoffs, but now they're gone."
MICS' team saying for 2007 is "Good enough is the enemy of greatness." The phrase was uttered by one of Coach Haines' former players when she coached at Laconia Christian School in New Hampshire.
"We don't want to just be good enough," she said. "We want to really want to go for greatness in our attitudes and our athletic ability this year."