As the ball scorches over the net, the triumphant and enthusiastic voice of head coach, Ashley Marble, echoes through out the gym, “Get it! Get it! Get it!” she yells to her players.
But when the ball goes out of bounds, Marble exhales a deep sigh. “Let’s do it again,” she says. This time, sophomore Nikki Hamm spikes the ball in bounds for a point. “Now that’s how we play volleyball.”
Most Husky sports fans know Marble was an All-American basketball star during her four-year career here at USM. What they may not know about is her passion for volleyball.
“The passion I have for basketball is just as strong as the passion I have for volleyball,” says Marble, who has been an active participant in the sport since she began playing in junior high.
After winning two state vollyball championships at Woodland High School, Marble was offered a full scholarship to the University of Maine at Orono.
Although her passion for volleyball drifted away during her days of basketball stardom here at USM, her love for the game has emerged at a perfect time.
After the varsity volleyball program at USM was cancelled last year due to an insufficient amount of players, the program has been resurrected with full force thanks her passionate leadership, and of course, the highly dedicated players who share the same love that Marble does.
After discussing the idea of a volleyball club with Athletic Director Al Bean, the immediate challenge that Marble faced was spreading the word about the revival of the program.
“We just weren’t sure if we could get the numbers,” says Marble.
Luckily, Marble had been an assistant coach for USM’s varsity team just a few years before its fall and was able to spread the word to a few core players.
“I told them that they could really set a name for themselves and help USM to come along with the program,” Marble added. Danielle Netland, Shannon Shuttle, and Cassi Stichts were all pivotal players who carried the hope of resurrecting the volleyball program.
“Danielle and I were spreading the word any way we could” explains Shuttle. “We were using social networks like Facebook and Myspace, as well as posting flyers just to spread the word.”
The girls worked relentlessly to recruit as many players as possible during the 2008 off-season, talking to anyone they could find around campus that was remotely interested. Any girl who had any experience with volleyball was a candidate and by the end of the second semester last year, Netland and Shuttle had over twenty players on their list.
“I was the only one who came in besides the four girls who had played last year. So for us to have twenty players playing consistently now really says a lot about the hopes of the program,” Shuttle adds.
Since its heavy recruiting job, the club has begun its season 20 players strong (and still recruiting), and practicing every day of the week except Wednesdays. The team sees strong potential in Marble’s coaching and hopes that she can lead them to a strong season.
“She’s very energetic,” says sophomore Savannah Phelps. “She keeps you upbeat and moving. But at the same time she keeps you laughing as much as she corrects you.”
Although Marble faces the extraordinary task of rebuilding an entire program, her players have strong faith in her guidance and the team has already begun to bond as a family.
With such success already stemming from, what was, a non-existing program, Marble and the team are certain that they can have a varsity volleyball program back at USM by next year.
For now, they are focused on preparing for the upcoming season, including their first tournament this weekend at Bowdoin College.
“I think we have a great group of girls, our comradery is wonderful and we work well together,” says Shuttle. “We may not be as talented or experienced as other teams, but we work hard and I’m really looking forward to a great season with these girls.”