Photo by Kyle Parmley
Oak Mountain's Maddie Moss (5) sets a ball during an AHSAA state tournament match last season. Moss is one of only two returning varsity players with considerable experience for the Eagles.
Just 10 days before the outset of the 2018 season, Maddie Moss and Leah Nielsen quickly uttered several phrases that accurately describe the transition period the Oak Mountain High School volleyball team finds itself in.
Night and day. A complete 180. From one extreme to another.
That’s how different things feel this fall. After back-to-back Class 7A state tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017, the Eagles graduated a massive eight-senior class following last season. That leaves only Moss and Nielsen with any significant returning varsity experience.
And they aren’t taking that responsibility lightly.
“They both have really stepped it up,” Oak Mountain head coach Tien Le said of the two seniors.
Moss and Nielsen are two of four seniors on the team, with Tori Martin and Jessica Pack moving up from the junior varsity squad to join them. Aside from Moss and Nielsen, Katelyn Frey is the only other player that has been on the varsity team in the past.
There is plenty of work to be done, as far as assimilating several new players into the lineup, but Le has liked what he’s seen so far. He emphasized there will be “growing pains,” but that is to be expected with any young team.
“So far, I’m real happy with my group because they’re working really hard,” Le said. “They know it’s going to be a tough road, but they also know it only matters at the end [of the season].”
Nielsen said the new crop of talent is “coachable,” while Moss said the duo learned a great deal during their club season about leading a young team. Former Mountain Brook setter Libby Grace Gann, who was an assistant coach with Moss and Nielsen’s club team, was the only senior on her team last season, so she was able to offer some advice.
“We focused a lot on leadership,” Moss said. “She helped us make plans to help everybody, support people and not get frustrated.”
Both players also have played on the big stage and have carried the burden of high expectations, things they will be able to lean on in tough situations.
“Having experience when you get into tight situations, we can help them with being able to remain calm and tell them to take a deep breath,” Nielsen said.
Attempting to fill other voids on the court, Frey is expected to contribute on the right side and take a big step forward for the Eagles. Sydney Jaffee, part of a strong sophomore class, could step into the libero slot. Amore Marshall is a left-handed hitter that can play on the outside. Josie Ohlson will help out in the middle.
Emily Cox, Landry Frisch, Abby Tracy, Avery Fletcher, Zoe Atkinson and Taylor Collier are also on the team. Le expects all of them to contribute in some fashion.
“There will be a lot of subbing this year,” he said. “When you’re inexperienced, it’s only a matter of time before you’re going to run into a rough spot and you need a break.”
The Eagles began the season on Aug. 23 against Spain Park and hosted the Eagle Invitational over the following two days. Although outside expectations aren’t nearly as high than they have been in recent years, Moss is not counting out her team.
“We’ll get better and better as the season goes and experience increases,” she said. “I think we have a good chance to do pretty well, which is the opposite of what everybody is expecting.”
