HS Volleyball Stop: Accountability propelling Marvin Ridge; updated Sweet 16 poll
At the midway point of the 2022 volleyball season, Marvin Ridge sits at 13-4 and has a 2-0 conference record. The Mavericks have been battle-tested with critical wins coming against powerhouses like Ardrey Kell and Sun Valley, as well as a tough loss against North Iredell, their only in-state loss.
The team’s other three losses came against out-of-state squads in various tournaments the Mavericks have been a part of. One recurring theme with this team: just keeping one another accountable and maintaining a sense of family with each other.
“My girls work really well together,” head coach Brook Hammers said. “To me, and I preach this every year, but we are a family. We have to do things with each other, for each other, and we have to pick each other up and we need to focus on that.”
This is one of coach Hammers’ older squads, and a lot of the girls have played together now for several years, even dating back to when some of them were in middle school. A lot of the foundation was already there to have a strong “family” unit when they have been around each other for several years now.
“We only lost four seniors last year,” Hammers said. “So, I have a large number of girls coming back. My seven seniors this year have been together since their freshman year. They were eighth-graders when we won the state championship. It helps to have a veteran crew.”
Coach Hammers emphasized the importance of instilling confidence in the girls on her team and the challenge it can be to get her girls to gain that confidence.
“This is the biggest challenge with teenage girls is getting that confidence,” Hammers said. “It boggles my mind because I am thinking, ‘You’re on this team for a reason.’ ”
The Mavericks have a big game coming up against Hough, another team ranked in the Observer’s Sweet 16 on Sept. 21. They will be relying on one another to do their jobs to ensure they get the win.
Matches to watch
Tuesday 9/20
▪ South Iredell and Cox Mill will face off in a match that will determine first place in the Greater Metro 4A conference as both teams are currently 5-0 in conference play.
Wednesday 9/21
▪ No. 6 Hough will face No. 4 Marvin Ridge in a top 10 battle. The Huskies will be playing on limited rest as they have a game the night before against Hopewell.
Thursday 9/22
▪ No. 2 Ardrey Kell will face the newly opened Palisades High School which currently sits on the bubble with a 9-3 record. This is also a battle of the top two teams in the SoMeck4A conference.
Saturday 9/24
▪ No. 2 Ardrey Kell will face undefeated Reagan in what promises to be one of the best matches of the year so far. Reagan comes in as the MaxPreps No. 2 team in the state.
The Observer’s Sweet 16 Poll
Rk./School/Rec./Class/Prvs.
1. North Iredell 15-0 3A 1
2. Ardrey Kell 13-1 4A 2
3. Watauga 10-1 4A 4
4. Marvin Ridge 13-4 4A 3
5. West Rowan 11-3 3A 10
6. Hough 10-2 4A 8
7. East Rowan 11-2 3A 6
8. Fred T. Foard 8-3 3A 5
9. Kings Mountain 14-2 3A 7
10. Charlotte Catholic 9-2 3A 11
11. Sun Valley 13-1 4A 13
12. Cannon School 9-4 IND 12
13. Mallard Creek 7-4 4A 9
14. Lake Norman 9-5 4A 14
15. South Rowan 11-2 3A NR
16. Providence 9-5 4A 16
Dropped Out: West Stanly (8-3). On the Bubble: Cox Mill (9-4), East Mecklenburg (11-4-2), Palisades (9-3)