When I spoke with Head Coach Tracy Blood of the Silver Bay Mariners Volleyball team, their record was 12-5, though Blood said the girls weren’t focused on the numbers.
“If you were to ask the girls right now, they wouldn’t even know their record,” said the coach. “They’re super humble about that and they don’t strive for the numbers. They just want to play together and they want to be successful. And they’re doing it.”
With 15 athletes on the varsity roster, Blood noted that nine players see consistent court time. Of the seven seniors on the team, three are full-time varsity starters, while the remaining players— both younger athletes and seniors—contribute through JV matches and support from the bench.
“I carried eight girls from last year to this year that had full-time varsity experience,” explained Blood. “The only one that didn’t is one of those kind of surprise players that you never expected but 100% wanted.”
That surprise player is sophomore setter Emily Harrison, who has quickly become a key contributor. According to Blood, Harrison has “court IQ and she’s a very humble and coachable player.”
Blood added, “I’m pretty excited to see her growth and her potential throughout her career.”
Fellow sophomore Ayana Lee plays right side/opposite hitter blocker and, according to her coach, has “a huge swing.”
Lee had nine kills the night before I spoke with Blood. “That was a huge night for her,” said Blood. “She’s one of those players that you have to let come out of her shell every game. She’s got a ton of potential and has room for so much growth.”
Kinley Nelson, the lone freshman among the nine core players, is a middle hitter/blocker and is described by her coach as a “super athlete.”
“She’s really got a good eye and confidence in her tipping, her pushing, looking for those open spots on the floor. She’s making good strides and becoming a strong hitter.”
Also demonstrating strength on the team is junior Callie Earnest, who moved into a new role this year as an outside hitter and serves as one of the three team captains.
“She brings amazing consistency to our floor,” said Blood. “She’s a really good leader, as well. She’s very soft-spoken and very caring.”
Lily Earnest, also a junior, is a defensive specialist known for her speed and quickness on the court.
“She’s this short gal who will out-hustle anybody on the floor,” said the coach. “She’s fast. She moves. She is going to go after every single ball and she’s going to go through anybody to get it.”
The third junior starter is middle hitter/blocker Berkley Hoff. Her coach describes her as a “tall, lanky athlete who is a perfect volleyball middle that you could ever ask for.” Pretty intimidating in the front row, Hoff makes for a great blocker.
“She also happens to be the jokester of the team,” said Blood. “You never know what’s up her sleeve.”
Of the three senior starters for the Mariners, Christina Kaiser is the defensive specialist and shows a lot of courage on the court.
“She’s got a lot of determination,” Blood advised. “She’s not afraid of balls coming at her. I mean, she’s going to dig right in.”
Val Melander is an outside hitter and serves as a team captain. Her coach says she “can jump to the moon.”
“She was my biggest hitter, my go-to, had the most kills, and she’s still leading our pack this year with the most kills,” said Blood. “Just very smart with the ball.”
The third captain of the team, Maddie Ollman, has been a varsity starter since seventh grade. Her coach says, “She’s strong, she’s a solid passer. She’s one of the most coachable girls you’ll ever have.”
Ollman is also “very humble,” according to Blood, and a great leader.
“All the girls really look up to her,” said Blood.
All together, the girls make a team that makes their coach and community proud.
“If I were to describe my team in a few words, the words that always come to my mind are grit, determination, resilience, trust, and symmetry,” said Blood. “They all get along really well. They just have a positive kind of go-get-them attitude.”
A recent display of the team’s go-get-them attitude came in a game against Floodwood. Despite falling behind, the Mariners mounted an impressive comeback.
“It’s some of the best volleyball I’ve seen us play in the three years I’ve been coaching,” recalled Blood. “I think we were down by 11 and we caught up and ended up losing 24- 26 in that set. The amount of confidence and the amount of improvement that these girls have made from one year to the next, you can just see their IQ and how they move and how they really trust each other on the floor.”
Blood said characteristics like this can’t be taught.
“It kind of either happens or doesn’t and it’s happened for them this year,” she said. That natural chemistry has become one of the Mariners’ biggest strengths, fueling their resilience and consistency throughout the season.
A highlight this year for the team came with their victory over Two Harbors, reclaiming possession of the giant wooden oar in the War for the Oar rivalry.
“It’s fun to have close town rivalries that you actually have something that you can carry around with you, that’s physical in that respect,” said Blood.
The Silver Bay community has been showing up in full force, packing the gym and keeping the energy high for the Mariners.
“You get the football team, and they have all their theme nights and everybody dresses up and has a blast and it’s loud and it’s crazy and it’s all in good fun,” Blood reported. “It’s exciting to see the boys come out and cheer on the girls.”
Their commitment extends beyond athletics, with high GPAs and several girls taking college preparation classes. That dedication and focus on and off the court is part of what makes the team so rewarding to coach.
“They make coaching easy,” said Blood. “They make you want to come to practice every day. They make you want to be on the floor and enjoy their success.”
With their determination, teamwork, and go-get-them attitude, the Mariners aren’t just winning games. They’re making their mark on the court and in the community. Congratulations on the incredible season so far, and best of luck as you begin your final stretch!
