Loyola volleyball stars Lizzie Walker and Anne Martinson are excited to be picking up where they left off with new varsity coach Mallory Thelander.
After coaching the two stars as freshmen when she was a Ramblers’ assistant coach, Thelander took over as coach of the varsity squad at the end of last season.
“It was nice to have someone who is comfortable with us and knows how things are run at Loyola and what we go through every day,” Walker told the Chicago Tribune of again playing under Thelander’s watchful eye.
A Colgate recruit, Martinson is being asked to do more up and down movement in the team’s new 6-2 offense, as Thelander looks to take better advantage of her athleticism.
“I’m not usually a hitter,” Martinson told the Tribune. “It’s nice to get back to hitting and improve my blocking, that’s what I want to work on.”
Walker also sees the positives in some of the early changes Thelander has implemented.
“A setter can set a faster tempo ball, and you can run a quicker offense,” she said. “An attacker can attack the front row and rather than all of your hitters on one side. It’s a more complex offense to defend.”
All the changes aside, Martinson stressed she sees the team moving in the right direction and growing as a cohesive unit.
“It’s been really good, very positive,” she said. “We are getting closer as a team and having fun.”
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