Front-row force

Salem's Merget can block and
hit with the best players around

  There aren't many high school volleyball players around that are more skilled than Salem's Nicole Merget -- and she's only a junior.
  PlymouthCantonSport.com's Ed Wright talked to her recently about the rising star's passion for the sport.

ED WRIGHT: How did you get into volleyball?

NICOLE MERGET: I wasn't a big sports person growing up. My neighbor was a club coach and she asked my mom if I wanted to play volleyball. I was like, 'O.K., sure,' but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. From there I loved it and have been playing ever since.

EW: What is it about the sport that appeals to you?

NM: It's a great team sport, it doesn't involve a lot of running -- which is good because I'm not a big runner (smile) -- and it's fun. You can hit the heck out of the ball and block in people's faces and make awesome digs.

EW: How often do you play in the off-season?

NM: The high school season runs from the beginning of school until November. Then I get a month off before the club season starts. Club goes until July and I get pretty much the whole month of July off.

EW: What's it feel like to get the perfect kill?

NM: You know it as soon as you see the set. You get so excited and so pumped up. It feels so good when the ball hits the floor and you start cheering and your teammates start cheering.

EW: How important is the setter to your success?

NM: The setter is the most important person on the court. She's the one running the show. Basically, everything depends on them. If we don't have a good setter, we can't get good hits. It's especially important for me being a middle, the sets have to be almost perfect. I give them a lot of credit because they have to work the hardest.

EW: How do you think your team will do this season?

NM: I'm really excited about this year's team. It's kind of a new team (the Rocks graduated eight seniors from last year's roster). Every time we practice, we get better and better. The future is looking good.

Ed Wright can be reached at info@plymouthcantonsports.com or (734) 453-1980.