Set for success

Salem volleyball team has all the pieces
in place for a successful 2009 season

  Its All-State setter may be gone, graduated along with its high-rising front-row star named MacDonald, but Salem's volleyball team is going to be O.K. thanks in large part to its new setter, who, by the way, is also named MacDonald.
  Last year's senior stars -- setter Jansan Falcusan and outside hitter Kelly MacDonald -- have moved on to shine at the collegiate level and they'll no doubt be missed.
Just not as much as if the Rocks didn't have Kelly's younger sister, Kerry, to take over Falcusan's role.
  "We lost Jansan, who was a third-team All-State setter, which will be a huge loss, but Kerry is going to be a great setter, too," said Salem coach Amanda Suder. "She always could set, but she has always been a libero because we had Jansan and because Kerry is such a great defensive player.
"Kerry is doing a great job. She's really working hard."
  Two of MacDonald's front-row targets will be junior Nicole Merget and senior Lauren Dworzanin, who joins MacDonald as the only two seniors on the roster.
  "We're going to ask Nicole to play more of an all-around game this year," said Suder, referring to her outstanding 6-foot-3 middle hitter. "She's going to have more of a back-row role this season. We're going to work on making her game a little faster, especially with all the colleges looking at her.
  "Lauren is an all-around player who can play primary passer. She's real quick, she hits the ball real hard and she has good jump flow. I expect a lot out of a four-year player like Lauren."
  Suder elected to keep just 11 players on the varsity roster this season after keeping 14 last season.
  "We'll have five all-arounders in there most of the time," said Suder. "Right now, I have one sub going in. A lot of the five regulars have been here since my first year, so now that they're juniors and seniors, they'll be the veterans taking over. It's been nice to watch how their skills have improved over the past few years."
  Along with the three captains, juniors Kersten Johnson and Lauren Asherman are going to be counted on to make key contributions this season.
  "Kersten was our most improved player last year," said Suder. "She stepped up big-time after getting called up from the JV team.
  "Lauren is a defensive specialist who will be the anchor for our defense. She'll be our top primary passer. I expect a lot out of her."

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