MUSKEGON TWP. - Reeths-Puffer fans may not realize it yet, but the future of the R-P volleyball program seems pretty bright.
The Rockets already have three talented underclassmen playing key roles on the varsity – one sophomore and two freshmen – and R-P’s junior varsity and freshmen teams are among the best in the O-K Green conference.
But when the brighter days come with the younger players, R-P head coach Justin Birr will look back and remember a group of girls who played a big transition role, helping the Rockets push forward to a respectable record this season, and set the table for the talented youngsters on the way up."
R-P senior Mairyn Peterson (12) tips a shot over the net. Photo/Jeremy Clark
He will remember this year’s seniors, who were honored Tuesday night before the Rockets lost in straight sets to state-ranked Byron Center.
The seniors on the team are Mallorie Messer, Carlee Bowen, Makayla Disselkoen, Abbie Machinski and Mairyn Peterson. They are Birr’s final senior class, because he announced this week that he will step down when the season is over to spend more time with his two young children, who are starting to play sports of their own.
“What they have brought as far as competitiveness is second to none,” Birr said about the seniors. “I have never had five seniors contribute on the court in such a meaningful way. We’ve had super good seniors before, but usually one, two or three of them, not a solid five that stuck through it and contributed like this on the court.”
Birr confirmed that there are some exciting younger players on the way, which should bring some really fun seasons down the road.
R-P senior Mallorie Messer (4) returns a serve. Photo/Jeremy Clark
“I would say we are top one or two in the conference at the freshmen and JV levels, and our eighth-grade group is no joke, either,” he said. “We need to be a little taller – we just don’t grow tall girls here – but the talent is there.”
The news on the court was not all bad for the Rockets on Tuesday. While nobody expected them to beat Byron Center – ranked honorable mention in the latest state Division 1 poll – R-P definitely played better than the first time the two teams matched up this year.
The Rockets had a good second set, leading 3-2, 7-4, and 10-6 in the earlier going, then pulling within a point at 17-16 later on, before falling 25-18. The other set scores were 25-8 and 25-9.
The close set was reminiscent of last Thursday, when the Rockets rose up and took a set from Mona Shores, another one of the O-K Green’s power teams. Before that, R-P had not beaten conference powers Mona Shores, Byron Center, Jenison or Caledonia is a single set in two years.
R-P senior Carlee Bowen (5) dives for a ball. Photo/Jeremy Clark
The improved play shows that the Rockets are feeling less intimidated by the very strong opponents they face on a regular basis, and that’s a solid contribution to leave for the girls on their way up.
“(Byron Center) served tough – they have a girl going to play at the University of Nebraska, so they definitely have some talent,” Birr said. “But we hung with it, which was exciting.
“As Coach Riley (Santose) said in the huddle tonight, what these seniors have done is show that we are capable of competing with and beating these teams, that it can be done.”
The final stats reflected the balance between experience and youth on the R-P roster. Senior Mairyn Peterson and freshman Lexie Danz each had three kills while Peterson served three aces. Freshman Kate Tindall had 12 assists.
Peterson and senior Makalya Disselkoen go for a block. Photo/Jeremy Clark
Defensively, senior Carlee Bowen led the way with 12 digs.
R-P is now 18-19 overall on the season, with six more wins than it had last year. The Rockets finished the conference season with a 2-8 mark.
They will close out the regular season on Thursday at Fremont, then will open Division 1 districts on Nov. 5 against Grand Haven at Mona Shores High School.