Fourth of July fireworks
2008 Cityfolk Festival
Spotted at the Cityfolk Festival
GIRLS' VOLLEYBALL
Lebanon's Harper exudes a quiet strength
Junior standout sets sights on playing volleyball at a Division I college and winning a high school title along the way.
Friday, September 28, 2007
LEBANON — Six feet tall, slender and smiling, MacKenzy Harper doesn't strike fear in the casual onlooker.
But stand across the volleyball net from the Lebanon junior, and you're likely to shake in your sneakers.
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Harper possesses one of the more powerful right arms in the area. Her cheerful demeanor belies a killer instinct that rains thunderous spikes all over the court.
"Mac is good enough to be all-state," Lebanon volleyball coach Tim Mersch said. "She has all the talent in the world, and she knows how to raise her game and bring it when the lights go on."
Harper — who has been playing for six years — admitted to cranking up her level of play during games compared to practices.
"It's definitely true I don't practice as well as coach Mersch would like," Harper said. "It's not that I don't practice hard, I just don't perform as well as I do in games.
"I don't know why. I guess the atmosphere of a game gets me feeling like I need to step it up and bring everything I have," she said. Harper had to bring her "A" game every day this summer when she competed for Team Z, a club team based in Cincinnati, at the USA Junior Nationals.
"It was a great experience for me," Harper said. "It taught me that we can't let up in tight games. We have to push hard until the end and never let up. When you let up at a game in nationals, they'd come back on you. Every point counts."
Harper said she would like to play college volleyball at the Division I level. She currently is working on her back row skills.
"Front row hitters who can play the back and serve, they are more suited to the college game," Harper said. "I want to become a great all-around player."
While college is still two years away, Harper is now focused on getting the Warriors another championship.
I really think we can be one of the best teams in southwest Ohio if we just play strong," she said.
