Chesapeake College seems to have found the closest thing to the perfect volleyball coach.
The Skipjacks are young, rebuilding, raw and hungry. They need a steady, demanding hand, and that describes Coach Gerry Szabo almost perfectly.
The 69-year-old Szabo has coached college volleyball for 50 years with stints at Cabrini College, Delaware Tech, Wilmington University and Goldey-Beacom College among other schools. Szabo makes it clear: He wishes all the college teams he’s coached — 14 in all — possessed the same collective attitude that the Skipjacks have shown.
"I really have some players who want to do well," Szabo explains. "We have a lot of heart on the team and good athleticism. We have players who have true potential and who are projects, but they really want to learn. When you have those type of kids, you are in a really good situation."
The Skipjacks badly want to improve on last year’s 3-9 record and Szabo’s presence has given the players a big dose of confidence to do just that. "He is really good at building teams and he is making us believe in ourselves," says freshman outside hitter Sarah Mast, who co-captains the team along with sophomore outside hitter Anna Schaefer. "You can really see his experience and his volleyball knowledge."
The nine freshmen that crowd the roster are poised to learn all that they can from Szabo. It took him a little while to settle on a starting line — Mast, outside hitter Anna Schaefer, setter Georgie Turner, libero Aubrie Lambden, outside hitter Emilie Todd, middle hitter Savanna Nossick and defensive specialist Se’ri Miles. "A lot of times nowadays, kids want guarantees," Szabo says. "And that you are not going to take them out of the starting lineup. I have a pecking order for every position, and I will tell them, 'If you are playing well, you are number one or number two at that position.' I don’t show any favoritism." Szabo has been particularly impressed with 5-foot-6 Miles, who graduated from Kent Island High School. Szabo considers her the most talented player on the team. "She probably has Division I potential," the coach says. "She can really jump, block, serve and set. I have 24 things on my checklist when I evaluate a volleyball player and she is at the top of every one of them."
Turner, a graduate of North Dorchester High School, will be a huge part of the offense. "She can get all over the court and is left-handed, which is an advantage for a multiple offensive setter," Szabo says. "She has really good hands. From 50 feet, she can probably put the ball within six inches of where you want it every time. I don’t think there are that any kids at this level that know how hard she hits."
Mast is another player to watch. She sets the tone at practices. "Sarah is a gym rat," Szabo says. "She is always the first one at practice and the last one to leave. She is always taking an extra 15 to 20 reps. She is everything you want in a volleyball player."
The Skipjacks also figure to get contributions from outside hitter Ry'Esha Savoy, defensive specialist Hailey Muniz and outside hitter Gina Wilson. Szabo expects to see a confident squad that is willing to take risks to get to the next level. "The kids are not afraid to fail," says Szabo, whose team opened the season with a 25-21, 25-16, 25-13 loss to host Garrett College. "They know if they fail, they can correct things."