Manchester senior Joy Maze celebrates a point during a match earlier this season.
Submitted photo
Manchester’s freshman-to-senior ratio this season reads 11 to 2, which can be viewed two different ways.
The obvious being that the Spartans’ volleyball future appears bright. Secondly, and perhaps most important, the current team’s veteran leadership better be special.
In Greenwood graduate Joy Maze, it is.
Maze, a senior outside hitter who began her college volleyball career during the height of a global pandemic, certainly fits the description.
A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Maze is the Spartans’ lone captain this season. Her presence is crucial for reasons that have nothing to do with her 660 career kills.
When Maze first arrived on campus, everyone’s life was mired in a fog of certainty replete with masks, social distancing, constant hand-washing and more.
Hardly the traditional welcome-to-college experience. But one Maze knows has made her better appreciate the now, all while being more sympathetic toward younger teammates — and yes, a better leader.
“When I first came in, I was very hesitant because it was the COVID year, and our team was split in half for practices,” said Maze, who admits she nearly transferred after her first semester. “On Mondays, group A would practice inside on a normal court, and group B would be on a sand court that we have outside. And we had to wear masks.
“Looking back, it was hard. But you got used to it.”
The initial serves of Maze’s first go-round with the Spartans were pushed back to six matches in late October, and then didn’t pick back up until the winter with Manchester’s final 17 matches spread over January and February.
The Spartans finished 1-22.
“A lot of the games I was thrown into as a freshman, I didn’t know the other five people on the court. It was a weird experience,” Maze said. “For me, it definitely has made me appreciate making friends on the team.
“This year, it’s been a goal to make the team a family environment. I’ve gotten a lot of compliments from the freshmen because of how welcome I make them feel.”
Manchester began making strides Maze’s sophomore season, going 11-16, followed by a jump to 14-15 last fall.
Last weekend, the team ran its record to 7-3 by winning two of three matches at the Marilyn Scribner Invitational in Wheaton, Illinois, where Maze was good for a total of 35 kills. She added 10 in Tuesday’s three-set win at St. Mary’s, giving her a team-high 155 for the season.
The Spartans are seeking their first winning campaign since the 2016 squad finished 18-12.
Maze carries a 3.0 grade-point average while majoring in environmental studies. She is on pace to graduate this spring.
Due to the pandemic, Maze has another season of athletic eligibility should she choose to return for the Spartans’ 2024 season.
At the moment, she’s leaning more toward this being her final season at Manchester, though a lot could change in the months ahead.
Spartans’ coach Ivan Matos plans to support whatever decision she makes.
“We would be ecstatic for Joy to come back, but we’re not pressuring her. It’s kind of up to her,” said Matos, now in his fifth season. “She’s our leader. Joy works so hard, and you can tell she took this last offseason to work hard on her game and in the weight room.
“Joy is just this person who does things outside of volleyball. Never misses classes. Somebody I’ve never had to worry about outside of volleyball.”
From a haze to Maze. Yeah, Manchester volleyball went there.
