Oct 15, 2018 By Les Harvath, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read

Mapletown’s girls volleyball team was 7-6 in section play and still in the running for its first-ever playoff berth heading into Thursday’s matches.

It’s been a successful season for the Lady Maples no matter the outcome and chemistry has likely played a key factor in their success.

Without having the luxury of an abundance of six-rotation players, Mapletown’s chemistry has revolved around sisters Madison Kuis (senior) and Sydney Kuis (sophomore), rotate to all six positions, explained fourth-year coach Christy Menear.

Both players, noted Menear, who teaches Life Skills in grades 7-12 at Mapletown, “are talented athletes who probably will not step off the floor.”

Opponents see both players in the front and back rows, both serve, and both have outside hitting positions, Menear observed. “We want them to pass and touch the ball every play, to be in contact with the ball as much as possible. This is unique due to the fact that they are sisters.”

Earning her stripes with the junior varsity team as a freshman, Madison Kuis, who, not coincidentally, says chemistry is her favorite subject, played all six positions that season, but is better described by Menear as an outside hitter, a defensive specialist and consistent passer, with an uncanny ability to pass the ball to the Maples setter.

“Madison’s intelligence allows her to place the ball to weak spots in the opposition,” Menear said. “She is quick and moves well on the floor.”

But Madison Kuis’ value to the team is not necessarily reflected in the statistical department.

“She is well-respected by her teammates and positive with other players,” Menear said. “She has a positive demeanor and works hard to improve herself and her team, and does not shy away from criticism in order to improve her game. She is dependable, dedicated and always in the gym.”

In the classroom, Madison Kuis, who stands at 5-foot-5, sports a 4.0 grade point average to go along with her No. 3 ranking in the senior class, and has aspirations of becoming a chemistry teacher.

In fact, Madison Kuis — and Mapletown — owes it to her friends who talked her into playing volleyball in the seventh grade.

“My friends started playing and I wasn’t sure at first but they talked me into it and I have been involved ever since,” she said, chuckling that some of those players are no longer involved.

Since Madison Kuis first stepped onto the Maples’ volleyball court, Menear described her progress in terms of “leaps and bounds. She has become more consistent and precise in her overall game and has a better understanding of the game. She reads defenses well and anticipates well, which is something you cannot coach.”

Having played mostly in the back row with the junior varsity and varsity as a freshman (she was the lone freshman to see varsity action), Sydney Kuis “will play all the positions like my sister,” she chuckled.

Like her sister, she is an outside hitter and defensive specialist, Menear added. “Sydney is a very strong defensive player. Initially I wanted her to play strictly in back row but will not due to an injury to another player. She has excellent ball control and takes charge of the back row. Her strength is her defense. She reads hitters well and digs balls consistently to the target.”

Thanks to Madison’s involvement in the sport, Sydney Kuis — at 5-6 — followed her sister to the court.

“Being on the team with my older sister is a special memory,” said Sydney Kuis — who like her sister maintains a 4.0 grade point average. “On the floor I look up to her as being more than my sister. She teaches me what to do and it’s always constructive criticism. She is a good leader and knows how to pick up people. She is very peppy, always moving on the floor, and our cheerleader on the court.”

Menear said, “We have the potential to make playoffs. We have the talent, but we have to overcome our own mistakes and get mentally tougher.”