By CLAIRE CRUZ, Staff Writer
LYFORD — The Lyford Lady Bulldogs had a fairly veteran varsity squad in 2020, but their lone underclassman made quite an impact.
Sophomore Marley Perez earned her spot on the varsity roster after impressing first-year Lyford coach Amy Cantu with her work ethic in the offseason and her skillset through tryouts. Cantu said the outside hitter was timid at first, not wanting to step on the toes of the older returners, but with a little motivation and reassurance about her abilities, Perez rose her level of play.
Perez was a consistent part of Lyford’s offensive attack, and was effective on the block and at the service line. She was a key contributor as the Lady Bulldogs clinched a second-place finish in the 10-team District 31-3A and won a bi-district game. For her performances in her varsity debut season, Perez has been named the Valley Morning Star’s All-STAR volleyball newcomer of the year.
“Definitely very proud of myself and my team and my coach for helping me. I’m just really thankful,” Perez said. “It wasn’t the ideal year because there were a limited number of games, but I just made the best of it. When I had a good game I got more confidence, and in the next game I would be better. Gaining confidence throughout the season made me a better player.”
Perez said her family, friends, coaches and teammates encouraged her and helped her have a successful season. She credited Cantu and senior teammates Haley Jade Rodriguez and Claire Gonzalez for having “big impacts” on her and helping her develop into a high-caliber volleyball player.
Cantu enjoyed watching Perez’s progression and seeing the sophomore live up to the potential she noticed in the offseason. The coach was thankful Perez’s parents allowed her to participate in athletics while she does virtual learning so she could help the team in a challenging year, and she’s excited to see what the young athlete will do in her next two seasons.
“She was here every day in strength and conditioning when we didn’t even know if we were going to have a season, and I saw the effort she was putting in,” Cantu said. “Coming in as a new coach and seeing everything with fresh eyes, without anyone swaying my judgement, right off the bat she stood out to me.
“Her skills, her serving, the way she hustled to the ball, just all that. I saw the potential and dedication Marley had, so I knew I wanted her on my team,” Cantu continued. “She put that effort forward through the whole season. I knew when I chose her for varsity that she was going to be an asset to the team, and I’m just glad to have her for two more years.”
The District 31-3A coaches also selected Perez as the district newcomer of the year. Perez said she exceeded her own expectations this season, and with these strong performances and accolades under her belt, she’s aiming to build on her rookie year and keep playing well for her team in seasons to come.
“It was surprising, of course, because I didn’t really know I could do this, but my coach helped me,” Perez said. “There’s definitely more pressure for next year, so I want to exceed expectations and just keep working during the offseason.”