High school volleyball: Medina's Makenzie Schellenberger living the dream

Volleyball has been a constant in Makenzie Schellenberger's life since the day she was born. The Medina junior spent countless hours running around the gym during her pre-kindergarten years, laying the foundation for a career in the sport that began when she was just 7 years old. "I am actually convinced that my dad (Jason) put a volleyball in my crib," she joked. "When he was coaching at Medina, I would come to practices and games and I always thought it would be so cool to play volleyball for the school and be part of the program." Fast forward to this season, which will be her third as a varsity starter. Schellenberger doesn't just play for the Bees, she is the focal point of the program and one of the top 11th-graders in Northeast Ohio. The 5-foot-9 outside hitter possesses arguably the most well-rounded skill-set in Medina County, enabling her to smoothly transition between attacking, setting and playing defense. As a sophomore, Schellenberger was the only local athlete to collect more than 100 kills, 300 assists and 300 digs. She also ranked fifth in the county with a .968 serve percentage and led her team in points and aces. "Makenzie is such a special talent," Medina coach Joe Ortenzi said. "Not only can she play any position on the court, she excels at them all and her versatility allows us to maximize the rest of our team's potential. "Her volleyball IQ is unmatched and you couldn't ask for a better teammate. Makenzie truly is the epitome of what a high school volleyball player should strive to be." Schellenberger and fellow junior Kira Holland powered the Bees to a 14-8 record and second-place finish in the Greater Cleveland Conference last fall, the program's best season since 2011. Medina will have a very different look this year with NCAA Division I prospect Holland sidelined after undergoing major shoulder surgery. Schellenberger will move into the featured hitting spot while still setting in two rotations. As important, Schellenberger has assumed the role of team leader and mentor to the Bees' intriguing sophomore class, as Ortenzi was confident she would from her first day of high school. "She pushes us to be our best," sophomore middle hitter Emily Piehler said. "You can't help but get better watching the example Makenzie sets every day." Statements about Schellenberger's character are music to the ears of Ortenzi and his staff, which includes a familiar name to longtime volleyball fans. Junior varsity coach Jason Schellenberger spent nine years in charge at Medina, highlighted by the aforementioned 2011 team that advanced to the Norwalk Division I Regional semifinals. His 216 matches as varsity coach remain a school record. "Having my dad be one of our coaches has been easier than I thought it would be," Makenzie said. "It's great to have someone who knows so much about the sport live in the same house as you. I appreciate all the help my mom (Rachel) and dad give me when it comes to volleyball." The sport truly is a family affair, as the Schellenbergers frequently set up a net in their backyard. Her brother Sean plays for the Bees' boys volleyball team, while sisters Ava and Kate hope to follow in their siblings' footsteps. Through it all, Makenzie remains grounded and humble and is well on her way to taking her game and the Bees to the next level. "I love the constant positivity my teammates and coaches put in every day," she said. "When you have good chemistry and relationships with your teammates, it makes playing so much easier and way more fun." Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter.