A prolonged answer to a short question is a common occurrence at a Deane Webb press conference.
And when the question is about Mallory Salis, he always talks at length.
“I can talk about Mal forever,” he said as he concluded a recent October press conference.
Speaking about the team captain, a senior and Mid-American Conference Player of the Year contender, he just can’t keep his mouth shut — and for good reason.
At the tail-end of her collegiate career, Salis has nearly reinvented herself as one of the conference’s premier outsider hitters and maybe the most dynamic player in Ohio’s program history.
Recruited for her defense, the Oak Lawn, Illinois native was a libero for the first two and a half years of her career until coach Webb switched her to the outside hitter position.
This season, she had a rollercoaster season where she started as a struggling outside hitter, switched to libero and then back to an outside hitter.
When she ultimately returned to outside hitter in early October, she put up record-breaking numbers with four consecutive weekends with 20 or more kills. No player in program history has performed such a feat.
But as she prepares to play in her final few matches as a Bobcat, she’s already beginning to think of the legacy she’s going to leave.
“You think more about leaving a legacy and leaving happy no matter what the outcome is,” Salis said. “Knowing that you enjoyed your four years here as a volleyball player.”
Her legacy likely will go down as one of the winningest players in program history.
Salis has claimed either a tournament or regular season championship in each of her seasons so far. And right now, she’s looking for her fourth.
Alongside fellow senior and team captain Brooke Coleman, she's focused on claiming that title next week at the conference tournament in DeKalb, Illinois.
There, it doesn’t matter if Salis gets 30 kills or Coleman gets 20 digs, all that matters for them is the end result.
“They just want to win,” Webb said.
Despite rotating positions this season, she’s truly made an impact in the locker room, especially to her best friend, Coleman.
“She’s been with me all four years of college,” Coleman said. “We’re very open with each, so it’s easy to lead the team with her because we’re always sharing ideas, talking to each other about how we can make the team better and talking to underclassmen. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Even for younger players, like freshman Lizzie Stephens, Salis has taught them to improve their skills on the court.
“She’s good at everything,” Stephens said. “She can help in all areas, when it comes to blocking, hitting and passing.”
With Salis finishing up her career next weekend, she looks to put her final stamp on what is one of the more remarkable careers in program history.
But Salis, Coleman, Webb, and the rest of the team know that they’re certainly not done yet.
Because they have a tournament to win.
“Let’s see what we do as a team,” Webb said. “Let’s see if Brooke and Mal, when they’re done, have a ring for each finger because that’s what they’re focused on right now.”
