Volleyball runs in the Macek family. Middle sister Molly does not have the middle-hitter size like older sister Mary Kate and younger sibling Maggie, but she sure has the heart.

Molly, a senior, is a two-year starter in the powerhouse Cardinal Gibbons High School girls' varsity volleyball program. At 5-8, she is the libero, the defensive catalyst, patrolling the back row for defensive purposes that transition into offense.

``I have never seen Molly give up on a match, a play or a ball, no matter how out of reach it might seem,'' Gibbons coach Kathryn Farland said by e-mail. ``Her intensity and heart keeps everyone alive on the court and helps us win games. She has the dedication and determination that you want to see in every athlete.''

Molly, who is excellent on serve receiving, leads the Chiefs in digs and is second in service points and tops in aces. She passes well and dives after balls, making it difficult for the opposition to score easily.

``I like that I have a different jersey,'' Molly joked. Liberos wear a different shirt than the rest of the team to signify the special position. ``It's a huge honor to be the libero because the team sees me as the defensive leader.''

St. Thomas Aquinas senior Anne Langsenkamp is outstanding as a libero, and Molly ranks up there. Molly is not only one of Broward's top defensive players, but she is one of the team's captains. Last season, she helped Gibbons reach the Class 4A state semifinals where the Chiefs dropped a tough five-set match to Arcadia-DeSoto County.

``Our goal this year is to go to states and win it,'' Molly said. ``Half of our team are seniors. We are more experienced this year, and our chances are better. Our mind-set is to win state.''

• Molly began playing volleyball as a fifth-grader for the Fort Lauderdale Juniors. That was a year after her older sister Mary Kate started competing in club volleyball.

Each Macek played (middle school) volleyball for St. Coleman's School. Molly's team went undefeated in her three seasons. Maggie is currently a seventh-grader there.

Mary Kate and Molly followed in their mom's footsteps by attending Cardinal Gibbons. Maggie will do the same. Their mom, Patty Davis, is a 1978 Gibbons graduate.

• The Maceks are also a Florida State University family. Molly would like to play for the Seminoles. Former Gibbons' libero, Jenna Romanelli, is a walk-on at FSU.

Mary Kate is not playing collegiately, but she is currently at FSU where their mom and dad met and earned their college degrees. Mark Macek started at defensive tackle for the Seminoles from 1977-80, playing alongside FSU great Ron Simmons.

• Molly played on the junior varsity team as a freshman, losing only to St. Thomas Aquinas. In four seasons of school volleyball (sixth grade through freshman), she experienced defeat only that one time.

• Molly is a three-year member of the Gibbons' varsity team. She played club volleyball with Fort Lauderdale Juniors and Boomers. She currently competes for Ocean Breeze. Kristin Scher, an assistant coach at Gibbons, was her first club coach.

• Her older sister Mary Kate competed for the Gibbons' state championship team in 2006 that went undefeated at 32-0.

• Advice from Molly to aspiring volleyball players: ``Hard work, 24-7. Work your butt off, conditioning and playing club. Scrimmage a lot and do a lot of drills. Volleyball is not just a fall season sport.''

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