Rambler to Watch: Esme Condon

It’s easy to misinterpret criticism from Loyola setter Esme Condon.

Condon isn’t the type of overly-critical, in-your-face player who permeates negativity. It’s just the opposite. In fact Ramblers head coach Jenny Morris says Condon will often start voice her disapproval by first complimenting her teammates.

Morris is hoping this year that changes a bit. ()

“Why don’t you just get in her face?” Morris will ask Condon."She’s a nice girl. I think sometimes too nice. I’d like to see her get a little rougher.”

And with two years of varsity experience, Condon, a senior, just might be able to make those changes.

Admittedly when she came up to varsity as a sophomore she was a little timid. That’s understandable considering she plays arguably the most pressure-packed position on the volleyball court and has the entire team relying on her to set them up for success.

As a junior Condon started but often was joined by another setter on the court in a 6-2 offense. That offense relieved her of the pressure of having to corral every pass because there was another player with the same skill-set on the court.

This season, Morris will exclusively employ a 5-1 offense leaving Condon solely responsible for setting up the teams hitters and involving her in every play.

“It’s pretty dependent on me,” Morris said. “If I don’t do my job, none of the hitters can do theirs. So it’s a lot of pressure but I get used to it and I feel like it’s a good pressure.”

Volleyball aficionados boast the sport as the consummate team game. If Condon doesn’t set the ball appropriately, the hitters are at a disadvantage. If the hitters don’t kill the ball, Condon doesn’t get assists.

But come this fall, the Ramblers will trot out a squad that already has some familiarity, particularly between its two most important players.

Condon and middle hitter Kaitlin Mohr were both on varsity as sophomores and played on the same club team this past winter and spring.

“You have to trust your setter that she’s going to give you a good set and Esme is perfect for that,” Mohr said. “We work really well together.

“She’s basically the whole team. If we don’t have Esme on the court, we’re not going to succeed.”

Though emphatically emphasizing the advantage of the familiarity among her players, Morris was quick to point out that she has a similar relationship with her players—particularly Condon.

Condon understands what Morris expects not only in practice but game situations as well. After two years the two are so succinct with each other that Morris will task Condon with calling her own plays on the floor.

The Ramblers coach accounts that she’s only done so two other times in her career with Lauren Bentel and Jennifer Mengelt, who was recently inducted into the Loyola Hall of Fame.

“She just does as I ask,” Morris said. “It’s instinctual for her. She’s the coach on the floor and that’s huge. I no longer have to call in plays from the sideline. I can ask her opinion on what players to run and who has the hot hand.”

Described as a brainiac by hear coach, Condon’s decision-making may be her best asset. Considering how quickly decisions need to be made on the volleyball court, Condon is always asking her teammates for feedback.

She thinks they’d relay that as her greatest intangible.

 “They would probably describe me as open to criticism because I always tell them to tell me how I can change my sets so they can hit better,” Condon said. “So it’s real open communication and hopefully hard working. I work my butt off so hopefully it’s recognized.”