MIDDLEBURG - Meredith Forkum has had some pretty good mentoring the past few years and 2023 will be a major step for the former Middleburg High volleyball standout.

"I think about her when I'm in this gym, for sure," said Forkum, 43, and a 1998 Middleburg grad who takes over for the 30-plus years that former Bronco coach Carrie Prewitt left her after retiring this year. "She set the bar pretty high and we intend to keep it there or push it higher. It's definitely different without her in the gym."

Prewitt hand-picked Forkum to take over for her at Middleburg having known her as a player and coach alongside her.

"Knowing Meredith as I do, I knew she had the heart and the vision to help grow this program with the values that we have nurtured and prioritized at MHS," said Prewitt. " She was one of those players that always brought her best for the team and it is no different now that she is the head coach."

Forkum, who played two years of college volleyball at Florida State College-Jacksonville, takes over for Prewitt and highlights an incoming season that sees two other county teams; Fleming Island and St. Johns Country Day School both recently naming former players as head coaches.

"I think it's great for the area and the county to bring in alums," said Forkum. "Maybe we played against each other at some point and that makes it even more interesting. We shall see."

One other addition to the program is the return of Keith Taylor who has been a Bronco coach with Prewitt for nearly her entire era.

"I've been with her for 21 years," said Taylor, 64, whose daughter, Stephanie, was part of two Bronco state runner-up teams (2003, 2004); both against powerhouse Gainesville, ranked fifth in the USA at the time. "I retired, I thought, in 2019, sat out a year, returned to help junior varsity and told Meredith I would help if she needed me."

Taylor has a unique seat on the Bronco program as a dad and also as a coach that has seen the program grow from teaching basics 20 years ago to being consistently in the mix for a state title run.

"It's a different atmosphere for sure with Meredith running the gym," said Taylor. "Carrie came in, was in full command and Meredith is one who lets the assistant coaches run the show from their expertise. Our normal from Prewitt is other teams are extraordinary. We expect much more from our girls."

For Forkum, who has senior daughter Brooke on the Bronco varsity squad, along with two power hitters in the Rahn sisters; Connor and Camden, both at the six foot plus range.

"She left me with a good team to direct for my first season," said Forkum. "Sometimes you get the keys and it's a Volkswagon, I think she left a Porsche. Three players have been to Nationals this summer with Brooke and Connor both on Team Florida."

For the summer, where Prewitt was a mainstay of conditioning and teamwork building, Forkum did not have access to the Middleburg High gym for most of the summer and had to improvise.

"That was a little tricky, but we made it work," said Forkum. "We did a lot of conditioning outside so that was different, especially with the hot days we've been having, but no complaints."

Forkum will attend a preseason tournament at Bishop Kenny (Aug 19) to see some top-ranked teams to open her season then bring in perennial power Spruce Creek (Aug. 22) to open the season.

"I set the schedule in January and learned from Carrie that a strong schedule sets the tone of the team," said Forkum. "We have always had tough schedules and that prepares us come playoff time."

Spruce Creek, Leon, Fleming Island, Bishop Moore tournament, Ponte Vedra, Bishop Kenny are all on the Broncos schedule.

When asked what her footprint or trademark will be on 2023, Forkum coyly chuckled.

"That's a tough question because Carrie leaves a legacy of preparation each season," said Forkum. "Connor could be the best hitter in north Florida if not the state. Camden is going to be a force as well."

Taylor noted that Forkum has kept the pace of the gym with her quiet ferocious competitiveness.

"She has that demeanor as a player for Carrie that she controls the gym, then she has the last few years learning how to teach that to her team," said Forkum. "She's a different, little calmer style, but that same demand is expected."