REXBURG −
Ever see a softball player bouncing a ball off their bat like a ping-pong ball?
What about a football player spinning a football on their finger like a basketball?
Good trick, kid. And when it comes to random, useless sporting skills crossovers, Madison senior Layla Mortensen has a trick for you.
Mortensen plays the net for the Bobcats to great effect, leading the 16-1 Bobcats in hitting percentage (.387), blocks (28) and aces (32).
In duller moments, however, Mortensen has been known to stand and punch volleyballs like they were a boxing speed bag.
“Yeah, it’s something I do to keep my nerves down, and like, I don’t know,” Mortensen said with a laugh. “Maybe it’s a fun ball control thing. Never really thought about it before.”
What Layla does is this — she sets up in a wide, staggered stance, flattens her fists and tries to pop the ball straight up.
She goes high and low, side to side and back again. It’s a feel thing. A wrist thing. And looks like a boxer punching up at a speed bag — a bag hung two feet too high.
Layla learned to use her fists thanks to the bullying efforts of big brother Crew. Crew played football and basketball at Madison, and it was he who first taught her how to use her fists.
“Yeah, he roughed me up when we were little kids,” she said. “We had some fun.”
Outside of throwing hands with her big brother Crew, Layla has never really done any boxing at all. No speed bag, no punching bag, none of it.
Ever slip a jab, young Layla Mortensen?
“What does that even mean?” she said, clenching her eyes and shaking her head. “I’ve got to say no. Never in my life.”
Like a golfer juggling a ball with a pitching wedge, there is no real in-game application for Layla’s speed bag volleyball trick.
It’s just something you do when your big brother is grounded to his room, or when Uncle Owen knocks down the volleyball net at the family reunion.
If you want to see Layla’s trick, Mortensen and the rest of the Bobcats are at home this coming weekend to host the Battle of the Best Tournament.
Despite standing in at 5-foot-7, Mortensen is listed as a middle blocker and outside hitter for the Bobcats. Based on her team-leading numbers for one of the top programs in the state, Mortensen is punching well above her height, says Madison coach Keanu Pukahi.
“Last year she was one of our backup pin hitters, and her number was called at state to be a middle and she did well,” Pukahi said. “When she needs to be right side, she’s the right. Left side, left. When she needs to pass, she will pass. She’s a great distributor.”
That is to say, if you set a ball, Layla will spike it. If you spike it, she’ll block it. If you dink it, she’ll dive for it.
But fair warning. If you really set Layla Mortensen off, best to keep her away from the good china.
“I don’t really punch holes in walls or hit things at all,” she said. “Me, I’m more of a plate thrower.”
What Layla does is this — she sets up in a wide, staggered stance, flattens her wrists, grabs a stack of soup bowls and…