New Coaches, New Ideas For Volleyball Squads

Volleyball teams from Central Valley and University mirror this year’s Greater Spokane League.

Four new coaches will debut with GSL teams. Two of them are at the Valley schools.

Bernie Hite, away from the sport since 1992, returns to Central Valley High on an interim basis.

Mike Welch, at University, is a head coach for the first time.

Coming off the strongest season top-to-bottom in GSL history, this year’s combination of new coaches and players promises to make the season something of a scramble.

The Bears have the most experience of the two Valley teams, but haven’t had a playoff appearance since 1991 and haven’t had a winning season since 1990.

U-Hi has made district playoffs four straight years and had winning records in the last three.

Gonzaga Prep, coached by Valley resident Steve Gillis, was undefeated league champion last year.

The Valley schools jump into the fire on Tuesday when CV hosts league favorite Ferris and the Titans entertain defending state champion North Central. Gonzaga Prep hosts Mead.

Smooth transition for Titan coach

The change in coaches from Rik Austing, who headed the U-Hi program for nine years, to newcomer Welch has gone smoothly.

“The transition has been surprisingly smooth,” said Welch. “The girls have been extremely receptive to trying new things.”

Eight of his 13 players are new to the varsity, including four juniors and a pair of sophomores.

Varsity veterans include seniors Jessica Cole, Sally Andresen, Gretchen Smith, Sarah Cheney and Jessy Spear.

Newcomers are seniors Jamie Schab, Jessica Thorn, juniors Brandi Cordoza, Jen Madsen, Kelly Pierce and Julia Yoke, and sophomores Angela McAuley and Allison Fryer.

“We’re working on ball control and transition elements,” said Welch. “A team that can’t control the ball won’t get it up to the net and crush it.”

The seniors bring experience and youngsters Madsen, McAuley and Fryer provide the Titans with size. “They’re looking at the game from a new point of view, I guess,” said Welch. “I wasn’t here last year.”

New CV coach changes old habits

Changing habits of veteran players for the sake of long-term improvement is the goal of Bear coach Hite.

“It’s been a drought for too long a time to expect a contender because of experience, although I’d like to think it can happen,” he said.

Seven players are back and a varsity spot awaits the eighth if Ginger Clark gets clearance to play. Clark broke an ankle in an auto accident during the summer and is still incapacitated.

Key veterans include seniors Crystal Lee, Jessica Sackman and junior Rikki Jackson. Sackman, last year’s setter, could join the other two as a hitter.

Other varsity returnees are Shannon Felgar, Alix Miller, defensive specialist Shannon Pierce and setter Sabrina Page.

Newcomers include Kim Allan, Stephanie Felice, Lori Knigge and Brook Asbury.

“They’ve had some good moments. The biggest thing was getting them used to me,” said Hite. “My biggest objective at this point is to teach them to be smarter, more effective players.”

Prep has tough act to follow

Trying to top last year’s act will be difficult for second-year Gonzaga Prep coach and Valley resident Steve Gillis.

In his first year with the Bullpups, Gillis guided the team to an unprecedented 16-0 league championship season.

“We’ve lost Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman,” Gillis quipped, explaining that seven quality seniors graduated.

Only returning starters are middle hitter/blocker Jennifer Williams and setter Story Tombari. Newcomer junior outside hitter Meghann Green has made an impact.

“After that it tails off substantially,” Gillis said.

Varsity returnees include senior outside hitter Brooke Egger and junior setter Erin Higgins. Newcomers are middles Mary Freuen, a junior, and Megan Fitzsimmons, a sophomore, junior setter Rose Sacco, outside hitters Kelly McGinty, a Liberty Lake senior, senior Lisa Boren, juniors Maggie Bruya and Christy Bloom.

“We might stumble a bit, especially the first half of the season until we figure out who we are as a team,” said Gillis.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo