Sherry Nelson spends much of her practices drawing up scenarios. The first-year coach of Emporia High volleyball isn’t concerned as much about raw athletic ability as she is about her team’s ability to handle the mental side of the sport. During practice, she’ll split her squad and put them in mock score scenarios to emulate a match setting.
“Going out on the court and having the confidence level that they can work through anything, no matter what it is and come out on top,” Nelson said. “We need a lot of work in that area, and we are working on it.”
Nelson has coached the Spartans in the past. She took EHS to state seven times during a 10-year stint as coach. She left the post in 1996 to more closely follow her sons’ soccer careers, but returned to the job this summer. She is the Spartans’ fourth coach in four years, so her seniors have not worked with a coach for more than one year during their time at EHS.
One of those seniors is Lauren Longbine, who has verbally committed to Wichita State for next season. She was also recently named to the Under Armour All-American Watch List. Longbine committed to the Shockers in April, but won’t be able to officially sign until Nov. 10.
“I went on all my visits and stuff, both D-1 and D-2,” she said. “I went there. The coaches and the atmosphere, it was all just perfect for me, like the way they train their players. Because they’re going to redshirt me for a year, and then after that it’s just, the opportunity is to play. And be close to home but also be in a Top 25, D-1 program.”
Nelson noticed another side of Longbine’s game beyond her raw abilities on the first day of practice. The coach put her in a practice group with freshmen. With freshmen on the first day of practice, the drill naturally did not go as planned.
“She stayed positive and upbeat,” Nelson said. “And that’s absolutely what we need.”
The matter of who will be setting the ball to Longbine and the other Spartan attackers is not settled. Both Megan McRell, an All-Centennial League honorable mention setter last season, and Bailey Sosa are practicing at the position. Both have played setter throughout their careers.
In one of the team’s practice drills, the setters work just across from each other, each feeding an attacker on their side of the court. The wrinkle is that the attacker is standing on a chair and is thus unable to move around to forgive a less-than-ideal set.
Nelson said both McRell and Sosa have the capacity to run the team as she implements a more balanced offensive attack. While she works with both on improving their ability to read situations and opponents, the coach has yet to decide exactly how the players will be used during the season.
“People think that there might be drama between Megan and I,” Sosa said. “But Megan and I work so well together. We complement each other well. We set differently, but we both set very well and we know our hitters.”
The Spartans, who finished 17-22 last year, begin this season Sept. 7 at Washburn Rural.
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
I learned more from playing sports than 4 years of college. Some people say I played to much football with my helmet off but. that is neither here nor there. I like the style of this coach and I am going out on a limb and predicting she will make an All American out of miss Longbine. This is going to be a fun year for the community. THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON I WENT OUT ON A LIMB--THAT'S WHERE THE FRUIT IS.
August 28, 2010 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
tmi
August 28, 2010 at 6:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
reddog (K. B. Thomas Jr.) says...
Going out on a limb--that's where the fruit is--is and old Will Roger's quote. Good luck to the volleyball team and may you turn your intentions into reality. John Wooden, the great coach at UCLA said, "it's what you learn after you think you know it all, that really counts."
August 29, 2010 at 2:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )