A first-year coach and a young team are slowly but surely coming together at Trinity Christian School.
Jenna Livers, the new volleyball coach at TCS, takes over a program that won two matches last season and returns just one senior.
“Once we win three games, we are celebrating really hard,” Livers, a senior at WVU, said with a laugh. “I’m very hopeful for this season. We have 10 girls that want to play, and I would rather have that than a bunch of experienced players that aren’t excited about playing.”
While the Warriors are light on veteran experience, as outside hitter Lilly Burrell is the only senior, they do return six other sophomores who all played last season.
“I do feel a little pressure about being a leader,” Burrell said. “But I think everyone is doing a really good job of not letting their inexperience scare them.”
Livers came to TCS after meeting athletic director Codey Horton at a Young Life meeting. The two got to know one another and it was Horton who approached Livers about the Warriors’ volleyball job.
“I got a call from Cody, and he asked if I would be interested in the job,” Livers said. “He knew I played volleyball, and I am excited about this opportunity.”
The Chapel Hill, N.C. native played some volleyball in high school and was a competitive diver for a while in California. Now, she is mentoring a Warriors team that Livers said she thinks is going to surprise some of its competitors this season.
“I think we can definitely make a run,” Livers said. “I think right now, this team just isn’t super confident. They are all hungry and they just wan to play and win.”
That winning could start with a change in position for sophomore Emma Jenkins. She has played outside hitter in the past but has moved two the middle recently and according to Livers, she has been “killing it.”
Burrell and sophomore Luciana Citerone are slated to begin the year as outside hitters while sophomore Arlie Humphrey and freshman Sydney Baston are both expected to play on the back row. Lydia Knight, a sophomore, will be the setter for the Warriors.
“We just have to keep staying positive and have confidence, even if we lose a set,” Livers said. “That will probably be our biggest struggle this year.”
Livers said the Warriors have five people who can fill in as middle or outside hitters right now while Knight is going to play all over the floor as the setter and the team will not utilize a libero at this team.
“Everyone seems to be comfortable with playing the back row,” Livers said.
The big key for this team will be figuring out where everyone meshes well as Rylan Sharp, another sophomore, could also play the middle spot and that would move Jenkins back outside.
“I’m pretty confident we are going to win more than two games,” Livers said. “I think we are going to win a good bit.”
Burrell said that the Warriors might not win a state title this season, but she said she is looking forward to leaving her legacy on the TCS volleyball program.
“I think it would be a really good thing for this year to be a building block for the next few years,” Burrell said. “If we can get some wins under out belt, this could be the start of something for the program.”
Trinity opens its season on Aug. 25 when it plays Notre Dame.
By ERIC HERTER
TWEET @DomPostSports
