First-year coach Marissa Wilcox has high hopes for the Danville volleyball program, and she hopes a new outlook and joy will fuel the program.
“I'm excited for this year. I've got a really talented set of athletes, and I'm excited to see what they're capable of,” Wilcox said.
In her first year coaching at the varsity level, and her first year with Danville, Wilcox will rely on past experience as a guide in leading the Blue Devils.
“My coaching philosophy stems from one of my high school coaches who helped me love volleyball again after a negative experience,” Wilcox said. “I value their needs as humans over my expectation of them to perform.”
In that same vein, she wants her athletes to value team success over individual success.
“One of my favorite things they say in times we need extra energy is 'mudita,'” Wilcox said. “The definition is unselfish joy, but they use it to help them remember to want good things to happen for their teammates more than good things to happen for themselves.”
The Blue Devils are looking to build on last year’s 6-11 season (4-8 KMAC). in which they were outscored 297-254, with a young coach and a new philosophy.
Wilcox is focused on the future of the volleyball program without regard to what’s happened in the past.
“Being new to the program, I can't speak for last year. However, I've already seen the seniors step up in huge ways for the team,” Wilcox said. “They are all great leaders, and I'm excited to watch them continue to develop their leadership skills and learn to mesh as a team.”
Seniors Tessa Ferenbaugh, Shy Thomas, Taryn Mickley, Sophia Snively, Leigh Johnson, Shelby Colopy and Wryn Miller form the core of the Blue Devils' volleyball program this fall.
“Our theme for this year is commitment, which we apply to everything we do,” Wilcox said. “Commit to doing your best, having fun, pushing through that last sprint, showing up for one another.”
On the court, the Blue Devils will employ one of the most popular offenses in volleyball, the 6-2. This scheme utilizes six hitters – two outsides, two middles and two right-side hitters – and two setters. The setters get substituted out when they go to the front row, and a right-side hitter replaces each
“We run a 6-2 because it allows us the best use of both our setters and several hitters,” Wilcox said.
The Lady Blue Devils opened the season with a 3-0 loss to Columbus Academy and followed with a 3-1 win over Central Christian. The Lady Blue Devils host Centerburg on Aug. 25 in their first KMAC game.
