Equipped with new coaches, new skills, and a positive mindset, Warren Central Girls Volleyball is looking to make a comeback. After two tough seasons, the team entered the year with high hopes, and they’re carrying those hopes into the postseason.
The girls found it refreshing to have Debreonna Doss as their new head coach, as she was a junior varsity coach for the team in 2021. She also coached at a volleyball club for 11 years.
“My goal is to create a better team environment for the players and to reshape what has been done here,” Doss said at the start of the season.
Joining Doss was varsity assistant coach Dónala Arnold, JV head coach ShaTrice Graves, JV assistant coach Marcus Gates, freshman head coach Destiny Johnson and freshman assistant coach Hailey Petersen.
The team was excited about the new coaches and, despite a season that has not gone the way they had hoped, they have learned a lot from them. Players said the new coaches have created a good environment for them to learn and grow throughout the season.
“The way they coach and actually help us with our training, it’s far different than last year,” senior Ja’Niya Johnson said. “I’ve grown more this season because they help me, visually telling me how to do it, and they actually show me through film.”
The new coaches have not only helped the players with the sport of volleyball, but they have also taught the girls valuable lessons about perseverance and teamwork.
“I actually think they’re the best coaches I've ever had in any sports program, but they also teach us legitimate life lessons,” junior outside hitter Jocelyn Jordan said. “I’ve never been pushed this hard, and I can actually see improvement.”
The coaches and players alike have been putting their all into this season and working hard to bring home wins. According to the players, supporting each other and building relationships on and off the court has been crucial for their team to function and understand each other.
“We encourage each other on the court, give words of encouragement when we come together, and tell each other what we need to fix or correct to get to the next point,” junior back row player Giada Dufour said. “Off the court, the bench talks to the players on the floor cheers them on, lets them know where to place the ball on the other side to score.”
Senior Marlen Davalos is sad to be bringing her high school volleyball career to an end this year, but she said she is ready to pass the torch on to the new players. Before she does, though, she has her sights set on sectionals.
“We really need to use our quick plays and think smart on every move we do, because it’s one and done,” she said. “We have to fight to the end, and I really hope we do in order to keep moving forward.”