Staff writer
Marion High School’s new head volleyball coach, Brea Campbell, has been busy acclimating herself this summer to her new town and her new team.
“I’ve never been here,” she said. “I didn’t know anyone from here. I just had never really heard about it.”
So far, the transition has gone well. She’s excited for the year, and her team’s promise is a significant part of that.
“They came out and surprised me,” Campbell said. “I’m pretty pumped to coach these girls. They’re gonna do good things this year.”
Campbell played volleyball at Salina South High School and said she received scholarship offers to continue in college, but a shoulder injury prohibited her from doing so.
The position is her first time coaching volleyball. She said she’ll call on the wisdom of the coaches she had in high school to inform her coaching style.
“I had some really awesome coaches when I was at South High, Mary Pat Weiss and Krissy Fritz, they were outstanding coaches and I loved having them,” she said. “They were hard on us, and they wanted us to be the best that we could be. That’s kind of what I’m trying to do with the girls as well.”
She said one of the main things she’ll focus on is serving.
“The girls know I hate missed serves,” she said.
Campbell inherits a loaded senior class, headlined by setter Kirsten Hansen, who was sidelined for early practices last season as she recovered from surgery to repair a torn ACL.
Marshelle Mermis, Bailey Robson, Erika Hess, Elizabeth Meyer, and Emily Schneider also return as seniors.
A junior class of Shelby Felvus, Marissa Jacobson, and Falon Crawford will contribute. Even sophomore Kourtney Hansen figures to factor in prominently.
The Lady Warriors lost only two players to graduation, middle blocker Julia Hall and hitter Sam Davies.
“It’s pretty much a spread out dynamic,” Campbell said. “I’m really looking forward to the year, I think we’re gonna do really well.”