New coach makes history

By Ashley Craft

For the first time in Varina history, the boys varsity volleyball team has a female coach, exceptional education teacher Emily Mickelson. Although she is not new to coaching volleyball, she is new to coaching boys volleyball.

“It feels normal to me. I think the boys just had to get a little adjusted to it,” Coach Mickelson said.

Assistant varsity coach and JV coach Richard Catalano said he likes having a female coach.

“I think it’s good for the boys. They get a different perspective than what they’re used to,” Coach Catalano said.

He added that he hopes that he and Coach Mickelson can get the team to talk and to pass better.

“I think it will be interesting to see them grow as players,” Coach Catalano said.

Coach Mickelson said she hopes her team will do their best.

“I hope to change the whole feeling of being on the volleyball team,” Coach Mickelson said.

Junior libero Alex Colgin said, “Having a woman coach is really exciting.”

Alex also thinks Coach Mickelson will help the team out a lot.

“Last year we didn’t have a lot of rules and guidance, but she’s really strived [to make us] better,” Alex said.

“I hope the team learns to see the big picture of things and not that it’s just volleyball,” Coach Mickelson said.

Senior captain and setter Keith Dunkum said the coach helps them be a better team.

“At practices she tells us what we do wrong, so when game time comes around we learn from our mistakes, and we do better,” Keith said.