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For the past two weeks, William Chrisman volleyball coach Vanessa Jones has been in the stands at Lee’s Summit North High School, watching her former senior standouts coach the Bears.
“The girls did a great job, but it’s great to be back on the bench coaching,” Jones said as she returned to her coaching position in the third week of the six-week summer league.
High school coaches cannot work with their respective teams until school is out, and because of all the snow days accumulated in Independence, Jones had to turn the coaching responsibilities over to former Bears players.
“I was in the stands, taking notes, using my cell phone to record different thoughts on the girls, things like that,” Jones said, “but it just feels so great to be back with the team.”
The Lee’s Summit North Summer Volleyball League offers games for varsity and junior varsity teams, and Jones said she has spent much of her time with the varsity players.
“If we’re not playing, and the junior varsity team is playing I’ll got watch the JV girls,” she said. “But I have great junior varsity coaches, and I know they’re doing a great job with the girls.
“I think the girls’ expectations will be a little bit different with me on the bench. Even though they knew I was in the stands watching them, it will be different with me on the bench. I’m just happy the two weeks where we had to finish the snow days are over, and I can be back with the team.”
Truman coach Denise Craig is also looking forward to being back with her team, although she missed Tuesday night’s session to be with her father for his 78th birthday in St. Louis.
“You know how much I love my girls, love coaching and love being a part of Truman High School,” Craig said in a phone conversation from St. Louis. “But there are just some things you have to do – and it was my dad’s 78th birthday, and I had to be there.
“We recently lost my mom, and it was important that I be there with my dad. I’m a St. Louis girl – although my heart’s in Independence now – and I really enjoyed being with my dad.
“Besides, I have the best assistants in the world. Anita Volskay and Kelli Penner will do a great job with the girls. I have all the confidence in the world in Anita and Kelli.”
For the past two weeks, William Chrisman volleyball coach Vanessa Jones has been in the stands at Lee’s Summit North High School, watching her former senior standouts coach the Bears.
“The girls did a great job, but it’s great to be back on the bench coaching,” Jones said as she returned to her coaching position in the third week of the six-week summer league.
High school coaches cannot work with their respective teams until school is out, and because of all the snow days accumulated in Independence, Jones had to turn the coaching responsibilities over to former Bears players.
“I was in the stands, taking notes, using my cell phone to record different thoughts on the girls, things like that,” Jones said, “but it just feels so great to be back with the team.”
The Lee’s Summit North Summer Volleyball League offers games for varsity and junior varsity teams, and Jones said she has spent much of her time with the varsity players.
“If we’re not playing, and the junior varsity team is playing I’ll got watch the JV girls,” she said. “But I have great junior varsity coaches, and I know they’re doing a great job with the girls.
“I think the girls’ expectations will be a little bit different with me on the bench. Even though they knew I was in the stands watching them, it will be different with me on the bench. I’m just happy the two weeks where we had to finish the snow days are over, and I can be back with the team.”
Truman coach Denise Craig is also looking forward to being back with her team, although she missed Tuesday night’s session to be with her father for his 78th birthday in St. Louis.
“You know how much I love my girls, love coaching and love being a part of Truman High School,” Craig said in a phone conversation from St. Louis. “But there are just some things you have to do – and it was my dad’s 78th birthday, and I had to be there.
“We recently lost my mom, and it was important that I be there with my dad. I’m a St. Louis girl – although my heart’s in Independence now – and I really enjoyed being with my dad.
“Besides, I have the best assistants in the world. Anita Volskay and Kelli Penner will do a great job with the girls. I have all the confidence in the world in Anita and Kelli.”
Craig wasn’t the only Patriot to miss the third week of the summer league.
“We have four girls on a band trip in (the Bahamas). So we don’t even have a complete team,” she said. “We’re so young this year, but we’re going to have fun.
“One of my freshmen texted me and told me that she’s just been measured in her vertical jump – and it was 24 inches. She was so excited, that I got excited for her. They are all so thrilled about the upcoming season and so excited to be a part of this team. They have a lot to learn, and they can’t wait to get started.”
In Oak Grove, Grain Valley volleyball coach Keri Peterson is evaluating her Eagles team.
“I love the summer leagues because they give you an opportunity to play different girls in different positions and evaluate your team,” Peterson said. “We lost three seniors and (junior outside hitter) Megan Epping is coming off knee surgery and (senior middle hitter) Elise Gouldsmith is going to have an MRI on her shoulder. So we don’t really know what their status will be once the season starts.
“But we have more depth this year than any other team I’ve had at Grain Valley. And that creates a lot of competition. We’re working with different lineups, and you can tell the girls are really excited about the upcoming season.”
