THE SPORTS DESK
Prep Volleyball Notepad: Winless Drifters buoyed by progress
Colonial Beach needed a new volleyball coach this season, and when it became difficult to find one, assistant athletic director Chase Davidson volunteered for the position.
Davidson knew what he was getting himself into. He knew the Drifters had struggled through a 2–18 season last year, and he knew the road this year was sure to have its bumps.
Even though Colonial Beach (0–11) is winless this year, Davidson has been inspired by his team’s grit, as well as the potential of its JV team.
“I was telling my wife, it’s kind of like how you sometimes have to make a bigger mess of the house before you can clean it up,” Davidson said.
Davidson had never been a volleyball coach before, but he learned about the sport from his friend Dave McGee, who coaches the powerful program at Bath County High School.
First, he set out to change the culture. For the first time, the Drifters held a team camp last summer. They’ve also traveled to volleyball matches at the University of Virginia, and on Oct. 13 they will hold a clinic for young players in the area. They even purchased new uniforms.
“The varsity has improved as the season has progressed,” Davidson said. “Before, it was just, ‘Hey, let’s get it over the net.’ Now we’re starting to place the ball in different parts of the court. They’re starting to understand different parts of the game.”
Last year, Davidson said, there were just 12 players between JV and varsity. This year that number has increased to 20. There is just one senior on the varsity team, and the JV team has won two matches.
“No one likes to lose,” Davidson said. “But at the same time, we’re going out with the mindset that even if we’re losing, we’re improving.”
Colonial Beach faces Rappahannock on Tuesday.
—Adam Himmelsbach
