Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
That's what Patrick Henry's volleyball team faced after coach Penny Williams resigned to take a similar job with Cave Spring, the Patriots' biggest rival.
Left behind were Becca Hogan, Allison Suggs and five other returning seniors who hoped to pick up where last year's team left off, with a loss in the Northwest Region.
``We definitely felt we were the favorites [in the Roanoke Valley District]. A lot of us have played a lot of volleyball,'' said Hogan, an outside hitter.
The Patriots finished second to Franklin County's senior-dominated team in the RVD in 1994. This year, Patrick Henry and Cave Spring are the top two contenders in the district..
During the summer, the story broke that Williams was leaving and the Patriots were left searching for a coach. In stepped Marty Swan, who four years ago hadn't even dreamed of playing volleyball, much less coaching it.
``I was a ski instructor in Pennsylvania. That's where I found out I liked working with people,'' said Swan, who also is a senior majoring in materials engineering at Virginia Tech.
``When I got to Tech, I started playing volleyball on a [men's] club team for one year. Then I coached the junior varsity team at Blacksburg.''
Without Swan, the loss of Williams might have ruined all of PH's plans for recapturing its place at the top of the district.
``I was at Governor's Summer School in Williamsburg when the story broke [of Williams leaving],'' said Suggs. ``She wanted to call me, but my mother wouldn't let her.''
Suggs, who did not find out about the coach's departure until she returned home, responded emotionally.
``I was crying. I'm not sure whether it was from being upset about Coach Williams leaving or about what would happen to the team in my senior year.''
Hogan had had an inkling that something was up before the announced departure.
``She never came right out and said anything, but by her actions in the spring, I could tell something was different,'' said Hogan.
So it was a matter of getting a coach to continue Williams' tradition.
``Through all of Coach Williams leaving, I don't think Marty gets enough credit. As for our team, everyone gets along and there's a lot of team unity. I don't think anyone is in this for personal glory. Last year, we had some problems with team unity or we could have been as good as Franklin County,'' said Hogan.
Swan was almost hand-picked to follow Williams. He had worked with many of the PH players in the Junior Olympics. ``Some of the parents of the senior players called me and asked me to apply,'' said Swan.
He received an interview. ``I was real honest with them about my philosophy. First and foremost, we want a good set of student athletes and citizens, who make good grades. Then we want sound fundamentals while playing the game,'' said Swan.
After the interview, Swan admits he wasn't certain he'd take the job. ``It was my senior year at Tech and I was skeptical about the distance from Blacksburg,'' he said. ``I drove in from Blacksburg and sat outside the gym about 11 p.m. one night thinking about it. That's when I decided this was what I wanted to do.''
Swan has placed an emphasis on strengthening the Patriots' defense. It's designed to covers some weaknesses that other teams try to exploit on a high school level.
Will Swan have a career in coaching and give up using his engineering degree? ``I'd like to continue to coach, here if possible,'' he said. But he said it will have to be on a part-time basis since he plans to enter the engineering field.
Patrick Henry, 10-1 overall, 6-0 in the RVD heading into the week, has beaten the Knights twice - once at the Albemarle Invitational and again in the first district meeting between the two at the Patriots' gym. PH lost to Albemarle in the finals of the tournament right after the emotional victory over Cave Spring.
``I think it was great for us, it helped to get us up,'' said Hogan about playing Cave Spring the first weekend of the season.
``I think it helped both teams,'' added Suggs. ``We were so up when we found out we were playing Cave Spring.''
Williams didn't forget her old team. ``She called me after we lost to Albemarle and congratulated us [on the Cave Spring game]. I was especially close to her. I felt she was much my friend as my coach,'' said Suggs.
When the Knights and the Patriots played their second game, the gym at Patrick Henry was nearly full, which is unusual for a volleyball game.
``We offered free admission to any PH fall athlete and had great support. The girls' tennis team showed up in their uniforms. The booster club helped. Having people there helped get the intensity level up,'' said Suggs.
Both Hogan and Suggs plan to play volleyball in college and major in some kind of engineering. Hogan is tops in kills for PH as an outside hitter and also has a lot of digs. Suggs leads in assists and is third on the team in kills.
Suggs made a list of engineering school from Pennsylvania to Georgia that will allow her to play volleyball. Tech is not that list.
Hogan is looking at Princeton, Johns Hopkins, Duke and Virginia. She has been contacted by the Cavaliers.
Despite Williams' departure, the Patriots' story might be headed to a happy ending. With Swan at the helm and players like Suggs and Hogan, Patrick Henry has a good chance at a dream season.
Memo: NOTE: Also ran in October 12, 1995 Neighbors.