By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
DAYTON, Ore.– First year Dayton Head Coach Sam Alexander knew walking in that she’ll have her hands full taking over the Pirates Volleyball program.
The Dayton program has been on the up-and-up through the past four years, capping it with their first trip to the Final Site since 2000 last season. Mix in a solid core returning this year, having graduated four seniors from their roster last Fall, Alexander knows the potential is there for a possible return trip to the Elite 8 this season.
“I’m coming into a program that the foundation is clearly is there and the girls have a lot of heart and have a lot of talent. They want to work, which is amazing to come into. I could’ve asked for a better program to walk into,” said Alexander. “There is a lot of pressure on me with it being my first time as a Head Coach and coming into a program that’s really successful. The girls and I have already talked, and they are hungry for it off that little taste, so I’m excited to keep building off that and really work hard on that.”
Summer League, Team Camp, Kids Camp, all things this Summer that have helped the new Head Coach to get to know her new team and vica versa.
“(Summer League) was an opportunity for me to see them play. I’m just excited. They have an immense amount of talent. They coach each other on the court, and as a coach, you couldn’t ask for anything more. They know they got the Volleyball IQ and when to do certain things, they know how to hold each other accountable, and it’s great,” said Alexander. “Pacific (University) hosted a team camp for us,which was awesome. We got to learn a lot, and the girls got to learn from a collegiate level coach. It was big for the momentum of the progrsm to start with a really good team camp at Pacific.”
The Pirates open the season at Santiam in Mill City for a jamboree on August 28 before heading to Valley Catholic for their first game of the season on August 29.
