OAKWOOD - Practice for the volleyball program at West Hall proceeds at a rapid pace, largely due to the insistence of coach Joe Nelson. So far, the eighth-ranked Lady Spartans (10-1, 1-1 Area 8-AAA) have responded with a sense of urgency on the court with the only loss on the season coming against No. 5 Oconee County on Tuesday.
"I try to keep everything in practice as game-like as possible," said Nelson, a 36-year coaching veteran. "You coach the game in parts and try to put it all together."
Nelson will do everything possible during practice to keep his girls on their toes. He'll chunk a ball over the net during drills unexpectedly to make sure the other side of the net is paying attention. Feedback from Nelson to his players during practice is regular and generally positive. But during matches, Nelson admits he'll get vocal. He says after such a long career, you develop a good set of lungs.
In the big picture, Nelson wants this West Hall team to stay on task because he knows its potential, which has rubbed off on the players who have been part of its nucleus since he took over the program in 2009.
"Our goal is to make the final four," said senior outside hitter Stephanie Rowland. "Coach Nelson said that we have a chance to win 30 matches."
Senior Tonya Bennett said they also hope to take the area title, which means knocking off Oconee County. The Lady Warriors were undefeated in 8-AAA last season, and still look to be a strong contender with their only two losses this season coming against top-ranked St. Pius X.
The Lady Spartans set a tone for the season during the first weekend with wins against Flowery Branch, Habersham Central and East Hall at the East Hall Community Center. The win against Flowery Branch was especially satisfying to Nelson since West Hall trailed the first game 10-1, before winning 25-23. The Lady Spartans went on to win the match in three games.
That match against Flowery Branch turned in the Lady Spartans' favor with solid serving and setting from Bennett and Laykin Herford, according to Nelson.
"That first weekend of the season really helped us set the bar for the season," Bennett said.
Another interesting characteristic of West Hall's team is that, for the most part, middle hitters and outside hitters are able to go both ways. Nelson said that is something that doesn't happen very often and is certainly a luxury to have. That versatility has also helped ease the transition with West Hall's top outside hitters, Julie Walsh and Gracie Allen, and libero Nicolette Ashley all graduated from last year's team.
Bennett says that the team's camaraderie together makes playing fun. They challenge each other to get better, but do it in a constructive manner. Any time there may be a disagreement, they sit down and work it out.
They say the need for strong chemistry started with Nelson.
"Coach Nelson lays down the line, but still makes it where we have fun playing," Bennett said.
If fact, Nelson is so confident in his senior leadership that he'll spend this afternoon scouting a future opponent, leaving team captains in charge of directing practice.
Bennett added that there is a strong bridge between the varsity and junior varsity program, hopefully making the jump for younger players less of a transition in coming years with West Hall's big sister/little sister program.
The seniors always make a point to talk to their little sisters in the hallways of the school, and always make themselves available if the younger players have any questions.
Nelson said the biggest issue standing in the way of his program's success is to cut down on self-inflicted mistakes, which popped up frequently in Tuesday's win against Johnson. If they can do that, the prospects for the rest of the season look pretty promising.
"We're a small team, but we're coming at you," Rowland said.