Rookie coaches take over

Ron Counts
Published: August 16, 2008

The opening of Eastern View High School marks the beginning of a new chapter in Culpeper’s history. For the first time, loyalties may be divided between the new Cyclones and the familiar Blue Devils from CCHS.

Even if they become the bitterest of rivals, this year the volleyball teams at EVHS and CCHS will share more than just the love of an in-your-face spike because both teams have head coaches that are brand new to their teams, and to being head honchos at the varsity level.

At last year’s new teacher orientation at CCHS, Chris White sought out Athletic Director Billy Thornhill and told him that he wanted to be involved in the volleyball program in any way possible. So, he ended up as the volunteer coach of the freshman volleyball team — which was in its first year of existence.

“We started from scratch so it was a little tough,” White said. “But I think the experience I’ve had from being on the court and seeing so many different players gives me an advantage at any level.”

After just one year as the freshman coach, the 32-year-old Syracuse N.Y. native is now the new head coach of the CCHS varsity squad.

He’s no stranger to being at the helm of successful programs — having coached undefeated middle school teams in N.C. — and the difference between his coaching philosophies and the former coaching staff’s are apparent.

“Some days we don’t even touch a volleyball, we just focus on conditioning,” CCHS senior Megan Chamberlin said. “We’re expecting to win more this season because our team chemistry is so much better now.”

Conditioning is a big part of EVHS rookie head coach Betty Jo Utz’s strategy as well. She’s striving to break what she sees as a stereotype of volleyball players.

“My thing is if you’re an athlete you’re an athlete,” Utz said. “In order to be an athlete you need to be in condition no matter what sports you play. People think in high school volleyball you don’t have to be in shape, but you obviously do because you’re constantly up and down at the net and you’re always playing five games.”

The Cyclones have spent quite a bit of time working on their conditioning, and it was apparent in their first scrimmage against Luray. After EVHS won the final match of the game, Luray’s coach had some encouraging words for the Cyclones and their 24-year-old coach.

“The coach told me that if there was one thing she could say it was that my girls were scrappy,” said Utz, who is a special education teacher at Floyd T. Bins Middle School. “I told the girls that I don’t care if that’s all I ever hear from a coach. The girls never gave up, and they all said they won the last match because they were better conditioned than the other team.”

Utz knows a thing or two about being an athlete, having grown up in Madison playing volleyball, softball and basketball before going on to Randolph Macon College in Ashland to pursue softball. Utz’s knowledge of the game isn’t lost on her players.

“She’s played the game herself,” EVHS co-captain senior Shelly Rossi said of coach Utz. “She knows what to expect, how to push us and how to motivate us to improve.”

While conditioning seems to be the mainstay of both coaches early season programs, team building has been a major component of their training sessions as well.

The Devils have spent entire practices in classroom settings getting to know one another and setting team and individual goals.

“We’re trying to building camaraderie,” White said. “The more the girls no each other, the more they will trust one another. Then success will come.”

The Cyclones have done slightly more physical activities to build chemistry. With Utz at the head of the line the team has taken time out of several practices to do Indian runs — which forces the team to work together by setting a common pace while running in a single file line.

“With an Indian run you can’t really have someone running faster or slower than everyone else,” Utz said. “The team has to work together to compensate for each other strengths and weaknesses.”

CCHS and EVHS will meet on the court on Aug. 26 and then again on Aug. 28. Both coaches know there will be plenty of added motivation to come out on top in both games.

“I can tell there’s a little rivalry forming,” White said. “The girls love the girls they played with last year, but they definitely want to beat them.”

Utz agrees that the possibility of there being a rivalry is pretty likely, and she added it could be just what both schools need.

“I hope there is a rivalry,” she said. “A lot of times high school rivalries are the best things for the players, the schools and for the entire community.”

Ron Counts can be reached at 825-0771 ext. 166 or

            Blue Devilettes Schedule
Date         Opponent             Time
August 21         at Courtland   7 p.m.
August 26         Eastern View           7 p.m.
August 28         at Eastern View 7 p.m.
September 2       Liberty             7 p.m. 
September 3       at Battlefield 7 p.m.   
September 9       at Osbourn           7 p.m.   
September 11     Fauquier           7 p.m. 
September 13     at Waynesboro TBA  
September 16     Stonewall Jackson 7 p.m. 
September 18     Osbourn Park 7 p.m. 
September 23       Loudoun Valley       7 p.m. 
September 25       at Liberty           7 p.m. 
September 30       Battlefield           7 p.m. 
October 2           Osbourn           7 p.m. 
October 7         at Fauquier           7 p.m. 
October 9         at Stonewall Jackson   7 p.m. 
October 14         at Osbourn Park 7 p.m. 
October 16         at Loudoun Valley 7 p.m.

                Cyclones Schedule
Date         Opponent           Time
August 18           Louisa           7 p.m.
August 23           William Monroe Inv. TBA
August 26           at Culpeper           7 p.m.
August 28           Culpeper           7 p.m.
September 2         at Louisa           7 p.m.
September 9         at Spotsylvania 7 p.m.
September 11       Caroline           7 p.m.
September 16       at King George 7 p.m. 
September 18       James Monroe 7 p.m. 
September 23       at Chancellor 7 p.m. 
September 25       Courtland           7 p.m. 
October 2           Spotsylvania 7 p.m. 
October 7           at Caroline           7 p.m. 
October 9           King George 7 p.m. 
October 14         at James Monroe 7 p.m. 
October 16         Chancellor           7 p.m.
October 21 at Courtland 7 p.m.

CCHS boasts experience
The Culpeper County High School volleyball team has a coach in Chris White, who is coaching at the high school level for the first time, and the Devilettes are coming off a two-win season in 2007. But the 2008 CCHS squad might have more reason to be optimistic about its chances than in recent years.

Despite the new school in town, the Devilettes return a handful of contributors off last year’s team. That list includes junior Megan Chamberlin, who is a two-time All-Cedar Run District player on the front line, and seniors Emily Watkevich, Danielle Cooper and Kaitlin Carver. Juniors Kelly Dubell and Kara Connolly were also among the top players at CCHS last season.

“We have a lot of returners from last year,” White said. “Which is good. We just want to do a little refining with them. Rather than me learning the system myself and having fresh meat that would have to learn it also, we have some people with experience here and what I don’t know they can help me out with and I can bring my past experiences and make them better.”

The Blue Devilettes will play in a challenging Cedar Run District, but they are expecting to build on the pair of wins they picked up in the early season last year.

“We know that we have a disadvantage because the other schools have middle school programs and we don’t,” White said. “As a minimum we’re going to try and win our home games.”

– Shane Mettlen

EVHS has a clean slate
What can you say about a team that’s in its first year of existence? There’s nothing to build on from last year because there was no last year. In fact, one might say the EHVS volleyball team has a clean slate.

“It’s nice because everything around us is brand new,” EVHS junior Samantha Carlson said. “It’s a whole new look at everything. Getting to start brand new, it’s like we get to write our own history.”

At first glance the Cyclones’ roster seems to be full of experience, boasting four seniors. However, only one of those seniors, co-captain Ashleigh Johnson, has starting experience at the varsity level.

“Ashleigh is a really well-rounded athlete,” EVHS head coach Betty Joe Utz said. “The girls respect her and look up to her.”

Even though this will be her first year on a varsity team, senior Shelly Rossi was voted as a co-captain because of her considerable experience with the Culpeper Volleyball Club.
“She’s a great player, so she develops respect in that way,” Utz said of Rossi. “She really takes on a lot of leadership role on the team.”

The Cyclones have their work cut out for them playing in the tough Battlefield district with such an inexperienced team, but Utz feels comfortable with the progress her team has made.

“We have our rotation implemented and we have all the bases down, which makes me pretty confident,” she said. “We just need to keep working together as a team and keep getting used to each other.”

– Ron Counts