New coach institutes old school philosophy

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley-Swan High School 2010 graduate Janelle Greenwood is the new volleyball head coach. Greenwood returned to Seeley Lake after 10 years in Alaska.

During her time in Alaska, Greenwood was the head coach of the Cordova Junior Senior High School Volleyball team for nine years. While she was head coach, the team qualified for state six times and won the state tournament in 2015.

Greenwood was offered the head volleyball coach in Alaska after her team won the volleyball tournament as part of the area Iceworm Festival held each year in February.

"It's kind of like a big celebration that you survived the darkness because you start gaining daylight again," Greenwood said. Area residents compete in various activities and tournaments such as dodgeball, basketball and volleyball, along with oyster shucking competitions.

At first, she declined the coaching position.

"I got talked into going to an open gym and the rest was history," Greenwood said. "I don't regret it. It was awesome."

Since there was an open position for the SSHS volleyball coach, Greenwood applied.

She has started the volleyball season with double practices leading up to district play which starts Aug. 25. The first varsity match is home against Alberton. Some of the players have asked Greenwood if she was in the military. Her response was no, this is just called structure.

"I'm really looking forward to the growth that they're going to find individually that will help us as a team," Greenwood said. "There is a ton of talent with just athletic ability. I'm looking forward to them finding their own individual roles, really hoping to boost their confidence, obviously as volleyball players, but especially as just people."

The team boasts seven seniors: Dani Sexton, Trista Alexander, Ava Thornsberry, Kyla Conley, Cora Stone, Madison DeBernardi and Tru Good.

Right now, the players are working to find their individual voices and find a tempo with each other, Greenwood said.

Swing players are sophomores Aubrey Mathew, Rilyn Richardson and Amaiya Dalrymple. There is potential for Juniors Hattie Batchelder and Kristen Pearson.

There is also a strong freshman core consisting of Kendall Genson, Kaycee Salter, Darby Gleason and Kilty Hanson for the Junior Varsity squad, Greenwood said.

Alyssa Harris is returning as assistant coach.

"She has knowledge of the district for us," Greenwood said. "She has a lot of expertise in the back row. She played at Hellgate when she was in high school, she was a defensive specialist. So that'll be a big tool for us to use."

The Lady Blackhawks will be serving up the season opener against Alberton at home Thursday, Aug. 25 starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by a tournament in Philipsburg Saturday morning starting at 8:30 a.m.