Lady Lions Volleyball Team Starting New Year With New Coach

 Lady Lions girls volleyball coach Michael Loyd starts his first year with high expectations and a plan.

“My expectations are for us to do well,” Loyd said. “We’re going to play some huge defense. We’re really working a lot on communication and we have a good group of girls out here. We’d love to surprise everyone.”

Prior to being named head coach at East Loyd was an assistant at Ritenour High School. The new coach said the Gateway Athletic Conference North will be “tough as usual.” 

“We’re going to meet the challenge by being strong,” Loyd said on the conference.

East compiled a 13-16 record last year. Loyd said the goal for the 2011 campaign is to win 20 games.  

The Lady Lions return four seniors this year: Ellen Herbig, Cortney Staten, Michaela Kline, and Brandy Young. They return five juniors: Alison Trost, Teresa Vitale, Stephanie Schindler, Evonne Nasimiyu, and Brett Mische.  

Vitale will play setter this fall. Loyd said she played setter on the junior varsity team last year and is improving daily. Herbig will also play setter. Sophomore Christine Stratman will play setter on the junior varsity team and backup on the varsity team. 

Schindler will play defensive specialist and Trost and Kline will play middle hitter. Loyd said Trost “has improved tremendously over the summer.” 

“She’ll be a big go to hitter in our program,” Loyd said of Trost. “She’ll be a big player.” 

Young, a returning all-conference selection, and Nasimiyu will play outside hitter. Staten and Mische will play right-side hitter. Loyd said Young’s role will be simplified this year. 

“She ran a 6-2 and played outside,” Loyd said on Young’s role last year. “We’ve made things more simple. We want to get her the ball a lot more and that’s what we’ll do. She’s very much a leader and a great asset to the program.” 

Young started playing varsity volleyball as a freshman. 

“I’m so excited about this season,” Young said. “Coach Loyd has been working us hard. We’re looking forward to our first game. We’ve been working hard all summer.” 

The new coach said practices “have been excellent.” 

“The girls are buying in and working hard, especially on the defensive end.” he said. 

Loyd defines his style as “big defense and attacking everything.”  

“We’ll be putting a big attack on the ball,” he said. 

The Lady Lions start the 2011 campaign with a home effort at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 against Francis Howell Central.