The West Washington Senator Volleyball program, under the guidance of Samantha Green and her coaching staff, reached new heights this season, showcasing remarkable growth and resilience both on and off the court.
First year Coach Samantha Green: Samantha Green, the new West Washington volleyball coach, brings a wealth of experience and passion for the sport. Growing up in Northern Indiana, she was influenced by hall-of-fame coach Connie Garrett, her father, and high school coach Kyle Neukam, who all instilled a strong work ethic, competitive spirit, and leadership skills in her. She began coaching while playing collegiate volleyball at St. Catharine College and later coached at Paoli and Eastern High Schools. Samantha joined West Washington as a Kindergarten teacher and was drawn to coach the volleyball team to help develop young talent she had already worked with in club volleyball. Impressed by the supportive athletic community at West Washington, she values the collaborative efforts of the coaching staff and aims to inspire her players to love the game and persevere through challenges.
Program Growth: Reflecting on the program’s growth, Coach Green shared, “Senator Volleyball has grown fundamentally this year. Our program has transformed our athletes' mindset and determination to get better each practice and game. Our coaching staff developed drills that would push our athletes to compete in game situations, which ultimately led to our success throughout the season.”
Year Round Commitment: A key factor in this year’s progress was the involvement of 13 athletes from West Washington in the Voltage Club Volleyball program, which trained these athletes during the offseason. This commitment to year-round development helped align the feeder program with the high school program. According to Coach Green, “This shift in athletes competing in the off-season helped mold our vision for the feeder program, as well as the high school program.”
Summer Preparation: During the summer, the Senators sent 18 players to the Purdue Volleyball Camp, where they faced top-level competition. “They played prep schools as well as some of the best competition in the state. This shifted their mindset on wanting to be great and putting in more effort to make it happen,” said Coach Green.
Season Results: On the JV side, the Senators ended their season with a solid 12-11 record. The team showed grit and adaptability as they faced challenges like position changes, steadily improving throughout the season. The Varsity team, led by standout setter Emma Schmidt (who reached an impressive career milestone of 1,000 assists) finished the season with an 11-14 overall record and went 3-3 in conference play. The team peaked at the right time, playing their best volleyball during the tournament where they reached the sectional championship game defeating Henryville and three-time sectional champions Lanesville before ultimately falling to Christian Academy of Indiana.
Future Plans: “The players and coaches are already eager and looking forward to next season,” shared Coach Green. The program has big plans, including offseason clinics and open gyms, to continue fostering a competitive environment and building on the momentum of this season.
This is just the beginning for West Washington Volleyball, as the team looks to carry forward their commitment, competitive spirit, and drive for excellence into future seasons.
