GENTRY -- With a new coach and an energetic team, the Lady Pioneers are busy preparing for the upcoming volleyball season.
Greg Johnson, assisted by Lisa Suit, will coach the girls this fall. He is the first volunteer coach for the team but is certainly well-qualified for the position as both coach and teacher.
On Thursday, with him on one side of the net and his team on the other, he was giving his girls opportunity to practice saves, setting and spikes.
"I was the head coach at the Ambassadors for Christ Academy in Bentonville for 12 years," Johnson said. "I have also coached club volleyball at Ozark Juniors Volleyball and am a CAP I certified coach."
Johnson is also a certified teacher, though not on the paid staff of Gentry Schools.
Brian Little, athletic director for Gentry, called the appointment of Johnson to coaching duties for the girls' volleyball team as a volunteer a win-win for Gentry. The girls have a well-qualified and experienced coach and at no cost to the school district.
Johnson said he currently has about 15 girls out for the team but says that number might go up or down, depending on the status of a couple of players with injuries and a possible new transfer.
With a good number of seniors on the team this year, Johnson said the team's biggest strength this fall is the "level of confidence and mental control players have as they mature."
Johnson said his style of coaching will bring a few changes to the team.
"Of course, any time you have a coaching change, there will be some changes," Johnson said. "I run a little different defense and our offensive plays are based on a different system."
On the court, he said, the primary focus will be on an aggressive attack at all times.
Johnson said he and coach Suit are hoping "to start the process down at the eighth-grade level and build from there," giving younger players a good foundation in the game and making them even more prepared for their varsity years as Lady Pioneers.
Sports on 08/13/2014