by Daisy Hodges
This Fall, we welcomed Coach Gia Saul into our community as the varsity volleyball coach.
Coach Saul first started her volleyball career in seventh grade at Ardsley Middle School. She liked the idea of everyone having their own role on the team, immediately loved the sport.
“I played modified that year, and then I never stopped,” she said.
Her volleyball career continued in college, where she played at SUNY-Cortland, later getting a degree in physical education. She currently teaches phys. ed. in another district.
Her coaching career started when she began helping out in volleyball clinics. Her favorite part of coach is watching as students recognize the progress they are making in the sport.
“I feel like my role is to allow them to see and pull out their true potential,” she said.
Her hopes for the team this year is to build the program, and keeping it consistent. She hopes to keep the modified, JV, and varsity teams all on the same page, preparing the modified and JV athletes for varsity as much as possible.
Seniors Lizzie Deyonker and Meika Tomita are the captains of the varsity team.
“Wonderful players, as well as wonderful people!” said Coach Saul, who said that each has helped her in many, even acting as unofficial assistant coaches.
“[They] will definitely leave two big holes in the team,” said Coach Saul.
