By: Tyler Push, Sports Editor
Newman recently hired Marisa Compton to be its next head women’s volleyball coach. She replaces Jose Lugo, who took an assistant position at Temple University.
Compton was the head coach at Neosho County Community College the past two seasons, where she led the team to third and fourth place finishes in the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.
“Just from watching them play, I think this is a program that has a lot of potential, and I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of rebuilding programs,” Compton said. “I’m looking to continue improving on what they did last year and make it to the MIAA conference tournament.”
The Jets finished with a 9-17 record last season, one win shy from making the playoffs.
Compton said that she is most excited to get in the gym and be able to work with the players.
“We don’t have as much size as some of the other teams in the conference, so we need to figure out what our strengths are and how we can use those to our advantage,” Compton said.
Freshman outside hitter Riley Daugherty said that she is excited to get things started with the new coach.
“I am hopeful that she can come in and really push us to the next level,” Daugherty said. “We lost a lot of close games this last season, so I’m hoping that she can work out some of the more technical things with us and start converting those close games into wins.”
Compton said that the MIAA is obviously a tough conference but that she is up to the test.
“One thing that I try to implement with the team is discipline and structure,” Compton said. “I want to bring competitiveness because I think that is what makes sports fun.”
Newman Volleyball plans to begin practice for next season next week.
PHOTO: Courtesy Photo, Newman Athletics
