New coach, new team, new year
“There is no crying in volleyball,” says interim coach Grant Barraclough of the women’s volleyball team. Coach Barraclough loves three things in this world God, family, and volleyball, and why wouldn’t he? By day he works at the hospital and by night is coaching volleyball, even with this great schedule he fits time in his day with his two sons who help him to become better from day to day.
This archived article was written by: Chase Adams
“There is no crying in volleyball,” says interim coach Grant Barraclough of the women’s volleyball team. Coach Barraclough loves three things in this world God, family, and volleyball, and why wouldn’t he? By day he works at the hospital and by night is coaching volleyball, even with this great schedule he fits time in his day with his two sons who help him to become better from day to day.
There are always struggles at the beginning of a new season, you have new members of the team, and in the case of Utah State University College of Eastern Utah a new head coach as well. This might cause stress for a normal man, leave room for doubt, but Barraclough is excited for the new adventure.
He says, “This year’s team is very hard working. They have come together in a very short time. I expect great things from them this year. It’s nice to have six players returning. They bring good experience to the table and have taken all the new girls under their wings.”
With experienced players coming back, it’s a great opportunity for the younger, or new players to get a feel for the team. Some members of the team have commented on how impressed they were with this year’s team, he said.
The season started off with Eastern Utah battling top-ranked opponents in the Twin Falls, Idaho “Let’s Get Started Tournament,” The play was extremely competitive as the number one, third and fourth ranked teams defeated USU-CEU, as reported on the CEU athletic website. Their only win came against Powell, Wyoming’s Northwestern College.
In the tournament CEU beat Northwest College, Wyo., three games to two and losing their last four. The team is averaging 3.6 blocks per game, and 207 kills.USU-CEU collected their second win against an all-star team made up of former Eastern Utah players at home the following weekend.
This weekend, the team travels to Arizona to participate in the Scottsdale Classic.
In the next month and a half, the volleyball them has five home games and would love the support of the student body, it’s where a team gains strength and performs at their best, Coach Barraclough says as a student body we also grow in unity and pride for our great team of the 2010-2011 season. So come out and support the Eagles volleyball team and root them on to a great season, he added.
Diana Phillips a USU-CEU student is excited for the change. She has watched the team in past years and said, “As an assistant coach Barraclough did a great job,” and is expecting great things from him as a head coach. Students all over campus are excited for the new year and changes to USU-CEU from their name to volleyball.
So what can we say about our new coach? He is a devoted family man who loves volleyball and cares for each teammate as a person and is helping each girl do better each game, giving them all experience, helping them learn one from another, and growing as a team.
