Still a student, new Carroll volleyball coach Valerie Wisner has Patriots on fast learning curve
RADNOR — New Archbishop Carroll volleyball coach Valerie Wisner is well aware that turning around a once great volleyball program that has fallen on hard times takes time and patience.
No matter how young or old, it’s not an easy task for a rookie coach. Especially one still taking undergraduate courses.
Wisner, hired by Carroll to head the volleyball program in June, is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Health & Sciences at Cabrini, where she played the sport for two years. She is less than 3½ years removed from Berks Catholic High School, where she won a PIAA Class AA championship in 2015. She was a defensive specialist during her playing days.
After two down seasons, the program at Carroll needed a fresh voice. After her athletic career was cut short, Wisner transitioned to coaching.
“I knew it was something I always wanted to do,” she said. “I wanted to use what I learned and impact young athletes a little more than what I was doing as an athlete.”
As a coach for the Synergy Volleyball Club in King of Prussia, her teams have played in multiple national tournaments. Wisner is grateful to have the opportunity to coach at the high school level at such a young age.
“Being a first-year coach and coming into a program that hasn’t been built yet, hasn’t been built from my background and where I come from as an athlete” is the most challenging aspect, Wisner said. “I’m kind of taking a lot of things that I learned from (Berks Catholic coach) Rick Fidler. I learned a lot from the seniors on that state championship team because I was only a freshman in 2015. This team shows a lot of heart and athletic spirit and that’s what’s I try to keep teaching the girls.”
The players have taken a strong liking to Wisner.
“At first we were getting used to her as a coach, but we are learning a lot from her,” said junior middle hitter Molly Kelly, who had a strong match in Tuesday’s thrilling 3-2 loss to Archbishop Wood.
Kelly is one of the building blocks for the Patriots, who have been trying to climb back to respectability in the Catholic League. It wasn’t long ago that the Patriots were the team to beat, winners of four consecutive PCL titles, a streak that ended in 2019.
Carroll is 4-3 in league play following its five-set defeat to Wood, which advanced to the Catholic League championship last season, falling to Cardinal O’Hara. O’Hara shut out Wood, 3-0, in a battle of PCL unbeatens last Thursday.
Carroll dominated the first set, 25-12, but Wood stormed back with a 25-14 win. The Patriots were victorious, 25-22, in a competitive third set, but it was all Wood the rest of the way. The Vikings won the fourth and fifth sets 25-12 and 15-9, respectively.
“Even though we lost today, it’s a boost to our confidence,” said Kelly, who finished with 12 kills and a team-high four blocks. “And we know we can play better.”
Wisner is hoping her players will learn how to recover from adversity in tight matches against excellent teams such as Wood. Tuesday’s match was a great learning experience.
“I think at the end of the day it comes down to unforced errors and communication. And that comes with mental experience,” Wisner said. “You know, I do have a young group of girls. I have two sophomores on the floor, I have only one senior. I put a freshman in the fifth set, so it’s a young group of girls and I don’t really know if they know how to mentally handle themselves during games. That’s what they’re slowly starting to learn.”
Junior outside hitter Maryrita Swope led all Patriots with 13 kills. Senior setter Maggie Quinn was outstanding on defense.
The Carroll volleyball team decorated the gym with pink balloons and craft paper in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The program raised $2,000 at the door. All proceeds will be donated to families that cannot afford breast cancer treatment.
