NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffAlumniAdvancement
Girls volleyball: Building an “ace” program
Sep 2, 2004 8:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
When Jim Linos began coaching volleyball at Darlington in 2000, the net system was jimmied together with wire and prayer and the uniforms did not fit. Five years later, the wise use of budget funds and the move to A.J. Huffman ’67 Memorial Athletic Center (equipped with new net systems) have produced a sharp program, according to Linos.
“The players feel like they are a legitimate state-level program that can keep competing at a high level every year, not an athletic afterthought,” he said.
Which is exactly right – Darlington’s varsity volleyball team is a state-level program, literally. With over 10 years of coaching experience under his belt, Linos has led the team to the State Playoffs twice during the past four years.
In 2000, Darlington was able to defeat Chapel Hill, the No. 1 seed, in the Area 3AA/A Tournament to go to the AA/A State Playoffs. The team had finished its regular season in the Area at 6-2 and felt good about finishing third. After losing their first match of the day against the No. 6 seed, the Lady Tigers would be going through the losers’ bracket.
“Thus, the Chapel Hill match was the fifth straight match we had to play that day, and we were on auto pilot, not caring whom we were playing and just winning game after game and match after match,” recalled Linos. “Boy, we almost didn’t know what had happened after the last match; we were so tired. But, once the realization dawned on us, it was an unbelievable feeling to know we were one of the best eight teams in the state at our classification.”
Darlington had another big win in 2003 against No. 3 state-ranked Savannah Christian in the Savannah Country Day Tournament. The Lady Tigers had begun the season 28-0, the fourth-best in state history. The team won the first match on Friday night before losing a controversial first match of the season against Savannah Country Day.
“Our final pool play match against Savannah Christian wasn’t even a contest. We had lost two in a row, finishing play on Friday night at 1-2, giving us a low seed on Saturday morning for the double-elimination tournament,” said Linos.
Struggling to beat their first round opponent, Cavalry Baptist, with everybody still recovering from the previous night’s play, Darlington pulled through in the rematch against Savannah Christian.
“It was a hard-fought three-game match, but none of the players (or coach) lost their cool,” said Linos. “After some very long rallies as both teams played excellent defense, our superior hitting power finally prevailed. We had defeated our first truly legitimate state power in School history.
“Nearly every year, it seems, we have reached another milestone,” he continued. “We hope the first four years are only the beginning.”
Linos said the most difficult aspect of taking a sports program to the next level is building a legitimate support structure of administrators, parents, other coaches and players in which everyone is accepting of what you want to accomplish and will give unending support. “In this respect, I have succeeded, for the most part, with the players’ support,” he said.
One player, in particular, will never be forgotten.
Four-year varsity letter winner Alex Wysocki (’04) was so important to the team that the Sept. 30 “Stuff-the-Huff” event will be deemed “Alex Wysocki Night” in her honor. Her No. 14 jersey will be retired. Described by her coach as an outstanding server and setter, an exceptional leader, a generous teammate, one of Darlington’s finest student-athletes and a shining example of what it means to be a Darlington volleyball player, Wysocki set 12 school and two state records in her four-year varsity career.
“I don’t believe my words alone could ever do justice to what she did for this program,” said Linos. “She was a very special person for Darlington volleyball and for Darlington, and truly deserves to be recognized for all her accomplishments and sacrifices.”
Other players such as Anja Knabe-Paulsen and Stephanie Dupree have also been integral in the success of the team. Knabe-Paulsen, who set four state records in 2003, earned Darlington’s first All-State recognition during her one year of varsity play.
“A tremendous technician of the game as well as an exceptional leader, Anja helped lead the team to a 41-6 record and the No. 5 state ranking,” said Linos.
Dupree, who will wrap up a four-year career on the varsity team this year, is known for her innate knowledge and kills, according to Linos. “She has played nearly every position over her first three years,” he said.
“I could also mention ’01 alumnae Clara Smith, Marta Rodriguez and Sue Yeung, seniors from the first state team in 2000, as well as Sarah Rhodes (’02), Melissa Jarrell (’03), Meggin Roberts (’04), Laura Bennett (’04), Maritza Mendoza (’06) and a whole group of rising stars (’07), who are the first Middle School players to play varsity this year,” Linos continued. “All in all, every single player who has ever stepped on the court for Darlington volleyball has contributed in some small way to the overall success of the program.”
The Lady Tigers begin each season with the overriding goal to finish among the top 16 in the state. With 10 new players – six sophomores, three juniors and one senior – the 2004 team has a lot of work to do. Team captains Dupree, Mendoza, Mary Becca Watson and Natsuko Kiyoshi, the four returning letter winners from last season’s team, have stepped up to the challenge.
“[They] have already begun to integrate the large number of new players into a new team in a new era with a unified youthful spirit,” said Linos. “While the team may be inexperienced, they are very talented. If we can bring the talent together with learned experience and throw in the make-up of our Area this season, another trip to the State Playoffs is not out of the question.”
Darlington School also offers volleyball at the junior varsity and Middle School levels. These teams are coached by Doug Braden and Leanne Mann, respectively.
For a complete season schedule, please visit https://www.darlingtonschool.org/Athletics/. Senior Night will be held Oct. 7.
“The players feel like they are a legitimate state-level program that can keep competing at a high level every year, not an athletic afterthought,” he said.
Which is exactly right – Darlington’s varsity volleyball team is a state-level program, literally. With over 10 years of coaching experience under his belt, Linos has led the team to the State Playoffs twice during the past four years.
In 2000, Darlington was able to defeat Chapel Hill, the No. 1 seed, in the Area 3AA/A Tournament to go to the AA/A State Playoffs. The team had finished its regular season in the Area at 6-2 and felt good about finishing third. After losing their first match of the day against the No. 6 seed, the Lady Tigers would be going through the losers’ bracket.
“Thus, the Chapel Hill match was the fifth straight match we had to play that day, and we were on auto pilot, not caring whom we were playing and just winning game after game and match after match,” recalled Linos. “Boy, we almost didn’t know what had happened after the last match; we were so tired. But, once the realization dawned on us, it was an unbelievable feeling to know we were one of the best eight teams in the state at our classification.”
Darlington had another big win in 2003 against No. 3 state-ranked Savannah Christian in the Savannah Country Day Tournament. The Lady Tigers had begun the season 28-0, the fourth-best in state history. The team won the first match on Friday night before losing a controversial first match of the season against Savannah Country Day.
“Our final pool play match against Savannah Christian wasn’t even a contest. We had lost two in a row, finishing play on Friday night at 1-2, giving us a low seed on Saturday morning for the double-elimination tournament,” said Linos.
Struggling to beat their first round opponent, Cavalry Baptist, with everybody still recovering from the previous night’s play, Darlington pulled through in the rematch against Savannah Christian.
“It was a hard-fought three-game match, but none of the players (or coach) lost their cool,” said Linos. “After some very long rallies as both teams played excellent defense, our superior hitting power finally prevailed. We had defeated our first truly legitimate state power in School history.
“Nearly every year, it seems, we have reached another milestone,” he continued. “We hope the first four years are only the beginning.”
Linos said the most difficult aspect of taking a sports program to the next level is building a legitimate support structure of administrators, parents, other coaches and players in which everyone is accepting of what you want to accomplish and will give unending support. “In this respect, I have succeeded, for the most part, with the players’ support,” he said.
One player, in particular, will never be forgotten.
Four-year varsity letter winner Alex Wysocki (’04) was so important to the team that the Sept. 30 “Stuff-the-Huff” event will be deemed “Alex Wysocki Night” in her honor. Her No. 14 jersey will be retired. Described by her coach as an outstanding server and setter, an exceptional leader, a generous teammate, one of Darlington’s finest student-athletes and a shining example of what it means to be a Darlington volleyball player, Wysocki set 12 school and two state records in her four-year varsity career.
“I don’t believe my words alone could ever do justice to what she did for this program,” said Linos. “She was a very special person for Darlington volleyball and for Darlington, and truly deserves to be recognized for all her accomplishments and sacrifices.”
Other players such as Anja Knabe-Paulsen and Stephanie Dupree have also been integral in the success of the team. Knabe-Paulsen, who set four state records in 2003, earned Darlington’s first All-State recognition during her one year of varsity play.
“A tremendous technician of the game as well as an exceptional leader, Anja helped lead the team to a 41-6 record and the No. 5 state ranking,” said Linos.
Dupree, who will wrap up a four-year career on the varsity team this year, is known for her innate knowledge and kills, according to Linos. “She has played nearly every position over her first three years,” he said.
“I could also mention ’01 alumnae Clara Smith, Marta Rodriguez and Sue Yeung, seniors from the first state team in 2000, as well as Sarah Rhodes (’02), Melissa Jarrell (’03), Meggin Roberts (’04), Laura Bennett (’04), Maritza Mendoza (’06) and a whole group of rising stars (’07), who are the first Middle School players to play varsity this year,” Linos continued. “All in all, every single player who has ever stepped on the court for Darlington volleyball has contributed in some small way to the overall success of the program.”
The Lady Tigers begin each season with the overriding goal to finish among the top 16 in the state. With 10 new players – six sophomores, three juniors and one senior – the 2004 team has a lot of work to do. Team captains Dupree, Mendoza, Mary Becca Watson and Natsuko Kiyoshi, the four returning letter winners from last season’s team, have stepped up to the challenge.
“[They] have already begun to integrate the large number of new players into a new team in a new era with a unified youthful spirit,” said Linos. “While the team may be inexperienced, they are very talented. If we can bring the talent together with learned experience and throw in the make-up of our Area this season, another trip to the State Playoffs is not out of the question.”
Darlington School also offers volleyball at the junior varsity and Middle School levels. These teams are coached by Doug Braden and Leanne Mann, respectively.
For a complete season schedule, please visit https://www.darlingtonschool.org/Athletics/. Senior Night will be held Oct. 7.
