By Moses Leos III
For the second time in as many years, the Lehman High volleyball team will have a new varsity head coach at the helm.
Lehman’s new face on the sidelines, however, may be familiar to some as the program promoted freshmen volleyball coach Kathryn Legh-Page to the varsity position.
Legh-Page, who was hired as the freshmen volleyball coach last season, returns to the varsity level after a short absence. Prior to being hired at Lehman, and before a three-year coaching absence to start a family, Legh-Page served as a varsity assistant coach at Seguin High.
Legh-Page takes over a Lehman program that struggled to a 5-20 season and went winless in 14-6A last season.
But with a roster that lost only three seniors to graduation, Legh-Page held optimism for the year ahead.
“We have a lot of potential here,” Legh-Page said. “We’re going to show that for sure.”
Through the first day of practice Monday, Legh-Page said she saw a “lot of hustle” from her current group. She also said the team showed growth from the year previous “in all ages,” from the freshman class to seniors.
“I’ve also seen a lot of improvement from our middle schools,” Legh-Page said. “It’s not having to tweak as much. Our middle schools are setting our foundation.”
Familiarity, especially from incoming sophomores whom Legh-Page taught, could go a long way as well.
She said familiarity helped in the underclassmen grasp her training drills. She said her underclassmen have helped instruct upperclassmen, which she said are adapting quickly.
“Having that repertoire, it’s something to build off of,” Legh-Page said.
Legh-Page guides a Lehman team that enters a vaunted 25-6A district that includes volleyball powerhouses Westlake, Lake Travis and Vista Ridge.
Helping the cause are a plethora of returning juniors that include Hannah Starnes, Haley Hassinger and Kaylee Wipff.
Joining them are senior Meagan Richards-Dees and junior Natalie Herrera.
Legh-Page said only losing three seniors from last year’s team helps set the foundation for the season.
Having height to work with in the middle is also an asset, Legh-Page said.
“I’m not going to say we’re starting to look like a volleyball team, but we’re starting to have some height,” Legh-Page said. “It helps, but we have to have some speed. Those who don’t have the height are quick, which helps as well.”
Lehman opens its 2016 season by taking part in the Austin ISD Tournament on Aug. 11.
