New Lehman High head varsity volleyball coach Megan Griffin is ready to bring success to a Lady Lobo team that will be searching for its first-ever playoff appearance this fall. (Photo by Sadie Wygant)
by JASON GORDON
When athletic coordinator Steve Davis handed the Lehman High varsity head volleyball coaching job to Megan Griffin, he knew the Lady Lobos were going to be in the hands of a winner.
Griffin has known only winning her entire career.
At Seton High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, Griffin was a two time all-state selection. She led her volleyball team to the Division I state title as a senior in 2005, notching 23 kills in the state championship match, and was named a PrepVolleyball.com All-American and tabbed the School Sports Magazine Player of the Year.
She started all four seasons at Miami of Ohio University where she was an All-Mid-American Conference selection three times and helped lead her team to the NCAA tournament twice.
“We couldn’t be more pleased having Megan as our head coach,” said Davis. “She’s been a winner at every level and that comes through in her attitude and her coaching style. I’m confident she’s going to lead our volleyball program to the next level.”
Griffin coached the Lehman junior varsity last season.
“This is definitely very exciting,” Griffin said. “I just graduated from college a year ago, so this has been a whole new experience for me. I always knew I wanted to stay close to the volleyball world after college, so this is an excellent opportunity for me.”
Griffin said building a Lehman team that has never made the volleyball playoffs into a contender wouldn’t be an overnight project.
“I fully understand it will be a journey,” she said. “But we have a good group of girls here and I fully believe we can get there.”
Griffin will have the luxury of some players returning with varsity experience this fall, like twins Vikki Smith (setter) and Alex Smith (libero), as well as Imani Fairman (outside hitter), Karsholyn Brown (middle blocker) and Ariana Gallegos (middle blocker).
Griffin said two key elements would help Lehman build its volleyball program. “We have to get more of our kids playing club ball,” Griffin said. “They are missing out on hundreds of total games they could be playing. We have to find them affordable options where they can get involved in club and play year round.”
Griffin has already started on another important aspect of Lobo volleyball.
“It has to start with our middle schools and feed its way up to the varsity level,” Griffin said. “A big part of it is getting all of the coaches on the same page from the middle school on up. I want to be able to share my knowledge, and things like my lineup style, anything at all that can help our 7th and 8th graders.”
Griffin is ready for the challenges that lie ahead during her first season as varsity coach this fall.
“I learned so much last year about how to coach,” Griffin said. “It feels like a fresh start in the sport and I’m ready to see what we can accomplish as a team.”
