New coach Ashley Marsaa wants her Woodford County Middle School volleyball players to build something that lasts beyond this season.
Returning to the school system where she once wore black and gold, Marsaa is establishing expectations for the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade teams that extend from the court to the classroom and community.
For the Woodford County High School graduate, the opportunity is personal. She attended elementary, middle and high school in the district and played volleyball before returning to help guide another generation.
Now, she wants to establish a tradition rooted in faith, unity, family and standards for what it means to represent Woodford County.
“That means grades. That means work ethic. That means respect for our teachers, coaches, and each other,” Marsaa said.
Those expectations are part of a larger goal: developing players who understand how to support one another, accept responsibility and prepare for the next level.
Marsaa sees plenty of opportunities for the teams to grow. Their willingness to work and respond to her leadership has already given her reason for optimism.
“I think anything’s possible,” she said. “I mean, they have come in day after day. They have grinded it out.”
That commitment has extended beyond drills and competition. Marsaa said players have led devotionals and embraced the expectations accompanying a coaching change.
“They have done everything that I’ve asked,” she said.
Marsaa understands that adjusting to a new coach and new standards can be challenging. But she believes those changes can help establish a foundation that benefits the program well into the future.
“Change is scary,” she said. “But sometimes change is good.”
The goal is to build players up through their middle school years so they are ready for the demands of high school volleyball. Marsaa sees this stage as an important opportunity to develop both their skills and their approach to the game.
“So we can build this generation up,” she said. “So they are ready to move on to that high school level.”
For Sophia Metzger, volleyball is already a family tradition.
“My whole family played it,” Metzger said.
Now she is finding her own enjoyment in the sport alongside teammates she appreciates.
“I like all the girls that are on our team,” Metzger said. “They’re really smart and very athletic.”
She also enjoys the personality Marsaa brings to the gym.
“She’s really energetic, and she’s fun,” Metzger said.
As the season progresses, Metzger sees communication as an area where Woodford can make significant strides. She believes the team can compete more successfully by playing to its capabilities and working together more consistently.
“We can definitely improve, like, so much on our communication,” she said.
For Malayah Givens, part of volleyball’s appeal is encouraging others and sharing in their excitement.
“I love meeting new friends on other teams,” Givens said. “I love seeing people happy.”
Putting a ball away at the net brings its own reward.
“It feels so good,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
Even when points are difficult to come by, Givens said the team wants to keep pursuing the ball. In a recent match that ended in a loss to Royal Spring, players kept diving to the floor and trying to extend rallies.
“We usually go after every point,” Givens said.
That effort stood out to Marsaa, who praised her players for fighting throughout the match. She also pointed to a packed gym as an encouraging sign of the program’s support.
“The most important part is that Woodford County showed it tonight for us,” she said.
The evening included a breast cancer awareness effort, connecting volleyball with a cause that carries personal meaning for the coach.
“It’s more than about volleyball,” Marsaa said.
For her, community involvement is an essential part of what she hopes to teach. The people filling the stands bring their own experiences and struggles, and she wants her players to recognize that their connection to those supporters goes beyond a match.
“This is something I value,” Marsaa said. “I want the parents to find value in this, and I want the kids to love and embrace this.”
She believes giving back helps strengthen the relationship between the team and the community. As players learn to support others, they also see how willingly Woodford County supports them.
That sense of connection fits with the unity that Marsaa wants to develop across all three grade levels. Whether players are celebrating a point, working through a difficult stretch or taking part in a community effort, she wants them to understand they are building something together.
Marsaa believes the enthusiasm and commitment are already there. Her task is to help those qualities grow into habits players can carry with them.
“But it starts here,” she said, “when they’re young, and they’re ready, and hungry, and that’s what it’s all about.”
“Start from the bottom and grow.”