Baby Meaney and the SLOHS girls volleyball team getting ready for the season in the weight room. Photo courtesy of coach Meaney.
After being league champion for the fourth year in a row, head coach Kennedy Meaney and the Varsity Girls Volleyball team are already preparing to make it five. Coach Meaney has just brought in her new born baby, but how has this impacted the team?
Expressions decided to interview Meaney to get the inside of how this season will be different because of this new addition.
Expressions: How has the introduction of your new baby impacted your job as a coach?
Girls Volleyball Head Coach Kennedy Meaney: Having two young children and being a working mom is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I have a lot to juggle, caring for my kids and also being the best coach I can be which includes organizing all of our activities, making intentional practice plans, watching film, reviewing stats, etc.. I get as much done as I can during my baby’s naps during the day and also work a lot at night while she sleeps. Luckily I have an extremely supportive husband as well as my mom, dad, and sister who all live locally and help take care of the kids almost everyday, and bring them to our home games!
Expressions: Do you plan on taking a step back from coaching for any period of time?
Meaney: I don’t plan on taking a step back as long as I feel like I can be a good mom and coach. However, I have learned to try and lean more on my assistant coach, Coach Stearns (Linman). She is amazing and is helping in more ways this season.
Expressions: What are your goals for the upcoming season(s)?
Meaney: Our goal is to have fun, and give a hundred percent everyday so we can be playing at a very high level by the end of the season. We want to compete hard in league and continue to play amongst the best as a Division I CIF & State team.
Expressions: How did you and your girls prepare over the summer to be league champions once again?
Meaney: Over summer we practiced for four days per week. Our girls worked hard on the court and in the weight room to prepare for the season. We are hungry for a fifth consecutive league championship and we know that it takes a lot of hard work day in and day out.
Expressions: What are your thoughts on the increase of interest in girls volleyball and would you still encourage girls to play it at least once in their life?
Meaney: I love the level of interest that we have. We have such a volleyball rich community with so many young athletes playing. It is the absolute best sport and I love seeing everyone staying active and having fun. Unfortunately we just don’t have the capability to take more than around forty athletes. Making cuts is the absolute worst part of my job and the hardest week every year, but we have opportunities to play in our community with two local clubs as well as beach volleyball courts in several places so I always encourage everyone to keep playing the sport if they love it!
The team is just getting started and are already making their mark this season. Congratulations on your baby coach! Good luck Tigers!
