This story originally appeared in the September 13 edition of the weekly LINK Reader. To get these stories first, subscribe here.
It’s a bright, sun-drenched Tuesday in Taylor Mill, and the disposition of the Scott High School volleyball team is just as sunny. But the Eagles aren’t outside enjoying the smashing weather. They’re indoors, of course, hammering volleyballs.
“Our team is very motivated,” said junior hitter Milyn Minor, a two-year captain. “We’re moving around more, working on new shots.”
Coach Andrea Sullivan, an art teacher at Scott, strolls into practice. Three days earlier, the Eagles wrapped up a six-match schedule while hosting the September Slam, an annual Labor Day weekend tournament. The Eagles played 11 matches in the first 12 days of the season, and that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it’s by design.
That’s because Sullivan is in the middle of a project with the volleyball team. Not unlike her art classes where she possesses a creative flair as she teaches sculpture, ceramics and crafts, the coach is the resourceful architect of a consistently successful volleyball program. In her more than two decades as coach, she has built the Eagles into a regional power, rebuilt them, reshaped them and reaped the rewards as a result.
This season, the Eagles are reinventing themselves.
“We graduated just one senior, but our lineup looks different than what it normally looks like,” coach Sullivan said. “We’re changing up some things, and playing a lot early in the season helps us evolve. Working hard in practice helps us get better.”
At this particular practice, Sullivan oversees the continued transformation of the Eagles as each player, day by day, gradually expands her role. The Eagles get down to business with dig drills while getting up to speed with blocking. They practice situational hitting and undertake serve-receive exercises. They move through various other drills while tightening the screws on offense and defense.
“We want to be a well-oiled machine when it matters most, at the end of the season,” coach Sullivan said. “We want our players to do more.”
The Eagles are becoming more versatile, more flexible and less predictable out of necessity.
“We’re not super tall and I’m playing a core group of girls as we integrate others,” Sullivan said. “It’s important we do things like take advantage of matchups and use our strengths to the best advantage.”
Part of the strategy is becoming a harder team to scout, posing preparation difficulties and disrupting gameplans.
“We want all our hitters to be able to hit from anywhere effectively no matter what their position is.” Sullivan said. “We have to be a little crafty, so we’re moving our hitters around a lot.”
Junior setter Ryann Grigsby likes the idea.
“I’m taking different routes and jump-setting more so we can run a quicker offense,” said Grigsby, who joined the 1,000 assist club last season. “I think we’ll get more comfortable with the changes as the season goes along.”
Minor, who nailed down her 1,000th career kill last season, agrees.
“I think it’s a good idea,” Minor said. “It makes us more difficult to match up with.”
Sullivan realizes there will be growing pains.
“I think, in the long run, it’ll pay off,” the coach said.
There have been many volleyball success stories at Scott. Sullivan is hoping the Eagles are in the middle of another one.
Since Sullivan arrived 22 years ago, many accolades have been given to Eagles volleyball players and coaches alike. Minor and senior teammate Elise Manhardt, a libero and defensive specialist, are two of 15 players from the 10th Region named to the Kentucky Volleyball Coaches Association 2024 preseason watch list. Minor is the reigning 10th Region player of the year and a 2023 KVCA all-state honorable mention.
But just like virtually every other high school volleyball team in Kentucky, Scott has found that bringing home a state championship trophy is a very challenging goal to meet. Just six teams, including three from northern Kentucky, have won 45 state volleyball championships.
“We want to accomplish that goal,” Minor said.
The Eagles have won just about everything else, including conference, district and regional crowns. They have won nine district titles under Sullivan’s direction, six since joining the 10th Region’s 37th District. The Eagles have won five 10th Region championships.
A winner of multiple coach of the year awards, Sullivan is closing in on career win No. 500 after earning her 470th during the first week of September. She is a member of three halls of fame including the one at Scott.
The Eagles won the 37th District championship last season for the seventh time in 12 years. But the last region title came in 2020.
With all the changes this season at Scott, the Eagles would also like to change some of the narrative.
“That’s the goal, win the region,” coach Sullivan said. “Then go as far as we can in the state tournament.”
