News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
York Institute Volleyball fell short of its goal to win the district this year, but head coach Shayne Monday said the future is bright for Dragon volleyball.
The Dragons finished their 2024 campaign with a 16-4 record and tied the record for most wins in the program’s short history. Monday said while the wins are exciting, it will be the bonds he formed with his players that he will remember.
“First of all, it was just a great group of girls to coach,” Monday said. “The best thing about it was, they were very coachable. They were excited about playing and they were just ready to get after it.”
In his first season ever coaching volleyball, Monday said he better understands the sport and its nuances, but noted there is still a lot left out there that he does not know. Though the season just ended last week, Monday said he already knows what changes he will make for next year.
“One of our goals for next year is to play more games and I’m hoping to schedule some games closer,” Monday said. “Teams that are on a high level, which I think will help us in our next year and making another run at the districts and hopefully farther into the regions.”
Monday said that the Upper Cumberland is home to a handful of elite programs and wants to add Cumberland, Putnam and Overton County schools to their schedule next year.
With three straight winning seasons to begin their program, the York Dragons have quickly established themselves as a team to watch in the Upper Cumberland. Monday said he expects some added excitement to the sport with the addition of volleyball events and programs coming to Jamestown.
“The elementary school is starting programs over this last year and the year before, so that’s a step in the right direction,” Monday said. “We’re hoping to do some things in the summer that we didn’t do this past year within our county to help volleyball grow.”
While there is a lot to be excited about for the future of York volleyball, the team will be moving forward without seniors Annabeth Dunford and Addison McElhaney. Monday said that they were invaluable help in his first season of coaching volleyball.
“We’re going to really miss them,” Monday said. “Both of them showed that they were always energetic, they were ready to come to practice, they were ready to do whatever I asked them to do, and they were a positive influence on the other girls.”
