News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The York Institute volleyball team is facing East Robertson in the first round of the regional tournament and head coach Shayne Monday said the team is not intimidated by the Indians 30-2 record.
In his first year as head coach, Monday has led York to a 16-3 record and were district runner-ups to Gordonsville. He said it has never been an issue to motivate his players to practice and noted this week’s practices’ during fall break will be early morning, high intensity sessions.
“Everybody won’t do what we’re doing, Everybody don’t like what we’re doing because of the early morning practice,” Monday said. “But they were there and they were focused. I really feel like this morning we had a really good about an hour and fifteen minute practice. I felt real good about our practice.”
Monday identified defensive positioning as a recent weakness and said with East Robertson’s skill level, the team cannot offer the Indians easy kills. Monday said he and the team are glad to still be playing volleyball into mid-October and said the message to his players is to play free.
“I feel like we’re in a good position and I just told the girls ‘let’s just go play’,” Monday said. “Whatever happens, happens. But, let’s just go play and throw the ball up and play the best that we can play. And I feel like we’ll be right there.”
East Robertson has been one of the areas best teams in 2024 going undefeated in their district and winning the district tournament with relative ease.
Monday said his team has done a good job of approaching every game with a similar mindset. He said he does not expect the bright lights of the regional tournament to play a factor.
“I don’t know exactly what we’ll do against East Robertson, but I feel good about it,” Monday said. “As far as their mentality, as far as their focus, as far as their attitude, as far as their energy level, it’s there…it’s there.”
