Killer and coachable: what more could you need?

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As both a club and high school coach, I have to wrestle with the constant battle of equal playing time vs. winning more games. Sometimes the best athletes are not the ones who model the best sportsmanship, or the most coachable kids are not always the most talented options you have. It can make it harder to create a go-to lineup, and even harder to recruit for a college program. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What if I told you New Jersey volleyball had the answer to your prayers? Read on below for my roundup of some of the best athletes in the state who also happen to be </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">incredibly</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> coachable.</span></p> <p><b>Sheridan Caughey</b><b>, Essex Fells, Class of 2023</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Currently playing Middle for Sideout Sports’ 16s team, Sheridan Caughey is an impressive newcomer. I had the opportunity to watch her team scrimmage their 17s team at practice early on this club season. While I watched, I spoke with her coach about her history as a player. I was surprised to hear just how little there was!</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“She started playing a few months ago really,” Coach Justin Beaumont told me. “We’ve gotten her vertical up in a very short time. She’s currently touching 9’4” and that’s just the beginning for her.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Caughey is 6’2” with those long arms that just beg to be placed in the middle. She’s quite naturally athletic and easily coachable, according to the SOS coaching staff. Just from a half-hour of gameplay, I saw her dominate the net with a series of fierce blocks and solid touches. She’s excited to hit and is working on connecting with her setter, but blocking comes naturally. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">You wouldn’t think she’s so new to the sport by looking at her. She plays like she’s been on the court for years. As a setter myself, I think being a middle blocker is really tough, especially for a beginner, so I have to hand it to her for taking so naturally to the position. Overall, this girl is already well on her way to being an absolute stud in the middle. Keep an eye out for what she delivers this upcoming season at Villa Walsh Academy.</span></p> <p><b>Alex Foley, Colts Neck, Class of 2023</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Foley has been playing indoor for about two years. She had two years of club and one year of high school ball under her belt before the COVID quarantine put us all out. At 5’6, she plays mostly outside hitter with a ton of defense and serving. In light of recent events, she took to beach volleyball as a means of keeping her skill up. She showed us that when you’re as talented and dedicated as she is, you can shine anywhere.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She began training on the beach this summer with her club coach Bert Hor of Monmouth County Volleyball League (MOCO). Working hard at these clinics, she was able to really stand out this summer on the beach. She and her partner Sofia took first at the Point Pleasant Finale for 16 &amp; Unders even up against formidable pairings of girls who are bigger and have been playing for much longer. Alex Foley truly makes her skill and adaptability hard to ignore.</span></p> <p><b>Samantha Olander, Roxbury, Class of 2022</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This MB/OH started playing volleyball as a freshman and immediately rostered on varsity at Roxbury High School - notoriously one of the strongest programs in the state. She earned 51 kills, 23 blocks, and 15 digs in her first season alone as an OH and RS. This is impressive on its own as she was playing third after [player_tooltip player_id="99811" first="Amber" last="Chen"] and Quinn Longo who tallied up 205 and 240 kills respectively. In her sophomore season, Olander showed off a bit more with a solid 196 kills, 15 blocks, 58 digs, 29 aces, and 106 overall service points. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Now she plays for Garden State Elite’s 17 Premier team with Coach Pablo. My contact for the club, Amy Berry, described Olander as a “not only a stud, but a delightful young lady”. For someone who has only really been playing for two years, we can see that she is quick to new skills and loves to learn. This is surely the mentality of a wildly successful athlete.</span></p> <p><b>Lindsey Millis, Class of 2024, Kinnelon, OH/DS</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Millis is one of those rare athletes who just </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">gets </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">it. She must have been a professional volleyballer in a previous life because DANG! Standing at only 5’4, this girl jumps out of the building. She was a flyer on a competitive cheerleading squad for years, then in 8th grade decided it was time to try something new. After falling in love with volleyball, she never looked back. Now she’s an OH/DS for the Allegro 15 National team under Coach Sara and she will be trying out for the Kinnelon squad this February. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aside from her excellent ball control, impressive vertical, powerful swing, and spot-on serve, Millis possesses some key qualities that every coach looks for: good listening, positivity, and composure. Nothing rattles this athlete. She listens intently, makes immediate adjustments, and does not lose her cool.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Especially at such a young age, it’s expected that athletes are going to start dealing with a lot of frustration surrounding gameplay, team drama, and especially now with New Jersey still being in partial lockdown. Millis knows that when she steps onto the court, it’s time for volleyball and volleyball only. This talented little firecracker is already one of the most impressive volleyball players I’ve ever seen. I can’t wait to see what more time and experience bring her. </span></p>