WC Indiana News

Pomeroys looking to establish culture in Year One

Ian Harris, head men's volleyball coach, and Ashley Harris, head women's volleyball coach, are building a family atmosphere between both programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

The women had a school-record 26 wins this fall with the leadership of the Harrises, along with assistant coaches Tia Madden and Dillon Taylor, in their second season guiding that program.

The men get started Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 against Cornerstone at 7 p.m. The Pomeroys hope to be competitive as soon as possible.

Ian Harris described the approach to building the men's team as similar.

"We'll have the same aggressive growth gameplan we had with the women's team," he said. "Year one is very simple. It's about establishing the culture. We have done that since August. The 16 men we've had here have been fantastic at really establishing our culture and buying into our core values. We're going to work hard and recruit great kids."

The SMWC roster is made of primarily freshmen, but transfer players such as Julian Green and Jonathan Teo have extensive collegiate experience at Antelope Valley College in California. Green was one of the top attackers for Antelope Valley and Teo a key middle blocker over three seasons.

The Pomeroys' players know the challenge that lies ahead. Starting a program in one of the top NAIA men's volleyball conferences in the nation, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, will be tough.

"We came here to build this program. We know it's not easy to do that," freshman Andrej Lindner said. "It's easier to go to a school that already famous with volleyball trophies. To come somewhere and build something from scratch, is a great honor."

Zon Mendiola, a co-captain, agrees.

"Being a part of something new is always going to be a challenge. Having to learn the ways through mistakes is the biggest obstacles we're all going to have to overcome," Mendiola said. "Every day, I've worked my hardest to get to where I am today, and I want players who have the potential to come here, see the family we've built and to have that inspiration."

Freshman setter Jacob Wisniewski, of New Berlin, Wis., helped his high school team take third place in the state of Wisconsin. The chance to be a part of the first men's team was a big part of the draw to coming to The Woods.

"It's really cool to know that I'm helping establish the culture that people want to be a part of," Wisniewski said. "I've been playing volleyball since fifth grade," Wisniewski said. "It's cool to see the sport growing."

 

ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

The men's volleyball team has been heavily involved with trying to attract boys in Terre Haute to playing volleyball with semi-weekly training sessions throughout the fall.

Boys volleyball is officially an "emerging sport" in the Indiana High School Athletic Association, meaning it has a required timeframe to reach the school participation level needed to become an official IHSAA sport.

"We want to really work to get boys volleyball going in the state of Indiana. I'm very humbled and honored to … have this opportunity. I fully believe this staff we have, Tia Madden, Dillon Taylor, Ashley Harris; obviously I'm biased but I think we have one of the best coaching staffs in the entire country," Ian Harris said.

Original source can be found here.