High school volleyball: A coach's challenge

Building a successful high school sports program is difficult to do.

Maintaining success at the highest levels despite graduations, injuries and coaching changes, however, could be even more challenging.

"The hardest part may be finding the most competitive kids and then keeping them," said Hurricane head coach Daniel McKeehan.

If a coach can keep players with talent happily working hard, even if they're contributing off the bench, success is a little easier to hold onto for most programs. McKeehan could barely field a freshman team when he took over the Tigers program six years ago. This year he cut 11 and kept 17 girls on just his freshman squad.

"High school is different because you win one year and that's great," he said. "The year is over. We've made strides every year until last year when we won (the 3A title)."

This year, however, it all starts over with new players, new chemistry and even a new alignment this season that has moved some teams into different classifications.

While it is difficult to be a title contender every single year, some coaches find a way to have their teams in the mix — regardless of roster or region changes.

Lone Peak is a perennial power in 5A as the Knights have played for the state title for six straight years, winning it four times.

The Knight's head coach Deanna Meyer said one of the keys to success is definitely depth.

"Our starting line-up is good, but the thing I have is depth," said Meyer. "When we're practicing, we're practicing against a really good team."

Success brings recognition and reward for prep players but it also adds a lot of pressure.

"For me myself," said Meyer, "there's always that pressure. For the girls, I think they just have the expectation. That's just part of who we are."

Snow Canyon's young players are already being asked if the Warriors are preparing for a "four-peat."

"The pressure is real," said Warriors head coach Alana Parker. "Our student body is rabid."

While a school's student body and community worry about another title, coaches like McKeehan, Parker and Meyer are just trying to convince their players to focus on the next match on the schedule.