By Carla Branch and Alex Hampl
alexandrianews.org
Sophomore Sydney Trout. (Photo: James Cullum)
Since volleyball became a varsity sport at T. C. Williams High School in 2000, there have been two head coaches. This year, Mike Burch is the new man in charge and he is rebuilding the program with an eye to the future.
According to his biography on the T. C. athletics web site, Burch a former head volleyball coach at Radford University, brings over 17 years of club, high school and college coaching experience to his first season with the Titans . He began his career in volleyball in 1994 as a player and Head Coach for Virginia Tech’s men’s club team. In addition to a brief run as Head Coach at Blacksburg High School, his club coaching experience includes stints as Head Coach for both New River Valley and North Dallas Juniors Volleyball Clubs.
Before concluding his career in college volleyball as Head Coach of the Division 1 Radford University Highlanders, Coach Burch was Head Coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, First Assistant at Texas Woman’s University and Assistant Coach at his alma mater Virginia Tech. Coach Burch is a certified IMPACT Instructor for the region and holds a CAP II certification, with CAP III certification pending, serves on various boards and committees and was a speaker for the Virginia High School League Coaches Association.
For the past two years, Coach Burch has also served as the Technical Director of Virginia Elite Volleyball Club and in 2009 he guided Virginia Elite’s 17s Team to the region’s first Open level appearance at the USAV Junior National Championship.
Coach Burch holds a Master of Science degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Virginia Tech.
Sophomore Kate Whitmire. (Photo: James Cullum)
Last night, Burch got his first look at his 2010 Titan team in a game situation. T. C. hosted South Lakes in their first scrimmage of the season. The Titans return eight varsity players from last year, five of them seniors. Their strength is their front row play, anchored by sophomore Kate Whitmire, an outside hitter who got Patriot District honorable mention last year. Senior Natalie Brown provides consistency in the middle.
Both of last year’s setters, seniors Rebecca Stone and Meron Hailu return and will be supported by newcomer freshman Kelly Dervarics. Senior Abby Wilson is the libero and one of the few consistent back row players.
As the Patriot District season rolls along, the new conditioning regimen should prove useful although the Titans made many of last year’s floor coverage and passing mistakes against South Lakes.
South Lakes won two out of three games, 25-17, 25-16, and T. C. took the third game, 25-23. The Titans open the regular season at Chantilly on Aug. 30 and will host Falls Church on Sept. 1. Varsity games begin at 7:15 p.m.