A conversation with Coach Housman

We caught up with Jackie Housman, Head Coach of the New London volleyball team, and asked her about the upcoming season. She is starting her second season as the Head Tiger, but her fourth season as a high school head coach.

Last year was an exciting season, but four starters from that team were lost to graduation. Jackie explains, “Although they will be difficult to replace as they were wonderful athletes with many individual accolades, we have some pretty amazing girls stepping up. They have made the commitment this summer to bettering their volleyball skills, and we have a few different mixes that we are still working on for the varsity rotation.

As she molds her team, she has the help of Emily Parks, a former NL standout and current HS AD, and Alexis Hardin who is in her first year of coaching.

Jackie has 15 girls out this season. They include her three returning starters: Senior Sophie Malott (outside hitter), Senior Tysann Gipple (middle hitter), and Junior Morgan Jones (Outside/Right Side Hitter).

Her promising newcomers are Lillie Gallup (libero), Katelyn Allen (setter), Kayla Strawhacker (outside hitter), Hailee Dudley (right side hitter), Marlianna Woodsmall (right side/outside hitter), and Olivia Hester (setter).

Sophie Malott is this year’s captain, and Housman is confident that she will provide strong senior leadership.

When asked about the challenges facing her young Tigers, she says, “Southeast Iowa Superconference will be very competitive again this year. I can see Notre Dame, West Burlington, Mediapolis, and Holy Trinity all coming back strong again this year.”

Yet she sees things that excite her. “I think we have a wonderful group of girls this year that really work well as a team., but with only two seniors on the floor and a couple of sophomores in the mix, we have a lot of work to do and a lot of growing. But the girls are super positive and hard workers! I am hoping for great things this season!”

So are we Coach Housman … so are we. Best of luck this season and thanks for taking time to give us some insight into the upcoming season. Go Tigers!