 "Photo: The Olympian")
 "Photo: The Olympian/ Ted Copeland")
With the resignation of former head coach Kaelea Makaiwi, Olympic College has hired Beth Donnelly to lead the Rangers volleyball team into next season.
Donnelly, 28, is a graduate of Northern Michigan University and brings an extensive amount of knowledge and experience to a Rangers squad that is desperately looking for its first winning season since the program’s inception in 1978.
“I’m excited to be back to the college atmosphere,” said Donnelly. “It will be nice to handle people at more of an adult level compared to coaching in high school.”
In addition to having more than 10 years of coaching experience, Donnelly also played volleyball in high school in Indiana and at NMU.
Turning around the program is going to be a challenge for the coach however, as she inherits a team that went 3-35 last season and 12-92 the past three years under Makaiwi.
“It really seems to be the mindset of all the people about the team,” said Donnelly. “In general, they’re used to a struggling volleyball team that hasn’t done much so far. We want to get rid of that mentality.”
The transition from that negative demeanor is already underway as the coach looks to get her team psyched up for next season.
“The players are really excited right now,” said Donnelly. “We’ve got them working out and weightlifting to prepare for the fall.”
After coaching at Bremerton High School last year, the move back to college coaching will present many familiar challenges.
“There’s a lot more that goes into doing it at this level,” said Donnelly. “You have to deal with players leaving, new players coming in and how you will go about getting players to come to play here.”
With five returning players from last year, including three starters, the coach knows that one of the biggest tasks for her lays in how she recruits.
“We’ve got a blanket recruiting wise over the area,” said Donnelly. “We’ve got several states around here, even Alaska and Canada that we can use. It’s just a matter of contacting the girls.”
While OC has brought in several highly touted recruits from around the state in recent years, the team chemistry and overall play has been dismal at best.
Ashley Pajimula, Cassy Lasky and Irene Moore are the returning starters who will lead the Rangers next season in an attempt to finally get on the winning track in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges.
“I wasn’t sure at first who was going to be returning from last year,” said Donnelly. “It seems like we’ve got a pretty good mix of kids at different positions that will help us get off on the right foot.”
Donnelly not only works at OC as the recreational athletic specialist in the fitness center, but she’s also a coach for the Olympic Premier Volleyball Club, a handy tool that may pay dividends in recruiting.
“I want to start recruiting kids right away,” said Donnelly. “We really only want to focus on the ones that have the drive to get better and are willing to work their butts off.”
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