Familiar territory
At the beginning of the summer, Krimson Revis was able to take a deep, relaxed breath.
It was nothing like the same time last year, when she was taking over the Homewood High School volleyball program. It was her first experience as a high school head coach and at her alma mater, no less.
The new coaching staff needed time to figure everything out, from the team’s process to its personalities. After a year on the job, most of that legwork is out of the way.
Not that she ever truly relaxes, but the passionate second-year coach felt much more at ease this time around.
“We’re not all new,” Revis said. “We know what makes each other tick. We know exactly how people respond. We know the emotional side to each other. It really does makes things a lot smoother.”
Revis said her greatest learning curve was in discovering how to best coach each player on the team. The same instruction may need to be delivered in a different tone or manner, depending on the player.
“Everybody is different, every single player,” she said. “We’re not all Type-A and super outgoing.”
In 2017, Homewood showed glimpses of potential. The Patriots got off to a 6-3 start last September. In October, the Patriots knocked off Grissom in the Margaret Blalock Tournament, one of four wins they notched over that weekend. They knocked off Shades Valley at the Class 6A, Area 10 tournament to seal a postseason berth but were eliminated by Oxford at the super regional tournament.
Revis said this year’s team will benefit greatly from the super regional experience, but she wants to see her team play at a high level more often in 2018.
“Consistency. That’s the one thing we did not have last year,” she said. “That’s something we talk about all the time.”
Last year, the Patriots graduated three seniors in Michia Robinson, Sam Nichols and Erin Beasley. Revis said all three were great leaders off the court and great passers on the court. Both are important facets of the game for the Patriots.
“We’re going to be a good passing team, because that’s the first contact of every point,” Revis said. “Losing them has been hard, because you’ll never be able to replace their leadership or what they had on the court.”
A pair of sophomores that got plenty of experience last fall have helped in the transition period. Setter Abby Wilson and libero Emma Johnson provided the Patriots with critical production last fall and are expected to take another step forward this season, even as young players.
Alex Hershbine, Alejandra Loo and Gretchen Kellen are three hitters who are each working on improving their all-around game, in hopes that they can play all six rotations when needed. Jane Wilson, Abby’s twin sister, moves up to varsity this year and gives the team another solid passer.
Along with Loo, Bailey Bodkin and Christina Wright are Homewood’s seniors this fall. Kassidy Schnoer is a hitter and Luz Rosales-Perez also returns with experience on the back row. Freshmen Haley Callaham and Olivia Brown round out the varsity roster.
Homewood will be in Area 10 once again this season, with Shades Valley and Huffman as area foes. The Patriots began the season Aug. 28 against Vestavia Hills.
In September, Homewood will face the likes of Oak Mountain and Helena, state tournament teams from a season ago.