Bryan College Triangle

by Lana Douglas
Photo Editor

Office 212 in Summers Gym sits empty with the title “Women’s Volleyball” on the door.  This fall it will be filled by a veteran volleyball coach with almost 20 years of experience.

David Shumaker spent the last 10 years as the head coach at Baptist Bible College (Clarks Summit, Pa.) where he also taught several Bible courses.

“[Volleyball] kind of grew on me,” said Shumaker.  “I loved to play when I was younger and I started coaching so that I could play more.”

Shumaker has already run several practices with the women’s volleyball team and has set some clear goals for next season.

“My [goal] this year is to get to know this team, develop the individuals on the team and then develop the team as a competitive unit,” said Shumaker.

Although he has high expectations for the team, Shumaker looks at winning as a by-product of having a life that puts Christ “front and center.”

Currently, senior Alison Young is working with the volleyball team on strength and conditioning.

“He is clearly a man who loves God and wants to elevate Christ through his team,” said Young.  “His coaching style is very energetic and competitive.  It keeps the team excited throughout the few practices he has been able to run with them.”

The women’s volleyball team is extremely well trained, according to Shumaker.

“It’s not like we are trying to climb up to the base camp for the final ascent to Everest.  We’re already at the base camp. Now it’s making that final ascent to the championship, and the potential is there to do it.  So I’m looking forward to giving it our best effort,” said Shumaker.

Shumaker and his wife, Joanna, and their two children (Drew, 16, Danielle, 13) will be moving to the Dayton area by the end of June.

Fun Facts:

-       Shumaker was born in Japan

-       Was a missionary kid for 12 years

-       Coached football for a year

-       Met his wife through volleyball

-       Favorite Quote: “Replacing Coach Sayles felt like replacing a rock star.”

The women's volleyball team says goodbye to Head Coach Leo Sayles who leaves Bryan for Gardner-Webb University / Photo courtesy of junior Chelsie Blackburn

Erika Simpson
Assistant Editor

Head Volleyball Coach Leo Sayles, after seven years at Bryan College, cleaned out his office and left for Gardner-Webb University (Boiling Springs, NC) where he has accepted their head volleyball coach offer. Sayles said he interviewed for the job on Jan. 31 and received their offer on Feb. 4.

Gardner-Webb University is a NCAA division I school and a Christian college, according to Sayles. Read full story »

by Anna Kat Thomas
Staff Writer

The Bryan volleyball team played against both Montreat College (Black Mountain, N.C.) and Milligan College (Elizabethton, Tenn.) last weekend emerging with both a loss and a win, making its conference record 9-4.

Because of recent health problems Head Coach Leo Sayles was unable to attend either match. Instead, the Lions were led by Assistant Coach JoAnna McGill and senior Student Assistant Julie Barnett.

The girls celebrate at their home game against Milligan. The Lions won 5-2./ Photo courtesy of Daniel Impson

“We don’t have Coach here, but he has prepared us all season long so we know what to do; it’s just a matter of getting the job done,” said senior outside hitter Lauren Pratt.

The Lady Lions’ first match was against the Montreat Cavaliers on Friday with neck-and-neck sets of 25-23, 25-17 and 25-21, but the Lions dropped all three.

“I feel like we have been able to take our losses and what we need to learn from them and apply it to the next game pretty well,” said freshman setter Rebecca Adams.

And that is what the Lady Lions did on Saturday against Milligan’s Lady Buffs.

The Lions began with a rough start, but they found a hole in the Buffs’ defense and continued to tip the ball right into that spot. The Lions took the first win 25-23.

The second set was hard for both teams, but the Buffs finished with a 25-19 win.

It was tied up, but in the next set the Lions’ energy was flowing. From the start of the set the Lions took the lead and sustained it for a 25-18 victory.

The Lions were ahead 2-1. Both teams knew this could be the final set. The crowd was tense. The teams fought hard, but the Buffs would not let the Lions take the set and finished with a 28-26 win.

“We have really had to fight for everything,” said Pratt.

The women returned to the court for their final set. It was time for the Lions to prove they were ready. It was time, as Pratt said, “to get the job done.”

Though at first the Buffs held strong, the Lions overcame with a 15-9 win and claimed the victory.

“Our girls showed a lot of heart tonight, and it was hard with Coach Sayles gone. They did a great job today coming back and redeeming themselves, and it was fun for both teams. It was an evenly matched game, so I am not surprised it went to five. I am very proud of them. Coach will be too,” said McGill.

The Lions next match will be at home against Tennessee Wesleyan College (Athens) on Tuesday Nov. 2.

by Catherine Rogers
Multimedia Editor

Senior Kaylan Dilts/Triangle photo by Catherine Rogers

The volleyball team faced the University of Mobile, Ala., Friday night in a close four-set match and emerged victorious.

“Our game plan was basic—make sure we control our side of the net,” said Head Coach Leo Sayles.

Going into the match, the Lions knew that Mobile was a good serving team, however, they felt stronger defensively and it showed, according to Sayles.

“Our blocking and defense were very effective against Mobile,” said Sayles. “I believe [they were] caught off-guard with how well we absorbed their attacks and answered back.” Read full story »

Former homeschoolers Callie Singleton, Chelsea Breaden and Rebecca Adams study in the dorm and play together on the court/Triangle photo by Lana Douglas.

by Ericka Simpson
Assistant Editor

The women’s varsity volleyball team recruited three homeschooled athletes this year: freshmen Chelsea Breaden, Rebecca Adams and Callie Singleton. This is the first year homeschool graduates have made the varsity squad, according to Head Coach Leo Sayles.

Having a former homeschooler on a varsity team is not that unusual, according to Sayles, because homeschool athletics have broadened and now have national competitions and different associations in several sports.

Sayles said that the percentage of homeschoolers in high school athletics is still small but growing. The key to the homeschooled athletes he recruited is that all of them competed in club programs, and they all attended the volleyball camp hosted by Bryan.

“All these ladies did their homework,” Sayles said. “For any athlete–homeschool, private or public–if you don’t do some leg-work on your own, you may never get a call from a college coach saying, ‘We want you to play for us.’”

Chelsea Breaden

Outside hitter Chelsea Breaden graduated from The King’s Academy (Woodstock, Ga.), where she said she attended school twice a week and studied at home the rest of the time.

She has played volleyball for five years through Crown Athletics, a program specifically geared toward homeschoolers. She also participated in club volleyball for four years, playing with the Northwest Cobb Family YMCA, Cobb Atlanta Juniors and North Atlanta Volleyball Club.

Breaden said that Sayles was able to recruit her because she attended Bryan’s volleyball camp for several summers.

“He got to know me and watch me grow as a volleyball player,” Breaden said. “I guess he saw that I had potential.”

Transitioning from club athletics to Bryan has been an increase in intensity level, according to Breaden, but the team has been a great “support group” for her.

“I’m so glad God led me to choose Bryan,” she said. “It’s pretty much everything I could ever want in a college.” Read full story »