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 Ericka Simpson
Assistant editor

Bryan College’s volleyball team traveled to Bluefield (Va.) College on Sept. 11 and dominated the Eagles on their own court, winning 3-1.

Coach Leo Sayles said that, going into the game the team was focusing on playing together and getting its lineup settled. Before this weekend, they had struggled to finish matches and sustain their effort throughout the matches.

Up quickly 2-0, the team dropped the third match because Sayles subbed in other players to give them experience on the court.

“Losing on someone else’s floor gives them confidence and makes the fourth match harder,” Sayles said. “But it just looked like we kicked into a different gear and pulled away–we just ran away with the match.”

Key players in the game were senior Alison Young, who had a better hitting match, freshman middleback Carolyn Evans, who had 10 kills, and junior defensive specialist Jessica Jones, who filled in for junior libero Courtney Cotter when she hurt her wrist.

Sayles said that Jones really “stepped up” and played the best game he has ever seen her play at Bryan.

“We’re finally starting to find our identity and click on the court,” Jones said. “Coach has been telling us that we need to find a fire, and we are starting to find that spark, which has elevated our level of play.”

The Lions will be hosting Union College (Barbourville, Ky.) on Friday.

Jones said that she is excited to finally be playing at home.

“We miss our fans,” she said. “They might be where our extra spark comes from.”

by Lana Douglas
Staff Writer

Alison Young, student body president

“SGA is more than a bunch of people who sit around a room and discuss issues of the school; it is people who are proactive about the school and have a passion for the students,” said junior Allison Young, student body president-elect.

“Servanthood through leadership” is Young’s vision for SGA next year.

Young’s biggest passion is volleyball. She is co-captain of the Bryan volleyball team and has been to several European countries including Austria and the Czech Republic to compete

She likes to spend her free time reading, playing Wii Sport and Rockband. Her favorite book is “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers.

Read full story »

by Kristyn Proctor
Staff Writer

Lady Lions Volleyball

Despite last Thursday’s disappointing 3-1 loss by the women’s volleyball team to the Lady Bulldogs of Union College in the AAC tournament, the team says they still want to “do something remarkable” this season, starting with the National Christian College Athletic Association’s playoffs this weekend.

“We still have an opportunity to top our 2007 season, which was the best in Bryan history,” Leo Sayles, the head coach, said.  “I would love to see us advance to NCCAA nationals again and use our 2007 experience to go and get into the Final Four, which is a real possibility if we can survive the regional playoffs.” Read full story »