SEGUIN, Texas – Usually, a new head coach must adapt to a lot of newness around them: new players, new environment, new philosophies and new attitudes. For Phyllis Fowler, who is starting her first year at the helm of the Texas Lutheran volleyball program, it's all too familiar.
"This is my hometown," Fowler said. "I've coached all of my 37 years of coaching in this area. To me this is home. It's great and the girls keep you young."
The New Braunfels native is now the head coach of a college team for the first time in her coaching career, but she's had plenty of success at the high school level. Fowler led New Braunfels to five state tournament appearances and two state titles in 2000 and 2005, and she coached Navarro to their first state tournament berth in nearly four decades in 2016. So far, she hasn't noticed much difference in how to coach a collegiate team.
"It's still volleyball," Fowler explained. "We still have to pass, we still want to have ball control and we still have to terminate. There are so many things that are the same, but what I like about coming up to the college level is the level of play. The girls are great and their passion to play well is evident."
Fowler takes over a team that has finished the regular season with a record at or below .500 in each of the past two years. In order to get more out of the 2018 squad, she's kept things simple.
"Coach Fowler is looking for a faster pace from us, so we're trying to be quicker and faster than our conference opponents," said senior right side hitter Christie Cosper. "We just have to keep moving and keep rolling."
"A lot of it is basics and fundamentals to help us get into the groove of things, doing the little things to help us achieve the big goals," junior defensive specialist Jaci Chambers said. "A whole lot of new people are coming in, a lot of people are changing positions and there's a whole new routine. We've had a lot of team bonding before the season this year to help us with our chemistry, hopefully building us into a good season."
The Bulldogs started the 2018 season with only one senior, Cosper, on the roster, but Fowler has still been impressed by the team's early season chemistry.
"You want leadership on a team and we have a very strong junior group behind her that I think also provides leadership for the girls. Usually it's a challenge for a coach to get your girls come together and work well, but after watching them over the past few weeks, it's been great."
All of this newness has brought its fair share of growing pains: the Bulldogs currently sit at 4-12 on the season, just 1-3 in conference play. Even so, they're staying positive.
"It's only the beginning and we have a lot more steps to take," said Chambers, "We can't get down on ourselves with everything being new. It's a fresh slate. Now's our time. This is where we have to persevere, go get it and make our statement."
Texas Lutheran will next host Huston Tillotson University Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. They'll then travel to Dallas to take part in the SCAC A-C Crossover on Friday.