The new volleyball coach at McDonald County High School is one of its own.
Logan Grab, a 2008 graduate of MCHS, has been an English teacher at the high school since she graduated from Missouri Southern State University in 2012.
Grab played volleyball at MCHS all four years she was in high school. She coached travel teams while attending college, as well as coaching the McDonald County junior high team.
"The seniors this year I coached as seventh-graders," Grab said. "That's kind of neat to coach those players again after so many years."
Grab was a member of the Lady Mustangs' 2006 district championship team, the only volleyball team to win a district title in the school's history.
"We have won some conference championships over the years, but that's the only district one," Grab said. "It would be really nice to get one of those banners up on the wall."
Grab said she had been asked over the years to coach at the high school, but with finishing school and other commitments, she didn't have the time. She said now was the perfect time for her to take the position.
"I have had a quite a while to think about it and the volleyball program has always been special to me," Grab said. "Part of me feels like I have an obligation because it gave a lot to me as a player, as an athlete, as a student. It kind of helped mold me into the person I am today in a way."
After the struggles of the past couple of years, Grab said she is appreciative of the opportunity to build the program back to where it can compete for conference and district championships.
"I am excited to get started," Grab said. "I would really like to see us build up the program and have some success again."
Grab said the summer schedule will include weights in the mornings, with Fridays being the main practice day for volleyball skills.
"I am going to let the spring and summer sports have them in June, so most of our work will be in July," Grab said. "We will probably be doing most of our work here at the high school, but we might bring in some people to work with us."
Grab said she has talked to several girls who played as freshmen or sophomores but had not played the past couple of years. She said those girls have told her they plan on coming out this upcoming year.
"We are definitely going to have healthy numbers in the program this year," Grab said. "That will, hopefully, give us a little more versatility out on the court."
Athletic director Nick Martin said the volleyball program is very fortunate to get Grab.
"She is passionate about McDonald County and the kids," Martin said. "She is very knowledgeable about the game. I am very glad to get her."
Sports on 05/31/2018