Cate Schiff
Staff Writer
After coaching JV Volleyball at Costa two seasons ago, Hayley Lawson is back with the Girls Varsity team this spring.
Lawson was on the road to become a dancer, but after playing once a week with her best friends, she fell in love with volleyball when she was eleven.
“My mom convinced me that if my sister coached me and I could pick all of my best friends for my team, that I would like it,” Lawson said. “I finally I gave in and started to love it and I quit dance two years later.”
Lawson played volleyball at Davidson College in North Carolina. However, at the end of her career, she enjoyed coaching more than actually playing.
“As a coach it is nice to know that I was the reason or part of the reason why the girls were able to improve,” Lawson said. “It is a warm and fuzzy feeling that you helped someone improve and helped someone gain joy out of a sport that they love.”
Lawson has a unique way of coaching in order for the girls to connect with each other and make them a team.
“She makes every Thursday night team night and we play games and learn about each other,” junior Erin McCarthy said. “She tries to make us a family, and I think she’s really succeeded.”
According to Lawson, she is looking forward to working with the girls on the team to continue building upon their recent successes.
“They’re talented players, but they are also nice girls that want to play together,” Lawson said. “We don’t have to ask them to work hard, they come in here and naturally give it their all. As a coach it is a refreshing thing to have in players.”
Lawson not only coaches volleyball here, but also runs a volleyball club outside of Costa. Although she has been helping out with the club since she was in high school, she has taken over the club for the past two and a half years.
“She is a great coach because she challenges us physically and mentally,” McCarthy said. “She pushes us to be the best we can both on and off the court.”
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