{"id":38753,"date":"2018-06-12T10:32:08","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T15:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=38753"},"modified":"2018-06-12T10:32:08","modified_gmt":"2018-06-12T15:32:08","slug":"wood-atkins-looks-to-guide-tiger-volleyball-in-the-right-direction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/tigermedianet.com\/?p=38753","title":{"rendered":"Wood-Atkins Looks to Guide Tiger Volleyball in the Right Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY TRISTAN SASSE<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a disappointing 2017 season for the Fort Hays State University volleyball team, the Tigers will be heading into the 2018 campaign with a new look. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the departure of head coach Kurt Kohler early last season, FHSU now will be led by Jessica Wood-Atkins. Brandi Fairbank took over as interim coach while Fort Hays was searching for a new coach this past school year.<\/span><\/p>\n

A native of Calhan, Colo., Wood-Atkins, who was hired in December, is the eighth head coach in Tiger volleyball history. Through the years, she has seen success as a player and coach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Playing her entire collegiate career at Division I Murray State, Wood-Atkins was a four-year starter for the Racers from 1998 to 2001. As an outside hitter, she is one of eight players in the program\u2019s history to have more than 1,000 career kills and 1,000 digs.<\/span><\/p>\n

After graduating from Murray State, Wood-Atkins was invited to try out for the U.S. national team as a libero but missed the cut. With the experience she gained from the collegiate level, Wood-Atkins decided to stay around the volleyball scene. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, she served as an assistant coach at UCCS in 2002 and 2003. Shortly after, she moved into an increased role with the program, being promoted to head coach in 2004. She compiled a 78-69 record from 2004 to 2008, making her the winningest coach in program history. <\/span><\/p>\n

In 2007, she led the Mountain Lions to their only NCAA Tournament berth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wood-Atkins credits a number of factors to her successful coaching experience at UCCS.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost, having the support from your administration. They remove obstacles so that you can do your job,\u201d Wood-Atkins said. \u201cThe second is community support and knowing that when you bring an athlete here, they are going to be part of a bigger community that supports them, that you want them to give back into and it\u2019s something that you believe in.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In recent years, Wood-Atkins has served on many national and regional committees, as well as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference officiating committee. She also worked in NCAA compliance with UCCS and the University of Idaho. <\/span><\/p>\n

With all of her leadership experience, Wood-Atkins officially joined the Tiger family Jan. 16. She takes over a team that went 11-23, including a 1-9 home record, in 2017. Although FHSU struggled last season,\u00a0<\/span>Wood-Atkins can relate to some of her players, being familiar with a small-town setting.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was a small-town kid, so going to college was entering a whole new world for me, and I think having that experience helps me relate to some of the athletes that we bring here to Hays because we do get a lot of small-town kids here,\u201d Wood-Atkins said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wood-Atkins already has begun the rebuilding process in a short time with FHSU by relying on key returners.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThey come with high expectation of performance, so I think they\u2019ve done a good job of setting the tempo for the rest of the team,\u201d Wood-Atkins said. \u201cThey\u2019ve done a good job of taking what we\u2019ve been working on in the spring and gearing it into goals on how we\u2019re going to win against the MIAA and the level of athletes we are going to be playing against.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, 2017 featured a roster with many underclassmen taking on significant roles. The Tigers had three All-MIAA performers last year. Sophomore Taylor White will be the only award winner returning from that group. <\/span><\/p>\n

Wood-Atkins emphasized the youth on her team but believes it can be used as a positive.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe core of our team is very young, and the MIAA hasn\u2019t seen most of the girls here,\u201d Wood-Atkins said. \u201cSo I\u2019m very excited to surprise some people with the level of talent and depth that we already have on the team.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tigers\u2019 season officially begins Aug. 24 in Goodwell, Okla., against Oklahoma-Panhandle State. FHSU will open the season with 15 straight road games before finally playing in Hays on Sept. 21 against Pittsburg State.<\/span><\/p>\n

With just more than two months until the season begins, Wood-Atkins is optimistic about the upcoming year.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just excited about the season. I think that there are a few late bloomers on our team who have been here, who maybe haven\u2019t stood out in the past, but after this spring are really coming on very, very strong,\u201d she said. \u201cAnd there is some experience with those key positions, and I think that those coupled together is going to make for a very fun season.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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