As this current volleyball season approached, John Carroll welcomed a new member to the girls volleyball team.

Religion Teacher Meghan Doyle is the John Carroll girls freshman/sophomore volleyball coach. Coach Doyle is now in her sixth year teaching at JC in the Religion department and is “excited” for this new opportunity.

The girls’ volleyball program has been a very popular sport for John Carroll as it includes JV and varsity, and it had enough new and upcoming student athletes to create a freshman and sophomore team.

Coach Doyle shared, “Coach Scheide has been working hard to grow the girls’ volleyball program over the years. He had mentioned that we might have enough interest for a full fresh/soph team this season, and I was excited to give it a try.”

Unfortunately, some schools don’t offer a girls fresh/soph programs this year, so they had to rely on learning and growing as a team.

Despite these challenges, she also plans on coaching next year and loved encouraging them, supporting them, and even challenging them.

Additionally, Coach Doyle said, “Coaching and helping them reach their potential or believe in themselves is just so awesome.”

Since the beginning of the volleyball season, Coach Doyle noted how there are many similarities between court games and practices with class lessons and teachings.

An example of this is “creating a positive, uplifting team culture and classroom culture where we grow through our mistakes, creating buy-in (wanting to show up and do the work necessary), helping the team see their own potential, providing hope with challenges, and inspiring faith in themselves and leaning on each other and God for support.”

With this being Mrs. Doyle’s inaugural season coaching, she has also been working alongside her husband, Coach Sean Doyle, who is the Fitness and Performance Coordinator and Head Varsity Golf Coach. He has also started his first-year teaching at John Carroll and has been a big supporter of her endeavors.

Helping with practice plans and taking care of their toddler, Mr. Doyle has been a “huge help” and allows her to be present as a coach.

Although being new to coaching the girls fresh/soph team, she was involved at a young age with sports, clubs, services, and church.

Coach Doyle said, “My parents always encouraged my siblings and me to pursue our passions and, most importantly, to give our all to whatever we committed to.”

Coach Doyle has also had plenty of practice with family members and has been “researching and learning so much alongside the team this year.”

She encourages all young girls whether it be coaching or trying out to “know how to get support and resources when needed but believe you can do it – whether that’s play volleyball at the next level or coach others so they can play at the next level.”

Coach Doyle welcomes all who want to try out, and can’t wait for next year’s season to get started.