Tom Marsh Retakes the Helm of PCC Volleyball

WINTERVILLE�When the Pitt Community College volleyball team takes the floor this fall, a familiar face will be returning to the sidelines to lead the Bulldogs into battle.

Tom Marsh, who coached PCC for three seasons earlier this decade, has retaken the reins of the program he started in 2000. He replaces William Way, who posted an 85-50 record in four seasons at PCC but never could achieve postseason success.

Marsh, who has led the Bulldogs to the National Junior College Athletic Association volleyball tournament twice already, says he wants to do it again � and on a regular basis.

�I hope to return Pitt to regularly being the conference champion as well as get local players to want to stay in the area and continue their careers,� he said. �I would like to get more strong, local players to stay and play here. (PCC) volleyball hasn�t been as successful at this as our baseball and softball teams have.�

Marsh, who has received coaching accreditation through the U.S. Olympic Volleyball program, will have a head start in making recruiting connections at area high schools. Last year, he was the assistant volleyball coach at J.H. Rose High School when the Rampants won their first state title.

�� I am hoping to recruit strongly from Raleigh [to the] east and really am trying to draw players from the whole state,� Marsh said. �� I am after players with strong volleyball skills as well as strong people and team skills. I want players to benefit academically from their time at PCC.�

Most of next year�s team is set, Marsh said. �I am very happy with the size of my incoming players and have five who are 5-10 or above,� he said. �I am also very happy with the skill level of the players who are coming in. I believe we will make a strong run at the Region X Conference championship, which is our goal.�

With only three returnees to coach, Marsh says spring practice has been somewhat limited, so he has concentrated on the basics � passing, setting and hitting. He noted that his ultimate teaching goal remains the same.

�The biggest task is the same one every coach has, which is getting players to understand that the team goals are the important ones,� Marsh said.

03/30/2009