The recruiting process is all about compatibility for Eastern Wyoming College Lancer volleyball coach Julie Sherbeyn.
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TORRINGTON – The recruiting process is all about compatibility for Eastern Wyoming College Lancer volleyball coach Julie Sherbeyn.
“There is a special kid that fits this community, there is a special kid that fits this program and there is a special kid that fits my kind of philosophy,” Sherbeyn said. “There is some kind of chemistry that has to go along with finding the right fit for coaches and for players.”
Sherbeyn relies on her current players to recommend upcoming recruits. The current players know what she expects and how she operates as a coach, so they have a grasp of what types of high school seniors to recommend.
“The kids in my program right now know exactly what I expect,” Sherbeyn said. “They’ve bought into my coaching philosophy and the expectations of the program… they’re my greatest recruiters because they know who will fit.”
Sherbeyn also started a club team in Torrington. That’s a big recruiting resource to get out and see girls from the area. She also uses the club team to help develop local athletes into better volleyball players.
When looking at a possible recruit, Sherbeyn considers several factors. She looks at both the athletic ability and character. She said one tool she uses to try and decide on the character of a recruit is game films.
“I always tell my recruits if they’re going to send me something, I want a whole game,” Sherbeyn said. “I need to know how you exist in a whole game. I need to know where your setting is going, are they going to you when it gets tight and what are you doing with it when it gets tight? Are you serving all out or are you serving safe? If you have an error, how do you come back from that, what’s the body language after that? All of those intangible things speak to character and demeanor and heart and competitiveness.”
Throughout the recruiting process, Sherbeyn has her depth chart in mind. She looks to fill the holes in her roster with recruits who excelled in the needed position, but her depth chart can be flexible if it needs to be if injuries or illness arrive. The goal is to have recruits to fill specific needs on the team.
“I need to be able to tell you as a coach, where you sit on my roster,” Sherbeyn said. “Having a good grasp of (the depth chart) – you can’t overload one position because obviously I had three people on the bench last year with ACL’s. You can’t predict that stuff, so having a nice even mix and making sure those scholarships are spread out appropriately and having kids who can do multiple things (is important). So when those injuries occur, you can slide them in somewhere else. That’s hugely valuable in any sport.”