Written by: Natalee Boutelle and Peyton Maynard
There is a familiar face leading the sixth-grade volleyball team this fall: Salem High School English teacher Nicole Purlee. While she is new to the sixth grade, she is not new to the sport. Purlee was the high school coach from 2014-2022. It was an adjustment for Purlee to go from high school back to middle school because she had forgotten that some of the skills players develop by high school are not there yet. However, she made it her responsibility to teach those skills.
Purlee actually started coaching volleyball at the middle school level during her second year of teaching at Springs Valley Jr.-Sr. High School in 2007. In 2013, when she started at SHS as an English teacher, she was asked to join the high school coaching staff.
Last year, Purlee returned to the middle school level to coach the seventh grade. This year, she is coaching sixth grade and admitted it has been an adjustment at times, but it's been a lot of fun. Her experience at the high school level showed how vital it is for younger grade levels to build strong fundamentals and set expectations for behaviors.
When she started coaching seventh grade last year, it was to fill in for a maternity leave. She said she couldn't let a group of young ladies not have a coach.
“They were so much fun to coach and watch play,” she said.
This year, she has had the opportunity to coach again because there was an opening. She and Gwinn Miller decided to co-coach.
While Purlee misses the high school level, she really enjoys seeing the middle school players grow. She said that while high school players are still learning and growing, they also have more consistency compared to middle school players due to experience.
“It's a little easier to see quicker growth at the middle school level,” she said.
They work a lot on fundamental passing and serving. Each play needs to begin with a good pass on serve-receive to the get play setup or return the ball to the opposing team. Players also need to be able to serve in order to score points. A good drill Purlee uses is the "Queens of the Court" which they do at the end of practices. As the coach, she expects players to build up one another.
“This includes a positive bench presence, knowing that we win and/or lose as a team, and so much more,” she said. “When the team steps on the court, they are also representing Salem. There is an expectation to represent our school to the highest level possible. When that does not happen, there are tough conversations that need to happen, but that's part of the job as a coach.”
Purlee said she has also been extremely blessed with having awesome former and current players who have made coaching rewarding. She has loved teaching and coaching the sport of volleyball at all levels.