Lady Wolves Have New Coach

LINCOLN — Lady Wolves’ senior high volleyball has a new coach in Lauren Merritt, who takes over the program after former coach Stefanie Howard was fired.

Merritt endeavors to bring stability to a program that has undergone constant change with five different head coaches over the past seven years.

Long-time Lincoln coach Karen Coleman coached the Lady Wolves in 2011. District Information Technology Adrian Risley coached for two seasons from 2012-2013. Risley, a volleyball enthusiast, injected as much energy as he could muster into the program. His tenure was complicated by the constant demands of Information Technology maintenance. Then he lost a valuable assistant coach, Stephanie Mitchell, who moved on to rival Prairie Grove. The next year another assistant took a job at Farmington. The following season Lincoln didn’t have enough girls to field a varsity team.

Former Lincoln girls basketball coach Brian Davenport took the helm of Lady Wolves’ volleyball in 2014, then stepped down to concentrate on girls basketball as Howard, who had been assistant volleyball coach shifted to head coach for 2015 and 2016.

Merritt has coached cross country distance running for Lincoln in the past and teaches English at the high school. She is one of three new coaches for 4A-1 teams in 2017.

Lincoln, Gentry and Gravette all have new coaches. Courtney Millsap is the new head coach at Gentry while Gravette’s new coach, Brandi Varner, came from Jonesboro-Westside and ran the peewee volleyball program there.

Lincoln has quality athletes on their roster including: lengthy Madison Jones, who was effective at times playing middle blocker last season. Senior Jada Corbit has quickness and has played setter as an underclassman. Jessica Goldman is another tall, athletic player. Hollie Webb, Libby Calico and Averi Massey are among the returning players.

The Lady Wolves open the season Aug. 29 at home hosting Gravette, then go on the road to West Fork, which graduated the bulk of last year’s strong team. On Sept. 19, the Lady Wolves tangle with rival, Prairie Grove, another team that graduated several starters. Lincoln closes out the regular season on their home court against the Lady Tigers on Oct. 12.