NTL VOLLEYBALL: ATHENS' DARROW SAYS TEAM FOCUSED ON DISTRICT TITLE REPEAT (13 PHOTOS) (August 21, 2026)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
ATHENS — Coming off the program's first District 4 title in 20 years, Athens volleyball coach Heather Darrow is excited to be preparing for the 2026 season.

"It's exciting to be back on the court, but I don't really feel like there's been a break," she said. "We've been going hard ... after last season, it was right into travel into open gyms, and now we're back into it. This is the fastest summer I've ever had in my life."

Darrow said the numbers remain very good.

"We're at 20 this year," she said. "We'll probably have 12 on JV starting out, and then eight on varsity. 

"We did do a roster limit of 22 for the junior high team as well," she noted. "Having 40 kids in a junior high program doesn't help anybody.

"I'm very happy with our numbers," she added.

Darrow has also noticed an uptick in enthusiasm this preseason.

"The girls are focused, and I feed off of that," she said. It's all them, and then it's just me getting super excited because I tell them their potential is unlimited.

"We are focusing on standards for ourselves, and the girls are really coming in, and really setting the standards, and what to work for, instead of just showing up as girls that play volleyball," added Darrow. "They're being actual athletic volleyball players, and pushing each other." 

Darrow said she's approaching preseason a bit differently as well.

"I definitely have a different mentality than the last couple years, too," she said. 

"There's just this work ethic with these athletes that I can feed off of," Darrow added.

Darrow said the focus of the preseason is communication and "relentlessness."

"Communication, obviously like every year, is a focus, and  I think we're stepping up a little bit more with the communication ... but also just all out relentlessness. 

"We're never just never give up," said Darrow. "When you hit the floor and you think you made your last contact, you're gonna go for 10 more, because we're just never gonna quit.

"It's just heart, hustle, and never quit," Darrow added.

Darrow will also have a familiar face join her on the Wildcat sidelines this season as longtime Sayre coach Tom Shay steps in to coach the JV team.

"Tom is just a great volleyball guy," she said. "He knows the game ... we've played together for years, and we've talked volleyball for hours at a time.

"I'm looking forward to working with him this season," Darrow added.


—————————

IN PHOTO: Athens coach Heather Darrow. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.

Print Friendly Version