He’s back! Carlson returns as IHCC skipper

By ROGER THOMAS, Courier correspondent

OTTUMWA — Michael Jordan retired and came back. Brett Favre has done it a couple of times. Now the Indian Hils Warriors welcome coach Terry Carlson back for a second stint as head volleyball coach.

Carlson has been a successful coach at every stop. He was head coach of the Iowa Blizzard (pro volleyball) for two years. The second year the Blizzard were national runners-up. His work at Ankeny high school saw one of his teams ranked number one in the state. In 2002 the IHCC volleyball program found itself ranked nationally for the first time. In 2005, the seventh-ranked Warriors finished third at nationals. Carlson seems to be the perfect fit for a Warrior program looking to get back to national recognition. In the NJCAA DI Preseason poll, Indian Hills is ranked 11th.

“Honestly, I really missed working with kids, especially volleyball players,” said Carlson. “To see girls improve their level of play is really rewarding.”

The transition period will be helped by the return of two players and assistant coach, Peg Ploeger. Carlson talked about Ploeger, a former Warrior player.

“She is really a super assistant to have working with our kids.”

The two returning players are Taylor Johnston, an outside hitter from Marshalltown, and Timmi Lueck a defensive specialist from Enderlin, N.D.

Carlson will start his second go round as Warrior coach with nine new players, two transfers and seven players from high school programs in the Midwest.

The two transfers are international players who already have had a year of college experience. Patrice Souza is an outside hitter who was all-region last year at Lakeland. The other transfer is Gabriela Zeller a right side hitter from Midland. Both players are from Brazil.

The last couple of Warrior squads have had a local flavor. Amy Wetrich, Karie and Erin Downing, and Caitlin Davis — all former Ottumwa High School players — have contributed much to IHCC volleyball. This year will be no different. Chelsey Taylor, a defensive specialist, started for a state tourney Fairfield team last season and former Bulldog Mariah Hopkins will be part of the 2009 squad. Both players should help.

“She’s worked hard and come a long ways,” Carlson said of Hopkins. “She will be an outside hitter on the left side for us”.

Lots of things make up a preseason. Learning a new system, learning to play with new teammates, and learning what it will take to be a college player are some of the prominent things that need to be addressed.

“We have really worked hard and made a lot of progress. It’s been a great preseason,” said Carlson.

Some of the newcomers have looked good early and will be counted on to help. This group includes Taylor Woebbeking a setter from Newton, Wynter Davis a middle blocker from Omaha Central, Lizzy White a libero from Reed Springs, Mo., and Kersten Phillips a middle blocker from Wadena. Kelsey Nelson, a defensive specialist from Webster City, rounds out the squad.

“We have the possibility of adding one more player. I’m a little concerned about our depth at the setter position, but we are very close to having the pieces we need,” added Carlson.

Carlson, who characterizes his style of play as an “attacking defensive system.” has already seen his team in action. Last weekend the Warriors scrimmaged William Penn and traditionally strong Truman State.

Carlson talked about his goal for his team this season.

“We want to be a better team at the end of the season than we are now. I believe that is easily attainable for this group,” he said.

The Warriors 2009 schedule includes a very strong region foe in sixth-ranked Iowa Western and one of the stronger DII teams, Illinois Central. The Warriors open their season Friday and Saturday at the Southeastern Tourney. Their first opponent will be Prairie State.

With a successful coach — a retired educator with nothing to do but prepare his team, teams had better be ready to play when they step on the floor against the Warriors.

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