PSU Volleyball Looks to have a Strong Season

The Plymouth State woman's volleyball team kicked off their season two weeks ago against the University of New England. The Lady Panthers currently have a 4-4 record heading into their first league game tomorrow afternoon. Plymouth State is coached by Chris Kilmer, who is in his first year as head coach. Kilmer took over for Moira Long, who resigned after 13 years as coach. I spoke to Coach Kilmer this past Monday, and Kilmer had some interesting things to say.

So who is this new head coach?

Chris Kilmer graduated from Plymouth State in 1998. Kilmer also use to write for The Clock as well, having been sports editor during his junior and senior years. Besides writing for the Clock, Kilmer played for the men's club volleyball team at Plymouth during his tenure. While playing on this team, Kilmer was the captain during his junior and senior year. Kilmer was also the President of the volleyball club. Kilmer's enjoyment of volleyball went beyond playing. During his junior and senior year, Kilmer coached junior varsity and middle school teams with fellow teammates. Upon graduating, Kilmer told himself that his enjoyment of volleyball would continue, and that his "dream job" would be to coach at Plymouth.

After Kilmer graduated, he established a settlement in Burington, Vermont. Coach Kilmer continued coaching volleyball, as he coached the Junior Olympic Club team in Meredith, New Hampshire for eight years. The opportunity to coach in Burlington opened up in 2006, as Kilmer became an assistant at Saint Michael's College. After three years of being an assistant, the Head Coach at Saint Michael's resigned and Kilmer finally got his first shot at becoming a Head Coach at the collegiate level. During the three year span as Saint Michael's Head Coach, Coach Kilmer posted a  32-49 record, and became only the second coach in the school's history to win over 25 games. This past summer though, Kilmer got what he called "my dream job" after Coach Long resigned.

This season for Plymouth is one that Coach Kilmer said "will be played one game at a time, but the goal is to win the L.E.C. (Little East Conference) championship." As the season has progressed thus far though, Coach Kilmer said that the team is "playing with more confidence game-by-game" . Despite being 1-3 within the past four matches, the Panthers have gotten better by playing top-notch competition during the preseason. Making key contributions so far this season include captains Alex Avery (Milton, N.H.) and Sarah Cady (Holliston,Mass.) as well as Casey and Danielle Stoodley (Salem, N.H.). With a nice mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores and first years, the Panthers have a legitimate shot not only to surprise opposing teams this year, but to also contend for a Little East Conference championship.