SARASOTA – After traveling the world playing and coaching beach volleyball for 20 years, Gretchen Hand believes she has truly found a place to call home.
Hand's relationship with the Cardinal Mooney beach volleyball team is a match made in heaven, despite some turbulence midway through the season.
Hand, who teaches at the school, took over the team after former coach Chad Davis resigned on March 15. At the time, the Cougars were 7-1.
High school summary:Cardinal Mooney claims beach volleyball district championship
And they continued to win under Hand, finishing the regular season with a 15-2 record and then winning the district semifinals by defeating Sarasota Christian and the Class A district championship by defeating Venice High School.
“It was a sudden big change for us,” Cougars team captain Helena Hebda said. “I think we handled it really well as a team. We adapted well.
“The coaches (Coach Hand and assistant coach Julia Hanson) kept us calm and helped us through the coaching change process. We haven't missed a beat and continue to improve.”
After Hand played collegiately at Jefferson College in New Orleans and St. Louis, Missouri. Louis' beach volleyball journey started in full swing. The St. Louis native has played professionally in Brazil, Colombia, Ireland and Thailand.
Mr. Hand's head coaching jobs also include the University of California, Davis, Missouri State University, Weber High School and Fort Lauderdale High School.
But what lingered in the back of her mind was her time as an assistant coach at Cardinal Mooney more than a decade ago.
“I really love this community,” Hand said. “I came back here to raise my daughter (5-year-old Eva Elizabeth) in a faith-based community.
“The student-athletes, the faculty and staff, everyone was amazing. The players overcame all the adversity, and that just speaks to the great people they are.”
The players quickly rallied around their new coach.
“We're very close,” Cardinal Mooney junior Izzy Russell said. “We love our new coaches. They have been great. They have practiced a loving and caring atmosphere and have built camaraderie within the team.
“It's fun and competitive. Our skill level has improved a lot.”
The next test for the Cougars is the start of the regional playoffs.It has not yet been decided that they will host their opponent on Monday at 4 p.m.
“They were hungry to learn and did everything we asked them to do,” Hand said. “This is a great place to raise our daughters. These girls are like having a lot of big sisters.”
