Lisa Davis new coach for Silverdale Baptist Academy volleyball

Silverdale Baptist Academy has hired Lisa Davis to coach its high school volleyball team.

Davis is succeeding Rhonda Hawkins, who resigned at the end of last season. Both played in high school for legendary East Ridge coach Catherine Neely.

"I absolutely have the utmost respect for Rhonda," Davis said. "We have a lot of the same coaching style. I'd say I'm a little more vocal. It's some huge shoes to fill, but I'm extremely excited about the opportunity."

Davis, whose maiden name is White, also played basketball for Neely at East Ridge before becoming a decorated volleyball player at Middle Tennessee State University from 1989 to '91. She has spent most of her teaching and coaching career in Georgia and developed a select volleyball club in the North Georgia area called the Georgia Adrenaline. She also has officiated volleyball at both the high school and college levels.

Silverdale's high school athletic director, Tim Couch, whose daughters Katelyn and Caroline play volleyball, had seen Davis coach during club season.

"I was just impressed with her coaching ability," Couch said. "We're getting a good deal. Our kids our excited. I hate that it took so long, but I think we've gotten a good one."

Davis dropped in on a team workout last Monday. Couch said her official duties as coach will begin July 8.

"We're young," Davis said. "We only have one returning senior. Five or six of them that return actually play club ball. That's a huge advantage. I love that we're young. I get to work with them longer. They seem like a great group of girls. They're hard workers and they're very intelligent. It's kind of like a coach's dream."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.

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