Russell settling into new role as Polk Middle volleyball coach

Love brought Matthew Russell to Polk County. Its people, and the county’s growing passion for volleyball, is making him doubly glad he’s here.

Named Polk County Middle School’s new volleyball coach last month, Russell is wrapping up his first week of tryouts and practice, working to prepare the Wolverines for their August 27 season opener at home against Macon Middle School. Russell knows well of the expectations for a program that finished undefeated last season with a Blue Ridge Middle School Conference championship.

“There are high expectations,” Russell said as Thursday’s practice concluded. “There is a supportive culture here and a competitive culture, which is great. They take volleyball seriously here, but that is good.”

Russell spent last season as the head coach at Union High School in Rose Hill. There he inherited a program that finished 0-12 in 2012 and helped engineer the makings of a turnaround with a 4-12 record during the 2013 season.

But his engagement to Polk County High School graduate Brooke Campbell led Russell to begin searching for a position in the area at the same time that Polk County Schools began hunting a replacement for Brandy Alm, now the head girls basketball coach at PCHS.

“I inquired about getting a position here, interviewed, came out and fell in love with the place,” Russell said. “They had a social studies opening and a volleyball opening, so it worked out perfectly.

“My first year as a head volleyball coach, taking over a program that didn’t win a game the previous season, there was a very low bar. I had to try to change the culture. Here the community is very supportive and the administration is very supportive. I want to make sure I am challenging the girls every day at practice. The assistant last year, Donna Hall, is the assistant again this year and has been fantastic. She has helped me get to know the girls, let me bounce ideas off her. She has been great.”

Russell has been impressed with what he’s seen in his first week.

“The girls are very hard-working with great attitudes,” Russell said. “They do everything I ask.

“As far as being season-ready and game-ready, we still have a little ways to go. But the girls are putting in the work to get ready for that.”