By Dan Hardenbrook
When fall sports practices begin next week, the Newberry Lady Indians volleyball program won’t have much time to ease into the season. More than 30 girls are expected to compete for spots on the JV and varsity teams during tryouts, leaving coaches Kayla Welker and Amy Edwards less than two weeks to prepare for the season-opening tournament.
The challenge comes with high expectations. The Lady Indians are defending both the varsity and JV EUP Conference championships, while the varsity squad hopes to build on last season’s run to the MHSAA Regionals.
Fortunately for Newberry, much of the work has already been done.
Between open gyms, team camp at Northwood University, scrimmages and other offseason opportunities, the Lady Indians have spent the summer laying the foundation for another successful season.
“We’ve had a lot of girls consistently attending open gyms, team camp at Northwood University, scrimmages, and other summer opportunities, which has allowed us to begin to build team chemistry and establish expectations early,” said varsity coach Kayla Welker. “The extra time in the gym has helped players continue to develop their own individual skills, while also providing an opportunity to begin to work on our team dynamics. I think the work we’ve put in this summer will give us a strong foundation as we head into the season.”
One of the biggest opportunities came last week when Newberry hosted Manistique, Bronson and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep for summer scrimmages at the J.L. DeCook Gymnasium.
The competition gave the Lady Indians a chance to measure themselves against unfamiliar opponents.
“The scrimmage went well overall,” Welker said. “It gave us the opportunity to compete against several teams that we don’t see during the regular season, which was a great experience for our players. I thought we competed well and showed that we can keep up with strong opponents.”
Welker also liked what she saw from a team still experimenting with lineups during optional summer activities.
“One of the biggest takeaways was that many of our fundamental skills are already looking strong,” she said. “We expect a large turnout at tryouts this year, so our rotations and player positioning have looked a little different at each scrimmage and summer event since attendance naturally varies. It’s been valuable to see players in a variety of roles and positions, and I’m excited to continue building on what I’ve seen so far.”
Competition for roster spots should be fierce after Newberry finished the 2025 season with an undefeated JV campaign and a trip to the MHSAA Regionals for the varsity.
Welker encouraged players heading into tryouts to bring more than just their volleyball skills.
“Come prepared to work hard and bring a positive attitude,” she said. “We’re looking not only at volleyball skills, but also work ethic, hustle, attitude, coachability and how players respond to challenges. Once the season begins, everyone will be expected to continue improving while contributing to a positive team culture.”
That culture has helped fuel the program’s recent growth.
“Volleyball is growing across the state and country, and we’ve seen that increased interest here in Newberry as well,” Welker said. “I think a big part of our continued growth is the success our program has experienced over the past several seasons. When students see a program that is competitive and fun to be a part of, they’re excited to get involved.”
The program also hosted its first youth volleyball camp this summer, with 16 fourth- through sixth-graders participating over three days.
“Building those connections with younger athletes is important, and we hope it continues to grow interest in our program for years to come,” Welker said. “Having large numbers of players interested creates healthy competition that pushes everyone to improve and helps strengthen our program for the future.”
As another season begins, Welker believes the greatest takeaway from the offseason isn’t simply improved skills—it’s confidence in the players she’ll soon be coaching.
“One of the biggest things I’ll take from our summer work is the confidence I have in this group of athletes trying out this year,” she said. “I’ve had the opportunity to coach many of these girls over the past few years, and one thing that has always stood out is how dedicated they are to improving. Even when they’re playing well or winning, they continue asking questions, seeking feedback and looking for ways to refine their skillsets.”
That commitment has inspired Welker as well.
“I think it keeps me on my toes to continue growing as a coach too, because I want to be the best I can be for them,” she said. “They’re not only talented, but they’re great teammates. They’re supportive of one another, willing to be versatile and eager to try different positions and rotations because they love the game and want to do what’s best for the team.”
