Foundation volleyball off to fast start under new coach

WINTER GARDEN For Stephanie Tibbetts, the new head coach of the girls volleyball team at Foundation Academy, the decision to take the job with the Lions and leave a school she had previously been at for nine years had a lot to do with how the game is prioritized at the school.

“I had really started building a program (at South Lake) that I was pretty proud of,” Tibbetts said. “But (I took) the chance to come to a small private school where volleyball is taken a little more seriously.”

So far, that decision has worked out well. Early in the season, the Lions are 5-1 under Tibbetts, who is also serving as an assistant athletic director on campus and a digital design teacher. A season ago at this point, Foundation was 1-5.

The veteran coach said one of the elements of the smooth transition that has taken place has been her familiarity with some of the girls on the roster through either club volleyball or private lessons. With that buffer, the team has quickly taken to their new coach’s philosophy.

“They’re finding that I’m much more of a relational coach than they’ve probably had in the past,” Tibbetts said. “They’ve really responded.”

It also does not hurt that Lauren Miller, a standout outside hitter, has returned to the program.

Miller, a senior, transferred to West Orange for the 2015 season after being a part of the Foundation teams that played for state championships in 2012 and 2013. Miller’s return for her senior year has helped invigorate the program, which had a down year in 2015.

“As a coach, it’s great having a player (such as Miller) — a go-to player that you know you can count on no matter what,” Tibbetts said. “The girls love that she’s back here at Foundation.”

Miller, who has chosen not to play club volleyball anymore and is undecided about whether she wants to play in college, said it has been refreshing to play for the Lions new coach.

“She’s very encouraging, so I definitely enjoy that and she knows the game pretty well,” Miller said.

Along with strong play from other seniors such as Christina Rumbaugh and Adriana Jessup, the Lions have raced out to a strong start. Foundation’s five wins over CFCA, International Community, Orlando Christian Prep, Real Life Christian Academy and Mount Dora Christian have all been sweeps. 

Despite that, Tibbetts sees plenty of room for improvement.

“Right now, we’re fortunate that we’ve been the team that has had more talent (in its victories),” Tibbetts said. “Are we playing as a great group of six right now? No — but we have great pieces that will eventually get there.”

Contact Steven Ryzewski at [email protected].