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I had a chance to exchange a few emails with Orangefield Junior High Volleyball Coach Malorie Read  

Coach Read is in her 9th Year at Orangefield Junior High School. Before that, she coached in Corsicana and at Skyline High School in Sammamish, Washington. 

Skyline is her Alma Mater where she played soccer, and basketball, and threw Javelin. 

After High School, she attended Bellevue College, just outside of Seattle. From there she transferred to the University of Kansas playing on the LaCrosse team for the Jayhawks.

Read adds, “ROCK CHALK!”

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To her sports have always been part of her life. “They are the root of many life lessons, I have learned,” Read ads.

Each season it is my passion to pass on those same life lessons to my athletes, while still learning and growing as a coach

She always wanted to be a coach, having a love for teaching athletes body control, and respect for the game. Read enjoys guiding her athletes through all of the challenges that athletics may throw their way.

“Having respect for the sport, coaches, and teammates are all a constant throughout any sport, and something that I teach and take great pride in.” Read stated

Read, though not having a background in Volleyball, adapted quickly. 

She pointed out, “ Coaching is something that comes very naturally to me, so even without the experience as a volleyball player, I have been able to learn to teach and coach the sport.

I have always wanted to be a coach, as I love teaching the athletes body control, respect for the game, and guiding them through all the challenges that athletics may throw their way. Having respect for the sport, coaches, and teammates are all a constant throughout any sport, and something that I teach and take great pride in. “

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When asked about teaching on the Junior High Level,  she said she loved teaching at that level, stating that it creates the foundations for all other levels. 

Read pointed out. “I’m lucky enough to have phenomenal co- coaches. We focus not only on preparing our athletes for the next level in a physical capacity, but also the mental. We like to keep the learning process fun and positive, but also focused on growth.”

She believe that building a strong love and passion goes well beyond the field or court.

These young women are in the early stages of learning what they are capable of, and what they can achieve through athletics. I am so honored to have a front row seat to see their belief in themselves rise higher and higher.

Orangefield Junior High Volleyball (Photo Courtesy of OJH)

Team Captain Mikayla Locke talked about her role on the team, playing setter and outside hitter. She developed a passion for the game at a very young age thanking her mom for introducing her to the sport.

The thing she likes the most about playing is the teamwork.

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I like how everyone has to cooperate and work together,our team has very good sportsmanship and good communication. We always work our hardest to achieve our goals.

 Team Captain Mikayla Locke

And team Captain Eliese Gravett shared the sentiment

I like how it is a team sport. My team is great at working together and we have good chemistry on and off the court.  

Team Captain Eliese Gravett

Gravett plays Libero adding, “A Libero is a defensive specialist and it is a great honor to play.”

She credits her wanting to play to when she and her sister would play volleyball outside. She started to like volleyball then.

The Junior High Bobcats are currently undefeated in District Play. Read credits a lot of that to the supportive Bobcat Community

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Our community has such a strong history in being there for each other. The girls and coaches love seeing and hearing all the support each night that our Bobcat Nation brings.

The Lady Bobcats Pink Out game is on October 17th against Buna.

They are moving facilities to host at the high school gym in the hopes of high attendance

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