Thu, Nov 26 2009
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Champlin champing at the bit Former Falcon assistant excited to be Jefferson’s new head volleyball coach KARL PEARSONStar Beacon That means big contributions will be needed from a lot of girls from Champlin’s freshmen team that lost only two matches last season.
“We had a lot of strong players on the freshmen team last year,” she said. “Some of them even got some experience at the varsity level at the end of last year. I think they’re ready to take on those roles. “Many of these girls also played (Junior Olympic) volleyball. We have some strong, athletic groups. Their skill level is top-notch.” Champlin believes she has power in her outside-hitting group. She is a little less certain about her personnel at middle hitter and setter. “Our strengths are probably out outside hitters,” she said. “I have high hopes for some of our middle hitters, but they have to develop more experience. We may be looking at two sophomores (Paige Clark and Destinie Hill) as our setters. “I think we have a pretty strong core group. They’re a really positive group.” She’s been around Jefferson long enough to understand the outstanding volleyball tradition established by Bartlett and Palm. Now the goal is to try and make gradual progress back to that level. “I knew coming in what a great tradition and program Jeanine had,” Champlin said. “Don was blessed with some great athletes and continued that tradition. “(Britton) had a lot younger group the last two years. We’re still going to be looking at building again, especially with our younger girls.” She isn’t looking to make any wholesale changes. “I don’t plan to turn things upside down,” Champlin said. “We’re going to have pretty much the same defensive package. We may bring in some new looks on offense. I’m confident we have the girls that can step into the roles we intend to try.” Champlin wants to be sure her new charges have an enjoyable experience on the court. She wants them to enjoy themselves the way she did when she played volleyball for three seasons at Conneaut for the newly retired Dave Simpson. She also played a year of basketball for Paul Ruland and finished with two seasons for Simpson in that sport. “I want volleyball to be memorable and meaningful for the girls,” Champlin said. “I remember playing against (Britton) when she was on (newly reappointed Edgewood coach) Dave Fowler’s team at St. John and playing against the great teams Geneva had. “I remember playing against (DeGeorge), too. It’s kind of funny that we’ve come full circle. I developed a lot of lifelong friendships playing in high school, in intramurals at KSU-Ashtabula and in sand volleyball leagues.” She has been married to fellow 1987 Conneaut graduate Donald Osborne for 18 years. They have two sons — Brandon, 16, a junior at Jefferson High School, and Tristan, 10, a fourth grader at Jefferson Elementary. 
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