Clark Menger, the coach of the Powhatan High School volleyball team was NOT named Southside District Coach of the Year AGAIN.  Clark is undefeated in the district for his entire five year tenure as head coach and has never been Coach of the Year.  He has won 66 consecutive matches in the district.  His win/loss record over that time is 101-15 – many of those losses coming to AAA teams.  He has probably put more young ladies on college teams than the rest of the district combined.

This year, Clark’s 23-0 team is ranked 3rd in the metro Richmond area and has defeated the some of the area’s best AAA squads.  Probably more astounding is that out of 23 matches (which are best of three), the Indians have only lost four games (69-4).  To put things in perspective, Powhatan is the only remaining undefeated AA team in the state.

I have been following Powhatan volleyball closely for about eight years.  This year’s team is the best of many remarkable teams.  This is not simply a result of outstanding athletes of which we have an abundance, but coaching.  Clark’s offensive and defensive schemes are ones that many of his opposing coaches don’t even understand much less could execute. 

This is not the first time the district volleyball coaches have had egg on their face.  A short while ago, the district coaches didn’t vote one girl from another undefeated Powhatan team to the All-District team.  Conference officials noticed this mind-boggling slight and made them revote. 

In short, the Southside District should be deeply embarrassed. I suspect that since the coaches in the district can’t exact their revenge on Clark and the Indians in their games, they do so in the postseason voting. This will be Powhatan’s last year in the Southside District.  Thank goodness for that! 

Kyle Tucker
Powhatan