A new era begins for the Eastern volleyball team as it enters its spring season with a new head coach.

Julie Allen will kick off her role as Eastern’s 12th volleyball coach this Saturday as the Panthers take on Northern Illinois. Allen said although her first run as the coach is a short one, she has still had a chance to develop as a team under her leadership.

“The spring season is a short season; however, this is the time for growth. We will have four play dates in the spring that will allow us to see where we are in skill, in offensive or defensive strategy versus opponents and what we need to focus more on in the future,” Allen said.

Allen said the spring season is an opportunity for her to spend more time with her players in a small-group setting to focus on everyone’s individual needs. Working directly with the athletes is a big part of Allen’s coaching philosophy.

Even though her main focus is developing her student-athletes on the court, Allen said her coaching is anchored in providing the players with meaningful experiences that allow them to learn accountability, responsibility and self-confidence.

Allen said she would like to serve as an inspiration to those she coaches.

“My coaching style is to inspire my team and my staff to become better volleyball players, students, and a better person,” Allen said. “I am committed to modeling a consistent behavior that promotes success through high standards, reaction to success or failures and focus on tasks at hand.”

While the coaching may be brand new, Allen said she is excited to have a team that is already skilled and ready to work. She said she has seen leadership from not just her seniors, but also the underclassmen.

Allen said her team has already committed itself to hitting the gym every week, to the drills she’s assigned and putting it all into every practice and workout. She said Eastern does not have many weaknesses, but the team is still adjusting in this transition period.

To prepare for the spring season, Allen said the team has been focusing on serving and its pass game, both on an individual basis and as a team. With this training, she said the squad is starting to develop its gameplay strategy.

Allen does not just have her sights set on the spring season. She said come fall, the team will strive for conference greatness.

“I was brought here to continue on what the past staff had set out to do. We want to not only make the OVC tournament, but we want to win the OVC tournament. It not only takes talking about it, but it takes true commitment and action from all,” Allen said.

Saturday’s game will be the team’s only March match. Eastern will play Illinois State, Southern Illinois Edwardsville and Parkland College in April.

Kaitlin Cordes can be reached at 581-2812 or krcordes@eiu.edu