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Concordia Lutheran turns volleyball program over to Smeltzer
Concordia Lutheran made a change inside the volleyball program turning the reigns over to Brandon Smeltzer.
Smeltzer has been the 17U coach at Texas Advantage Volleyball and last coached at the high school ranks at West Torrance High School in California.
He's well-versed in the Houston high school game having coached at the club level for over 20 years.
"The team has had great success and most of the kids play club, so they take volleyball seriously," he said. "The administration is awesome."
Smeltzer played on the beach tour and broke into the pro ranks with partner Sean Rosenthal, who has been the No. 1 player in the sport over the last decade.
"I'm a typical beach guy from California and am very even-keeled on the court," he said. "You see coaches yell and scream on the sideline. I'm not that guy. I really believe your team is a reflection of its coach in pressure situations."
Smeltzer knows what he has returning in Sophie Keene and Sydney Whitfield, both elite players. Keene is committed to Baylor and Whitfield to Liberty University – both DI schools.
"Sophia is just in control," he said. "I've never seen her flip out on the court, and I like that. Whitfield is a stud and has a whip of an arm. I don't know what the deal has been, but she can really play. She's so athletic."
Smeltzer is excited about the challenge and has high expectations for the 'Saders moving forward.
"We are pretty solid all the way around," he said. "I'm just excited to coach them and I hope they buy into the new system. We are gonna make a run at it and I know it goes through St. Agnes.
H-Town Volleyball Stars in NCAA Title Game; Photo Gallery
The Kentucky Wildcats face the Texas Longhorns in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament Championship in Omaha, Nebraska on ESPN2 Saturday night. The game has some serious Houston connections.
The 'Cats (No. 2) have a trio of former VYPE stars. Avery Skinner starred at HYCA and her sister Madi finished at Faith West in Katy. Senior Avery is the second-leading kill artist for Kentucky and freshman Madi is the fourth on the team. Former Ridge Point star Reagan Rutherford is also a freshman and has seen some court time this season.
For Texas, Skylar Fields is the team's second-leading scorer and is just heating up. Fields is a sophomore.
Fields and Rutherford played together at Ridge Point and their last game together was the 2018 state title game.
