Relentless Work Ethic. Discipline. The Will to Prepare. Character. Commitment to Team. Enjoying the Journey will lead to: Big South Champions. NCAA Tournament 2nd Round. Beat Top 25 Programs. A National-Caliber Program.
This is the vision that Head Coach Sally Polhamus has for the Winthrop volleyball program. As she enters her 3rd season at the helm of the program, she sees the program having steady improvements to reaching these goals.
Also, for the first time in the history of the program, Polhamus took her team on a foreign tour. In March 2009, the Eagles enjoyed 10 days in Italy, including time in Rome and Venice, experiencing the culture, sight-seeing, practicing, and playing three matches, including a match versus the Italian Junior National Team. Several of Polhamus’ former players have experience after college playing professionally throughout the world and this trip provided the young Eagles a look at the life of a professional volleyball player.
Not only does Polhamus have experience coaching at a high level, but her playing experience was much of the same.
A member of the 2005 Hall of Fame class at Xavier University, Polhamus was a four-year letter winner with the volleyball program. She was a 4-time All-Conference player and her career concluded as the all-time career kills leader (1,749) and second in all-time digs (1,338). She still holds the record for most kills in a match with 38.Coach Polhamus spent two seasons at Indiana University, where she assisted in training of the outside hitters and defensive and offensive systems. Prior to IU, Polhamus spent three seasons at the University of Dayton where she served as a recruiting coordinator.Winthrop fans know they have a winner in Coach Polhamus. She was an assistant coach for 10 years in high-caliber programs such as Georgia Tech, Indiana University, and the University of Dayton.
At Georgia Tech, Polhamus recruited top classes that were ranked as high as No. 8 by PrepVolleyball.com, including 10 recruits that were recognized as “Fab 50” players by Volleyball Magazine. Polhamus helped lead the Jackets to new heights not only at Georgia Tech, but in the Atlantic Coast Conference as well. In her first season, the Jackets went 33-6, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament and were ranked 17th in the final AVCA/USA coaches poll. The following year, the program experienced the most success by reaching the Elite 8 in the NCAA tournament, finished ranked No. 8th while being ranked as high as No. 4 during the regular season. In 2004, Polhamus helped Georgia Tech to its second consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. At Georgia Tech, Polhamus coached nine All-ACC players, including five All-Americans. After two seasons, the future continues to look bright for the Eagles and Head Coach Polhamus on and off the court. Polhamus is a proven recruiter and she has again proven herself with the type of athletes that she is producing at Winthrop.
“What I am most excited about with my first three signing classes is not only what our fans see which is the talent, athleticism, and skill these athletes bring to the court, but all the young women are outstanding people in the community and in the classroom. I could not be more proud of the type of young women that the Winthrop volleyball program is producing.”
In her first year as a head coach, Polhamus led her team to a 20-win season and a share of the Big South Conference Regular Season Championship. The young Eagle team, including four freshman and one sophomore starter, lost in the Championship match in the Big South Conference Tournament. The Eagles were again awarded with post-season honors including Big South Player of the Year, Shannon Sitzmann and two Big South First Team All-Conference, Shannon Sitzmann and Pohai Nu’uhiwa. Nu’uhiwa also was named Big South All-Academic Team and Big South Scholar Athlete of the Year. The biggest successes of the year came off-the-court for the Eagles. The Winthrop Volleyball team was awarded the AVCA Academic Team Award for posting a 3.37 overall team GPA for the year. The Eagles were the only team in the Big South Conference to earn a spot for this prestigious award. The volleyball program also helped the Winthrop Athletic Department earn the Kallendar Cup, an award in the Big South Conference for the athletic department that earns the most community service hours.
The Winthrop Volleyball program participated in Dig for the Cure, Habitat for Humanity, Free Kid Clinics, and reading to elementary school students.Despite the obstacles, the Eagles pushed through the season, learning valuable lessons throughout that are needed for the upcoming season. Winthrop finished 5th in the Big South Conference. Despite the season results, Polhamus showed the trainer she is by placing three players on post-season awards lists including Big South First Team All-Conference and All-Academic Team member, Shannon Sitzmann, Big South Second Team All-Conference Award winner, Kelley Taylor, and a freshman on the Big South All-Freshmen Team. Shannon Sitzmann also earned AVCA All-East Region Team.With a share of the 2007 Big South Regular Season Championship under her belt, the hunger is there for more.
The 2008 campaign for the Eagles and Coach Polhamus experienced an up and down season with injuries, player position changes and some underclassman earning significant playing time. The biggest changes, moving 2008 Big South Preseason Player of the Year and 2007 Big South Player of the Year, Shannon Sitzmann from the middle position to a six-rotation outside hitter and losing a major part of the offense with Outside Hitter Kellie Sellers tearing her ACL. The Eagles had three freshman on the floor for most of the season.
Coach Polhamus is a member of the American Volleyball Coaches Association and represents the Big South Conference on the Head Coaches Committee and the NCAA Regional Committee.
Polhamus is a native of Fort Wright, KY and is married to Stephen Polhamus. They reside in Rock Hill, SC.
