GREAT FALLS — There’s a different vibe around the Great Falls High volleyball team this fall, and it’s not just because of COVID-19. There’s a new coach on the sidelines, one that’s not totally unfamiliar to the Bison: Taylor Parker, who comes over after being an assistant at Great Falls CMR last year.
"I had to come in and tell them, 'I'm not a spy. I'm here to keep you guys and be with you guys. I'm a Bison now.' And so that was a little weird at first, but I really enjoyed it, just getting to know them," Parker said. "I've always seen them from the other side of the court. There's different perspectives and things like that. But just to get to know them on the court has been really fun so far."
"It feels like she's been here the whole time. It doesn't feel like she came from somewhere different, and she's just so excited to get to know all of us and to better the program, I think," senior Alison Harris said.
Harris is one of nine seniors on the Bison this year. That experience is something that Parker said has been helpful as she’s transitioned over.
"They've honestly been kind of showing me the ropes and a lot of things I don't know about the school or traditions, things that they do here," Parker said.
She said this year’s squad has a good mix of athletes, too, which will help with their schemes.
"We have a lot of really tall girls and then a lot of shorter girls. There's not a lot of in between. So, we have a lot of hitters and a lot of (defensive specialists)," she said. "But I think because they're so experienced, they've been playing with each other for a really long time, they know how each one works so that it's been really nice doing that."
The Bison open play against Belgrade on Sept. 12.
