GEORGIA SOUTHERN VOLLEYBALL SET TO ATTACK UPCOMING SEASON

Georgia Southern University Head Volleyball Coach Chad Willis felt something special was brewing months before the 2024 Eagles volleyball season had even started. His intuition was correct; the group went on to win every one of their regular season home matches and finished the season with a 22-7 record.

“We had quite a bit of returners in the gym for the off-season,” he said. “I can remember all the way back to that January and having that first team meeting of 2024, and that group really setting the tone in the locker room saying, ‘We feel like we’re going to be one of the top Sun Belt volleyball programs.’”

That mindset carried into the fall where Georgia Southern established itself as a force, particularly at home. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric and games averaged record-high attendance at Hanner Fieldhouse.

Maggie Sale, a redshirt sophomore on the team, said the excitement of Hanner started in the tunnel before the players took the court.

“We had these silly little traditions and superstitions that we did every single game,” she recalled. “We would be in the hallway of Hanner screaming our chants before we walked out there. We have these conversations of, ‘Hanner is our house; no one’s going to come in here and take it from us.’”

Sale doesn’t consider herself a superstitious person, but you don’t mess with a winning formula.

However, the secret sauce that kept the Eagles volleyball undefeated at home involved much more than just pregame chants.

While Georgia Southern had a strong roster and an intimidating home court advantage, Willis attributes their rise to the program’s core values and a strong culture built on communication and connectedness.

“We really pride ourselves on our culture,” he said. “Part of character is if you are disciplined. Are you doing the things that you need to do every single day to put yourself in a situation to own moments? Are we connected in terms of treating each other the right way?”

That philosophy has become the backbone of the program, ensuring that success is not fleeting, but sustainable. With six seniors graduating, the Eagles are already looking ahead, focusing on leadership and maturity to continue their ascent.

Despite their impressive run, Georgia Southern fell just short of their ultimate goal — a Sun Belt title. The team has embraced a new motto heading into 2025: “unfinished business.”

“We were dominant in September, but championship teams play their best ball in November and December,” Willis emphasized. “We learned last season that you can start strong, but it’s how you finish that matters. This year, we’re making it a priority to be a December- playing volleyball team.”

Much of that momentum will come from the returning players who will be asked to lead the Eagles onto the court next season. Sale said the team has an incredible bond built on trust and unity.

“Every single girl that was on the court and every girl that was on the bench could go home and sit down to eat dinner together,” she said. “Those are girls that I could spend endless amounts of time

with. That’s super important because we have those relationships on the court and relationships off the court, and we can dictate the difference between what needs to be talked about off the court and what needs to stay on the court.”

While Willis gives credit to his team for the program’s success, his players are quick to serve it back to his side of the net.

According to his players, Willis’ dedication to fostering relationships and treating them as more than just athletes makes him stand out. To them, he isn’t just a coach; he’s a mentor, a leader and someone who genuinely cares about their growth as individuals.

Much of that culture that has brought continued success to the team is what he preaches on and off the court.

“He holds us to a standard, but he also doesn’t leave us alone meeting that standard,” Sale said. “I think that’s a huge part of why our culture is good: we have a head coach who pushes all of us to be better all the time, and he will never leave you behind.”

Spring practices are already underway, and preparation for the 2025 campaign begins with continuing the momentum of last season. While last season did not garner a trophy for the case, optimism could not be higher in the locker room.

“We’re right where we need to be,” Willis said. “This is probably the best we’ve been in a long time — certainly in the six years I’ve been here. But where we need to make significant strides is to continue to develop leaders, put our standards in place and make sure that we’re not just meeting those, but we’re exceeding those.”

With an enthusiastic fan base, a culture built on trust and accountability and a roster that’s only getting stronger, Georgia Southern volleyball isn’t just knocking on the championship door — it’s ready to break through in the years to come.

“We’re going to come back and we’re going to do some really, really good things,” Sale said. “We’re locked in and we’re ready.”

—Jacob Notermann