When Ellen finally got the chance to return to her alma mater to coach the sport she grew up loving, there was one thing that had to be done quickly. Fill out the coaching staff. I was first on board. I've always enjoyed being a part of Ellen's volleyball experience. She has graciously allowed me to "come along for the ride" everywhere she has coached. I'll be the first one to tell you, volleyball wouldn't be the first sport on my list I feel comfortable coaching, and it's really not even close, but I have enjoyed my 30 years of tagging along, and after that much time some of the concepts and strategies have stuck. I'd never pretend to know enough, but I am an eager learner! So, we were off. At our first open gym, a new graduate from St. Vincent strolled in. I should say, waltzed in. Jaime Vick Moran had a stride that at once exuded confidence and grace. There was something wonderful about her, and we recognized it immediately. Being a new grad, Jaime was looking to get her foot in the door, and an upper hand for a teaching position in the district. She was young and energetic, a perfect fit for this new program. She also had this incredible story of battling Leukemia twice in her young life. We knew that her determination and courage would be a valuable asset too. Jaime Moran would be our first Assistant Coach. A week or so later, Ellen bumped into one of her original players from her days at Plum High School. Dan Clair was at JV middle hitter/setter in 1982. He expressed interest in coming out to some open gyms. He must have enjoyed it. I don't think he has missed much since. Every year Dan tells us he isn't sure how much he'll be able to do. Every year he's the first one in the gym, has the nets set up and has the team ready for camp! Kiski Area Volleyball is where it is because of the dedication of Dan Clair! The first few years where a struggle. It's hard to turn around a sport that was "recreational", just a place to hang out, for so long. We could get one or two good athletes to play well enough, but it wasn't enough to translate into team success. Slowly though, a few girls bought in. The change happens when they start believing they are "Volleyball players" and not just athletes playing volleyball. By the third year we started to feel like we could contend in the section. October 2009. Last match at Franklin Regional. One more bus ride. A phone call. A diagnoses. A world suddenly turned upside down. Cancer does this, everyday, every minute to someone. I remember Ellen calling me. I remember gathering our kids, delivering what seemed like the worst news possible. I remember that it seemed to take forever to get to Murrysville. I remember finding Ellen on a swingset outside Franklin Regional High School. We all hugged and cried. She wanted to coach that night, so she did. The weeks that followed were a blur of appointments, surgery, treatments and healing. Ellen was luckily strong going in. At 48 she was in great shape due to the riggers of being a Physical Education instructor and so totally immersed in every practice at Kiski. I'm not sure we were prepared for the drastic nature of a partial gastrectomy and difficult treatmenmt regimine. Ellen lost nearly 1/3 of her body weight during this time. It was frightening to witness her rapid change. Mouth sores and nausea were a big issue, and when you are already dealing with less of an appetite, well I can tell you I was scared. After six months of treatments and healing it was time for open gyms to begin. Jaime and Dan began the process of readying the team. I would bring Ellen to the gym, and she really loved being around the kids again, getting stronger, and coaching verbally. Jaime was using the open gym format to introduce the girls to her favorite workout, the intense "P90X". She loved Tony Horton! Jaime was in the best shape of her life, and the girls really liked going through some of the moves with her. They were well aware of Jaime's couragous story, and it inspired them to want to please her with their efforts. Even without Ellen Physically able to participate, Kiski volleyball was in good hands. Just when our team had settled into what was their new reality, another change was thrust at them. It was during the spring open gyms, while showing the girls one of the P90X moves that Jaime began noticing bruising on her hips. I think she knew almost immediately that something wasn't right. She went back to Children's Hospital(where she had received treatments the first two times) where tests confirmed her fears. Jaime's leukemia had come back. This news hit us so hard. Jaime had battled all the way back and was just beginning to hit her stride as an adult. She was enjoying teaching, coaching and planning her wedding. Things were so good. Jaime had spearheaded two fundraisers for Ellen, so we really wanted to do something special for her. We knew our community would support anything we would do, so making volleyball a part of it seemed like a natural idea. Jam the Gym 4 Jaime was born. It was an idea Jodie McCartney and I had. Jodie is Jaime's twin sister. She had also taken over the team with Dan while Ellen healed up and Jaime started her treatments. To be continued.