Charleston High School’s Anthony Davis and Lemar Frost recently sat down for a wide-ranging interview with first-year volleyball head coach Al’lisha Hudson and one of Hudson’s two assistant coaches, Dalila Nakaidinae.
Davis: This is your first year coaching volleyball in the East Tallahatchie School District. How does it feel to be making history?
Coach Hudson: It definitely is a big deal — especially for me, being born and raised in Charleston. Just having the kids involved in something active motivates me to keep those smiles on their faces. We had a lot of girls come out who wanted to play, so I hope this opportunity sticks because I’d love to keep the tradition going. Especially with the younger kids — they’re like sponges and want to get better at everything they do.
Davis: So do you feel it’s easier to coach the younger players than the older ones?
Coach Hudson: Of course. I’m with my eighth-graders all day, and they always show up and work hard, no matter what.
Coach Nakaidinae: The eighth-graders are also very competitive, but it’s a healthy competition among them. I think that’s really essential when it comes to team bonding and growth. If our junior varsity keeps this mentality, they’ll be ready for greatness.
Davis: How do you balance coaching both basketball and volleyball? I know it isn’t as easy as you make it look.
Coach Hudson: It definitely isn’t. Volleyball starts at the beginning of the year —August through September and October — and right after that, we go straight into basketball. That doesn’t even include the girls I have who also cheer at both the high school and junior high levels. So we’re all just learning together how to adjust to volleyball as a new sport.
Davis: Does companionship play a big role between you and your players, on and off the court?
Coach Hudson: For sure. Everything we do, we try to do together and in unison. We try to teach them to be united and cohesive at all times. From the attire — for my players and even us coaches — we dress alike to let them know we’re here for them.
Frost: What were the key factors that contributed to your second game, Aug. 14?
Coach Hudson: The game wasn’t as competitive as I intended the girls to play. It consisted of minor errors. They didn’t really play as a team; however, we had a lot of girls who put forth effort and applied pressure when needed. The second match was much better. We reached double digits and even cut down on a couple of mistakes. I could tell the girls became a little more cohesive as the match went on — players like Carmis Hill (sophomore), Rosie Randolph (junior), Kylee Buckley (8th grade), and Skylar Tellis (8th grade).
Davis: Would you consider it the best game for the start of the volleyball season?
Coach Hudson: In the second match, the girls came together and started to rally a bit — so yes. But also, North Panola was a great opponent. They played hard, just like we did, but they had a little more fight in them that night.
Frost: What are some of your goals for the rest of this season?
Coach Hudson: My goal as a coach isn’t really to win — of course, everyone wants to win — but just to get better. I want them to show effort every day so we can eventually have a championship program and add to the list of wins for Charleston. I want the girls to love the sport, but also love the community. It starts with the community. We want to be just as good as football — with just as big of a crowd.
Davis: Do you plan on doing any fundraisers or activities to get the people of Charleston more involved and excited about volleyball?
Coach Hudson: Yes, definitely. We plan on doing camps for the community as well as with the players to help them improve. Hopefully, it’ll bring more girls in. Coach Love (also the boys’ coach for CHS track and field) has also been working with them and helping lay the foundation.
Davis: What are your expectations for the Lady Tigers?
Coach Hudson: We just have to keep trying to get better — set by set, match by match, game by game. This is a new sport and only year two of Charleston having a volleyball team, so there’s still a little confusion. That’s why I expect effort and growth in each game moving forward.
Frost: Final question, what is the team built on?
Coach Hudson: Unity. I try to build them to be strong, and I’m very big on effort. I’m also a prayer warrior, so I try to incorporate that into everything we do.
