USAO’s volleyball team is preparing for its next season with new coach Robert Blakley at the helm. Blakley brings 23 years of coaching experience, with his most recent position as an assistant coach at the University of Texas Permian Basin.
Blakley will see eight returning players, four transfers, and four incoming freshmen in his inaugural season. Blakley recruited a familiar face to rejoin the team, as Laura Barrios Bardi will return to the team.
In the previous season, the Drovers secured a spot in the SAC Tournament, but they lost in the first round to Southern Assemblies of God University. Additionally, the team’s record was 9-17 (5-15 SAC), which Blakley looks to improve upon.
“I’m expecting this year to be a solid year for us. The changes that we’re making will improve what we’re doing and the new athletes we’re bringing in will add a new dynamic to the team,” Blakley said.
Another goal in Blakley’s eyes is to connect the university and local community closer to the volleyball team. In their summer open gym practices, the coach has invited local high school students to train with them. He also plans to have the team watch some of the local high school’s volleyball games throughout the season.
“We’re trying to build our brand into the community and create more excitement for the area, and the biggest way we can do that is win,” Blakley said.
For the last three years, the volleyball team has seen their head coach leave after one season of coaching. This is something that Blakley assures will not happen during his tenure as head coach. He looks at USAO as a rebuilding opportunity, which he sees as one of his best attributes.
Along with his experience with returning schools to a competitive state, Blakley has the mindset of ensuring a consistent and competitive team in each matchup. He plans to prioritize the effort and attitudes of his players rather than the execution of their play.
Volleyball was not a sport Blakley grew up playing, as he focused on basketball, football, baseball, and track throughout high school. Once he spent time on the court in college, he found a passion for the sport and began a club team at Tarleton State University (TSU), which was unheard of at the time. This was where Blakley began coaching, and where he found his passion for the game. Throughout his coaching career, Blakley has amassed over 400 wins at the high school level and helped lead his previous program to three straight postseason appearances.
The volleyball season will begin with a quad match Saturday, Aug. 17 at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas.
Gary Jackson is a fourth-year communication major at the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
