I have always loved the game of volleyball ever since watching the 1984 Summer Olympics, and the men’s volleyball team win gold in Los Angeles. Every chance I got I played the game. However, the opportunities growing up in Fairmont, WV were limited for me to play except for the occasional recreational, sandlot, or pick-up game. It wasn’t until I moved to Florida that I was able to pursue my interest more aggressively. There, I was able to go to New Smyrna and Daytona Beach and play beach volleyball but the opportunity to play competitively at school was not to be, since there were no boys volleyball programs in the area I lived in, in Florida. I continued to learn all that I could by taking classes in high school at Deltona High School and college at West Virginia University for P.E. credits, and played whenever I got the opportunity. As a teacher in Morgantown for the past eleven years I was always interested in becoming a coach as well, and when the chance came around for me to become the head volleyball coach at Morgantown High School I jumped at the opportunity. What better way for me to pass on the love for the game of volleyball that I have always had. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first two years as head coach and I look forward to many more years and working with the young women athletes at our school. I hope to continue to build a strong competitive program, and making the Mohigan’s a team to be reckoned with at the state level. I also hope to develop a middle school program for our area schools to get more girls interested in this great sport at a younger age, and give them the opportunity that was not available to me.

My name is Lisa Dennison and I am very excited to be coaching volleyball at MHS. Because of my love of the game of volleyball and a strong desire to see volleyball in this county, I spent countless hours discussing the importance of the sport with athletic directors and principals, and am proud to say that I was instrumental in helping to get volleyball started at the high schools in Monongalia County.

I am a mom, nana, teacher and coach. Next to my large growing family growing up in Clarksburg, I was most influenced by my teachers and coaches. They instilled in me the importance of academics and excellence on and off the court. I have spent my lifetime trying to “pass it on.” Athletics have been a major part of my life and I am proud to have played basketball and volleyball at Fairmont State. I have been teaching for twenty-five years and have coached on and off throughout my career. I have coached volleyball, basketball, and softball. I put my coaching on hold because of my own children were pursuing sports paths of their own. My husband Tom is my number one fan; he is a coordinator for Monongalia County Schools. My oldest daughter Clarice and her spouse Robert live in Arizona. Keri will be a senior this year at Davis and Elkins College pursuing a degree in exercise science and playing her final year of basketball. Kyle will be a junior at Fairmont State University pursuing a degree in physical education; heplayed one year of football for the Falcons. Kevin is going to Wheeling Jesuit Universitythis fall with the goal of becoming a doctor; he is going to play baseball. My granddaughter Kylian resides with us and will be in second grade at Skyview Elementary.

My motto is blessed are the flexible for they shall not get bent out of shape. Life is precious and short. Who we are matters, and how we are is what we have to pass on to others. I believe in hard work and the pursuit of excellence. I will work hard to improve daily as a coach and I will expect the same from my players. Having played and coached I know the importance of personal best and teamwork. I know that a successful team has to have dedicated, truthful athletes with a positive attitude and a disciplined mind and body. These young athletes will have to bond and communicate like a small family. I will do my best to “walk my talk” as I know my influence on these young ladies is important and it is my hope they will “pass it on.”