Volleying From One Generation to the Next

Cutthroat athletes have long demonstrated dedication, optimism, and spirit dating back to Community School’s earliest sports teams. And while state titles in soccer and tennis have dominated the school's headlines in recent years, the SVCS volleyball program was a powerhouse in the 1980s. As the current volleyball team winds down a season marked by COVID cancellations and some hard-fought games (where our Cutthroats played masked!), we caught up with a few members from the SVCS 1984 volleyball team—a team that won the state championships 36 years ago.

Volleyball was not a big sport at Community School or, for that matter, in much of Idaho during the early 1980s. Noelle Hodge Willett, a member of the 1984 team and current Wood River Valley community member, reflected on the early days of Cutthroat volleyball. "One of our first coaches was Nancy Parsons," (now Nancy Parsons-Brown, who still teaches in the Middle School). “She showed up with a bag of soccer balls. It was hilarious. She was probably 28 years old, if that. The average age of the teachers at Community School at that time was probably 27 or 28.” Despite Parsons’ lack of volleyball expertise, Noelle noted that she turned out to be a great coach. “She was all about positivity. That’s where our drive stemmed from."

To help bring a level of volleyball expertise to the endeavor, Noelle's uncle, Jim Hodge, stepped in. He had recently moved from Laguna Beach, a town where beach volleyball was very popular, with his three daughters Shannyn, Melanie, and Sunny. Noelle described Jim as a natural player and coach. Later, as Jim traveled between Idaho and California for work, the school hired Reamy Goodwin, a young volleyball coach who would guide the team to their state championship. Given that the Community School had not yet built its own gym, Noelle remembers meeting at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Ketchum and at Hemingway School to practice her bumps, sets, and spikes. Goodwin, who became one of the most well-respected volleyball coaches in the Gem state, would go on to coach at Wood River High School before returning to Sun Valley Community School in 2001. 

Noelle and her cousins Melanie Hodge and Shannyn Hodge were joined by Mia Lyon (mother of Cutthroats Grace '17 Henry '19  Frances '22 Cherp), Katee Thorson, Jackie Rusling, Ivy Fine, Sheila Carney, and Ann Reed on that 1984 State Championship team. "Community School players dominated the game across the state of Idaho in the mid-1980s, but we had an unfair advantage," Noelle admits. "We had four girls from Laguna Beach, all of whom had played beach volleyball their entire lives. We even beat Wood River!" 

Shannyn Hodge adds, “There were some teams in our conference that had really scrappy players, and they gave us some competition, which was good practice for us." Shannyn explains they might have had a tendency towards overconfidence. She adds that her volleyball experience was one of the highlights of her high school career, granting her confidence in her athletic ability and making her a stronger player.

About this year's team, current Cutthroat captain Noelle Lafleur says that “The entire team put in a lot of effort in during the pre-season so that we can excel right out of the gate. This year, we have three new players to the team which adds fresh experience and ideas.” While the season has been rocky with the team having to adapt to a COVID reality, Noelle's goals included working on ball control and speeding up the offense. Another current player, Gemma Albro, who happens to be the niece of the Hodge clan (no pressure, right?) claims that when “I first decided to join the team, I had no idea that my Aunt had previously played volleyball and won State. But seeing the Community School team’s 1984 volleyball banner in the gym makes me feel really proud to be part of the team this year.” Gemma is excited for the season, saying, “I can only hope that we do as well as my family did.”

That optimism echoes the can-do spirit of former Community School volleyball players. When asked what advice the former state champs would give this year's team, Melanie Hodge says, "Have fun above all else." Jim Hodge reminds players that practice makes perfect. And lastly, Noelle Hodge Willett offers some practical advice, "Don't take things too seriously, keep moving your feet, and always call your ball (to potentially avoid a broken ankle!)."