Sam Everett takes over the CSAS volleyball team; will help Kaity Holloway in softball

photo Samantha Everett is seen in this file photo.
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Arts & Sciences has hired Kaity Holloway as its high school head softball coach and Samantha Everett as head volleyball coach. Everett will be Holloway's assistant coach in softball.

Holloway played softball at GPS and Gordon Lee before signing with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she played two years before finishing her career at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La. At NSU she played for coach Donald Pickett, a Whitwell native whose assistant coaching agenda included stops at Chattanooga State and UTC. She said the two often talked game strategy back then.

Holloway is a former pitcher and has given lessons the last five years while also helping coach summer softball. Last season at CSAS was her first coaching at the high school level. She assisted her twin sister, Kristin, who now an assistant to the athletic director at her alma mater, GPS, where she will also be involved helping with the track and cross country programs.

"Me and Kristin talked about the game a lot last year and how we were taught," Holloway said. "I think the mindset of the team will stay the same. I expect we'll pick up right where we left off."

The Lady Patriots did not have a senior on last year's team, which finished second in the District 5-A regular season behind eventual state champion Grace Academy and ahead of Silverdale Baptist Academy, which ended up advancing to the state tournament.

Holloway will continue to primarily work with pitchers, catchers and hitters and said her approach to the game is more aggressive than her sister's. Everett's emphasis will be largely with fielding and baserunning.

"I'm very excited about it," Holloway said. "I've always been drawn to the analytical side of the game. Us pitchers are a little bit different breed anyway."

Everett played softball at Baylor, then at Tennessee Tech University. However, she also played volleyball throughout middle school and high school at Baylor. She is succeeding Brandon Lowry, who will remain on faculty at the school.

"They had an opening at CSAS and I thought that would be a great way to get my foot in the door teaching," said Everett, who still is seeking a teaching position in the Hamilton County system. "I really like volleyball and wanted to return to it."

She said softball remains her favorite sport but she's content to be involved with both sports.

"We hated to lose Kristin, but we feel Kaity will do a real good job," CSAS athletic director Mark Dragoo said. "We interviewed several people and Kaity came out looking strong. She has leadership qualities and a good knowledge of the game.

"Samantha was extremely impressive in her interview. She's very organized and also has strong leadership qualities. We feel like we've landed on our feet with both hires. A year ago we had so many positions to fill, and we didn't want to go through all that again. Both teams have a lot of young players. We're excited to see what happens."

Contact Kelley Smiddie at ksmiddie@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6653.

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