Prep Volleyball: Centralia Alum Comes Full Circle to Coach Tigers Volleyball

Marti Smith is just a few days into her first season as head coach of the Centralia High School volleyball team but she is already familiar with Ron Brown Court. In fact, she has had a hand in both of the Tigers state tournament appearances, which came exactly twenty years apart.

Smith, who graduated from Centralia in 1992, helped hang the first volleyball banner as a player in 1991. Then, in 2011, she was on the bench as an assistant to former head coach Neil Sharp while the Tigers roared back into state title contention.

As a first year head coach though, she has no delusions about the tough road that lays ahead for her team in 2018.

“We lost some very key pieces last year,” said Smith, who listed two outside hitters, one setter, and one middle as positions that were vacated by graduating seniors from last year’s team. “Really, this is feeling fresh and new. That’s the kind of team we have.”

The team only features three returning players with Danika Jensen logging the most minutes in 2017. She will be joined by Kylie Sharp and Kennedy Strophy.

Still, Smith said there is no other group of players that she would rather have for her first turn at the helm of a varsity team.

“I’m very excited about this group. They are fun and energetic and I know they are going to give it their all on the court,” insisted Smith.

Smith said she expects the Evergreen 2A Conference to be filled with big hitters again this season just as in previous years.

“You always have to put Tumwater up there,” said Smith, who added Black Hills and W.F. West to the list of likely league title contenders. “Honestly, it’s going to be a very tough league.”

She says the Tigers will depend on a stout defensive effort to buoy their chances at a playoff position.

“That’s one of our goals is by the end of the season to be known as one of the best defensive teams not only in our league but also in our district,” noted Smith.

Smith says her transition from supporting cast to head honcho has been eased by her close relationships with former head coach Sharp as well as ubiquitous Centralia High School do-it-all Tim Gilmore who has moved up from his C-squad duties to take over the junior varsity team this year.

“I’m just blessed to have both Neil and Gil in my corner,” said Smith, a 1992 graduate of Centralia High School who began her own prep playing career on a Gilmore-led team back when he was the head coach of the program.

“It’s one of those fun things where Gilmore was my first varsity head coach and now we’ve come full circle and he’s my JV coach,” said Smith. She praised Gilmore for “bringing a calm presence to the team.”

Smith said that while Sharp is no longer toting a whistle and patrolling the sidelines, he has been a helpful behind the scenes presence as she attempts to get her bearings. Specifically, Smith says Sharp has been helpful in sorting out difficult personnel decisions on the court.

Smith’s credentials stand out on their own though. After graduating from Centralia High School Smith attended Centralia College for two years where she played both basketball and volleyball. Then she moved on to Eastern Washington University, where she attained a pair of degrees and played two more years of collegiate volleyball. In addition to her 11 years on the bench as an assistant volleyball coach at Centralia, Smith previously served as head coach of girls basketball at Adna High School from 1998-2000.

Smith says she is determined to get off on the right foot in her new position calling the shots for Tigers volleyball.

“It feels pretty neat to be back here at my alma mater,” said Smith. “I just want to continue what Neil started here. He was incredible at building this program and keeping us going in the right direction.”