Volleyball: With new coach, Yarmouth looks to remain the same old powerhouse

Yarmouth High’s new volleyball coach, Erin Quirk, talks to players during a practice last week. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

YARMOUTH — The Yarmouth High volleyball team was preparing to head to another state championship match last fall when Coach Jim Senecal leaned toward assistant coach Erin Quirk.

“We were here, getting ready to get on the bus, and he goes ‘This is your team,'” Quirk said.

Nearly a month later at the team banquet, Senecal made it official, announcing his retirement after a 16-year career at the Clippers’ helm that included seven state championships. The job, as he had been hoping, fell to Quirk, who had come aboard as a middle school coach in 2021, moved to the junior varsity in 2022, and will now take the reins of what has been one of the state’s most decorated programs.

“When I first actually joined Yarmouth, (Senecal) had talked about ‘I’m probably only going to be here for a few more years,’ so I always knew that that would potentially be an opportunity,” said Quirk, who played at Scarborough High before graduating in 2014 and also coached at Maine Juniors in Saco. “So I’ve been mentally preparing myself the last two years.

“I think I was excited by the opportunity, but also having a little bit of imposter syndrome, where I’m so new to coaching. ‘Am I ready for this?’ But I think that really motivated me to work harder and learn as much as I can.”

Quirk, 27, knows she and the Clippers are in the spotlight. That’s the nature of being a four-time defending champion, and winner of seven of the last 11 Class B titles. And with a new coach leading the way, the scrutiny only grows.

“It’s really big expectations,” Quirk said. “Coming into this season, there’s definitely a lot of eyes on us. ‘Will Yarmouth be the same Yarmouth team?’ ”

Count her players among those who believe it will be. The Clippers acknowledged being stunned by “Senny’s” announcement, which they said wasn’t even hinted at during the season.

“It was definitely a shock. We weren’t expecting it,” said sophomore middle hitter Grace Keaney. “Everyone was very upset. … It was definitely a ‘Now what?’ ”

New Yarmouth volleyball coach Erin Quirk works with Grace Keaney during a practice last week. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

The concern was eased, however, with the news late in the winter that Quirk was taking his place. The Clippers would be coached by a familiar face, one who knew the players’ tendencies and with whom they had already built a rapport.

“It’s very helpful that she was already in the program,” said outside hitter and defensive specialist Annie Vinnakota, the lone senior who was on last year’s varsity roster. “Everybody on the team knows her. Not everyone played for her, but we all know her, and she was involved in a lot of varsity stuff last year.”

Quirk said Senecal prepped her to take advantage of that familiarity.

“All last year, he kind of mentored me through his decisions,” she said. “He’d be like ‘If it was up to you, who would you have do this next year? Who would you be looking at as your starters next year?’ ”

Quirk made efforts to further prepare herself. She attended the American Volleyball Coaches Association convention in Omaha, Nebraska, and then booked Yarmouth for a second straight summer at the Wildcat Weekend camp in Machias in July, where the Clippers scrimmaged other teams and got instruction from former University of Kentucky players Alli Stumler, Lauren Tharp and Gabby Curry.

Outside hitter and defensive specialist Annie Vinnakota makes a hit during Yarmouth volleyball practice last week. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

By the time the preseason practices began in August, the Clippers had already become used to Quirk calling the shots.

“It’s been really impressive how seamless the transition is,” Vinnakota said. “I’ve had club experiences where it hasn’t been quite that smooth. It was really just like ‘Oh, you’re a familiar face, and we’re having fun. We’re all playing volleyball and having a good time.’ ”

Quirk has made sure to impart her philosophies, particularly a focus on defense. A former back row player, she preaches versatility and the game beyond the big hits at the net.

“You can have really great hitters, but if you can’t get that ball to your setter or you can’t get a really good set to your hitter, it doesn’t matter,” she said. “That’s always been something that’s stuck to me. … Even if they’re a hitter and they don’t play the back row, I want them to get those reps at practice, because you never know.”

In many ways, however, it’s felt the same as it always has.

“I liked how Coach Senecal was very serious, but also we were still allowed to have fun. I feel like that’s very important to be able to have that balance, and not just have it one way or the other,” said junior opposite and middle hitter Lilli Burrows. “Coach Quirk also is like that. She allows us to have fun, while also working hard in the gym.”

Lilli Burrows jumps high to the net during a drill at a Yarmouth volleyball practice on last week. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

Keaney complimented Quirk’s fundamental approach.

“She’s very technical, so she’ll definitely help us with our hitting and our blocking and our passing, doing the right movements,” she said. “She’s definitely more of a calm presence on the bench … but she’ll definitely tell us if we’re doing something wrong.”

Leading the Clippers back to the state final is the goal, but it’s far from a given. Yarmouth will have to navigate a schedule that includes SMAA powers Gorham, Biddeford and Scarborough, as well as Western Maine Conference rivals York and Cape Elizabeth.

The Clippers, though, are eager for the challenge.

“We’ve won so much, we’ve got to keep doing it,” Burrows said. “We have a new coach, we don’t want to let her down.”