Breathing new life to volleyball

With the new-found fervor, Weaver has the varsity program looking to blaze a trail all the way to the state championship.

“I am excited about taking over the Dufur Ranger volleyball team and feel honored to get to work with such a great group of girls,” Weaver said.

Weaver takes over for Kelly Darden, who retired from coaching this past November after leading the Lady Rangers to a second-place state finish.

In her 21 years, Darden amassed a record of 449 wins and 176 losses, including winning state titles in 1996, 2004, 2005 and 2007.

Coach Darden's long list of remarkable accomplishments include being honored as Oregon’s Class 1A Coach-of-the-Year five times (1996, 2004, 2005, 2007 and 2011).

Darden though is excited to hand over the keys to the program to an astute student of the game.

“I am delighted that Jody is taking over as the head coach of the Dufur volleyball program,” coach Darden said. “Jody has worked as my assistant for the last few years and become familiar with all parts of the program and our amazing players. I know she will provide continued success for our school and athletes.”

Weaver grew up in Central California and attended Yosemite High School where she played volleyball and basketball.

On the volleyball court, Weaver was a first-team all-league setter in her senior year.

That year, her team also won league and section and went on to play in the state playoffs.

In the offseason, Weaver played club volleyball for the Yosemite Volleyball Club, a dedication she made since she was eight-years old.

From California, Weaver attended George Fox University in Newberg for her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

She earned a bachelor of sciences degree in Mathematics and an MAT.

There, Weaver played some intramural volleyball and was the scorekeeper for the home volleyball games.

Over the years in the sport, Weaver has attained the life skills, learned valuable lessons and perfected her craft through hours of due diligence – an element she plans on integrating for her Ranger group.

“Volleyball is very much a team sport, so I plan on focusing on us working together as a team,” Weaver said. “This will help us be more consistent and cohesive throughout the season.”

In the past four seasons, Dufur has posted a record of 104-22-1 for a winning percentage of 82.2 percent, including a perfect 30-0 standing in Big Sky Conference play.

Of those 104 wins, the Lady Rangers posted 65 non-tournament sweeps, won 308 sets and lost just 87.

Once Darden decided to make her exit from the game, Dufur athletic director Jack Henderson knew that finding a competent replacement was going to be tough.

He did not have to look too far.

Weaver was the perfect choice.

“Jody is a great fit for our program. She has established relationships with our girls, and a sound knowledge of coaching volleyball,” Henderson said. “She will rise to the challenge and maintain and grow the Lady Ranger volleyball program into the future.”

While Dufur has lost some all-state and all-league players in the past couple of seasons, there is a solid core coming back in setter Sydney Reed, sophomore hitter Chloe Beeson, a 6-foot blocker in Kirsten Sorensen, a senior hitter in Tianna Ellis and a defensive specialist in Emily DePriest.

She has been working with the junior varsity group, so she has a gauge on the overall skill set her players possess.

All the numbers and players aside, Weaver is set on continuing a dynamic legacy.

“I am thankful for being able to work with and learn from Kelly over the last six years,” Weaver said. “She is an amazing coach and I feel blessed to have had this opportunity to grow under her guidance. Now it is time for me to step up and take what I have learned from Kelly and my prior experiences to guide this team in our new adventures together.”