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Thistle new women's volleyball bench boss
(August 31, 2010) Bill Thistle has been named the new head coach of the Memorial University women’s volleyball team. Thistle is no stranger to varsity athletics at Memorial having coached women’s volleyball from 1978 to 1983. More recently, he has been involved in helping out with the team for the past six seasons.Thistle will bring a passion for both the sport of volleyball and Memorial University to the sidelines. He recognizes that the team will be looking to rebound after two seasons of inconsistent play. However, with a greater commitment to training already established by the core of the young team, and a healthier, deeper talent pool from which to select his roster, Thistle has high expectations heading into 2010-11.
He said, “We have to make some changes if we want different results. Our student-athletes are fitter, stronger, and are jumping better. We will be smaller and less athletic than most of our competition so we have to play a different style of game. Our success will depend upon how quickly we adapt to a quicker game.”
Thistle knows from experience what it takes to be a champion, having coached two conference champions, in 1978-79 and 1980-81, during his first stint at the helm of the program. He is confident that his new team can have a big turnaround this season. He has his sight set on qualifying for the playoffs, and ultimately competing for a banner.
He said, “We believe that we will be fighting for the AUS championship come year end.”
The team’s home opener will take place at the Field House on October 30th against the reigning AUS champion Saint Mary’s Huskies.