Mary Harrison, Campus Carrier sports editor
Berry Head Volleyball Coach Caitlyn Moriarty and Assistant Coach JT Oates marked their 150th win as a coaching duo earlier this month, a milestone they attribute to the hard work of players past and present.
The Vikings beat conference opponent Sewanee: The University of the South on the road on Saturday, Sept. 17. Moriarty and Oates reported not knowing about the significance of the win to their six-year coaching record until after the game ended.
The atmosphere was perfect for the milestone, Moriarty said, because a packed house made the gymnasium electric and because she saw her players improve throughout the sets against challenging competition. Oates, who coached the middle blockers for that game, spoke to their success in particular.
“That’s always fun, to see their hard work pay off,” Oates said. “It was just another good day for me.”
The duo has been coaching together since the 2016 season, when Moriarty was promoted to head coach and hired on Oates from a volunteer position at Bridgewater College in Virginia to replace her as assistant coach.
Now in their seventh season at the helm of Berry’s volleyball program, Moriarty said the best recognition for the milestone is celebrating those who played a part, such as volleyball assistant coach Rachel Ford (18C), who played under Moriarty and Oates and now coaches alongside them.
While it took three years to accrue 50 more wins since celebrating the 100th win in 2019, with around 30 games played in each regular season, Moriarty noted that she intentionally focuses on scheduling equally matched opponents so that the team learns from both wins and losses.
“We could have a lot more wins and fluff up our schedule, but I’m a big believer in quality over quantity in all things,” Moriarty said.
Moriarty said the most significant accomplishment she and Oates have achieved is a gradual push to elevate the goal of season wins from 20 to 25, and then 30.
When Moriarty originally joined Berry’s volleyball program as an assistant coach in 2012, she said the team culture was “a mess” and recruit motivation low as the college transitioned from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) to a National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III school, due to changes such as not being able to complete in post-season until athletes recruited under scholarship graduated.
The coaches’ first 30-win season in 2017 also marked the first time in program history that a team made it to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in the post-season.
“Winning that regional championship is really hard to do,” Moriarty said. “So to be able to be here in the grassroots of building and casting that vision and seeing it come to fruition relatively quickly, that was very rewarding.”
A key moment that Oates believes is significant to building the team toward its current success is a loss that ended a long winning streak during that 2017 regular season.
“We got beat, and it was like ‘okay, we’re gonna have to work hard to achieve some things,’ and I think that is what propelled us to that first breakthrough,” Oates said.
Ford, who joined the staff last November, played as a senior on the 2017 team that first reached the Sweet Sixteen, a record not passed until Berry reached the Elite Eight during this past 2021 season. Ford reported feeling emotional at helping Moriarty and Oates reach win 150 as a coach, because she helped them to their first as a sophomore.
“We were just figuring how to win games and dominate in conference play back then, and now our team is at this national level, and we’re learning that we do belong in those situations,” Ford said.
Meaningful ongoing connections with alumnae like Ford are the most significant thing represented by his and Moriarty’s 150 wins, Oates said. Program alums stay in constant contact with both the coaches and current players.
“It’s fun to see them still engaged and giving back to our girls,” Oates said.
Some volleyball alumnae will return on Mountain Day for a gathering specifically commemorating the 20th anniversary of the sport at Berry. Emily Rapach, fifth-year senior on the team, said the road to the team’s recent success, such as the Elite Eight appearance, was paved by the hard work of alumnae, as well as the coaches’ current attention to details like practice schedule and skill development.
“We would not be where we are without all the hard work of generations of Berry volleyball players before us,” Rapach said.
Rapach also credited the team culture that Moriarty and Oates created with drawing her to Berry as a student athlete and said it delivered on her expectations, citing personal growth like increased self-confidence and a better understanding of how to interact with people from different backgrounds.
Since Ford first joined the Berry volleyball program, Moriarty has grown from a relatable, “big sister” figure to a nurturing, “mother” figure, Ford said, in both cases caring for her students holistically.
Moriarty said Oates has mentored her in the parenthood of her own children, in addition to being reliable and driven to give student athletes his best.
“He makes me want to be just as selfless and just as driven,” Moriarty said.
Since being at Berry, Oates has noticed continued growth in his understanding of volleyball strategy, as well as letting the welcoming and understanding atmosphere of the team teach him to be himself.
“It’s really fun to come to work everyday and not have to manage your output,” Oates said. “You can just be normal and it’s okay.”
Student athletes in recent years show have also shown increased willingness to be vulnerable in addition to an increase in drive and motivation noted by both coaches. Moriarty said she and Oates as coaches have learned to adjust to each new generation of players and create a supportive community.
Rapach said that Moriarty and Oates listen to feedback from their players and respond with openness and honesty, calling the duo good role models for team members.
“Their focus on us as players and young women allows us to grow on and off the court,” Rapach said. “They really are committed to excellence and building this program to be even better than it is now, and I think we’ll have nothing but a bright future with them here.”