The Greenhills Volleyball Experience: Competing and Making Long-Lasting Memories

At this point in the girls volleyball season, it’s clear that the Greenhills team will finish with another great record. The team has 18 wins and only six losses, and those losses have come against some of the best teams in the state. But for the Gryphons, competing on the volleyball team is about much more than their record; it’s an experience, and an opportunity to learn lessons that will benefit athletes long after they’ve left the court.

“The more years I spend in coaching, the more strongly I feel that it’s about the experience for athletes rather than wins and losses,” explains Head Coach Tiffany Willard. “As their coach, I try my best to provide and cultivate a sense of culture—one that results in athletes remembering the funny stories, the bonding, and the feeling of being part of a team.”

The Gryphons just competed in the Catholic High School League (CHSL) Championship on Thursday, October 10. The tournament was exciting, not just because it was being played at Eastern Michigan University, but because it was a rematch against 2023 state champion Everest Collegiate High School & Academy—the same team that defeated Greenhills in the 2023 CHSL Championship match. This year, Everest is again expected to win the Division 4 state title, but the Gryphons have become a much better team and they arrived ready to compete. They battled and kept every match close, and though they ultimately lost, they were awarded seven individual medals and a team trophy at the league championships.

“We really competed hard against them,” says Willard. “It was incredible to see the girls put aside their intimidation, step up, and see their own hard work at play. It was such a different game than last year’s.”

There are a couple more weeks in the season, which is longer than most other fall sports. Greenhills will be playing Cranbrook and Lumen Christi, then preparing for districts in early November. This can be a particularly tough time of the year for seniors, of which there are many on the team this year, when college applications are due, so Willard is mindful of their time and focus.

“We’re focusing on getting mentally prepared,” says Willard. “That means visualizations, meditations, and keeping their bodies strong.”

Willard has been coaching the Greenhills girls volleyball team for 24 years. She also works in the wellness department at Greenhills and serves as the assistant director of outreach and diversity initiatives in the school’s enrollment office. As a coach, she knows what it means to compete and be part of a team because she was once in her players’ shoes.

“In middle and high school, I was a three-sport athlete,” says Willard. “Volleyball was my second love behind basketball, and I coached both sports for about six years. But when the opportunity arose to be the head coach of Greenhills volleyball, I jumped at the chance to focus solely on volleyball.”

Some of Willard’s favorite memories over the past two decades include winning the district championship twice and welcoming back former players for the annual alumni game.

“I loved seeing the sheer joy of our athletes as they witnessed their hard work pay off and to hear what our alumni players are doing after high school,” said Willard. “It’s always heartwarming to hear how much volleyball influenced their experience and helped shape the women they’ve become. I’m honored to be part of those memories for them.”

One of Willard’s biggest achievements has been building a closer relationship between Greenhills’ upper school and middle school teams. This year, she and her players led two middle school clinics to raise awareness and excitement to continue their play in high school.

“I’ve been having really intentional conversations with the middle school coaches, giving them helpful tips about where players should be at what grade so they can have a seamless transition to high school,” says Willard. “It’s becoming more like a cohesive family, and I’m excited about the future. We’re in a good place and I hope to continue to grow the program and keep female athletes interested in the sport.”