Coupeville Sports

   A former state high school player of the year in Louisiana, Kristin Bridges is now imparting volleyball wisdom to young Coupeville spikers. (John Fisken photo)

A fighter and a survivor.

That’s what Coupeville High School has in its new JV volleyball coach.

Kristin Bridges, who is off to a 2-1 start in her debut season at the helm of the Wolf young guns, is a highly-accomplished spiker who has overcome daunting conditions to get to where she is today.

A state player of the year in Louisiana, she and her family lost their home during Hurricane Katrina.

During the rebuilding process, Bridges and her teammates had to scramble to find other playing options, as their high school was closed down.

As hard as going through the devastation of one of America’s worst natural disasters was, having volleyball to fall back on helped in a time of crisis.

“During evacuation, I had to attend another high school while my own was being repaired,” Bridges said. “Their volleyball team welcomed me with open arms.

“This team made me feel like I was one of their own immediately. It didn’t matter that we were competitors, at that moment we were family,” she added. “I think that’s when I really knew that volleyball was my number one love in sports.”

Midway through the year, her school reopened and she was able to reunite with her original teammates.

“It was hard playing sports and having our parents rebuilding our homes but I think we all needed something to keep us together during that trying time,” Bridges said. “Volleyball was that something.”

The sport she first picked up age five (“I fell in love”) carried Bridges on to college, though an early stint at the University of Mobile was cut short by health issues.

After moving back home, she attended the University of New Orleans and began to transition into a new role as a coach.

Her initial job came at the middle school level, where she was an 8th grade assistant at Ursuline Academy.

“It was the most fulfilling role I’ve ever held and I’m excited to be coaching once more,” Bridges said.

Having replaced Heidi Wyman, who stepped down after a season to focus on family, Coupeville’s newest coach is part of a Wolf dream team which includes first-year varsity coach Cory Whitmore and fellow assistant Ashley Herndon.

The trio are building an exciting program, expanding on what former Wolf coaches Wyman and Breanne Smedley started.

Bridges is approaching her mix of freshmen and sophomores with a three-step plan for success.

“I have three goals for the JV team this year,” she said. “Increase speed, physicality and aggressiveness, draw the team closer to the varsity level and increase their comfort and confidence on the court.”

Having the opportunity to pass on what she learned from her time on the court as a player has been a thrill for the young coach.

“I really enjoy coaching student athletes,” Bridges said. “I love seeing how hard they work in practice and watch it translate to the court.

“There is so much potential in each player; not just athletically, but academically and professionally as well,” she added. “It’s wonderful to see the drive in each of them and know that they are going to really make a difference in the world.”