ONTARIO — Natalie Sayre is ready for a new challenge, recently accepting the position of head volleyball coach at Ontario High School.
“I’ve been coaching at the eighth grade and jayvee level at Colonel Crawford for several years now. This past year I’ve just been kind of itching at taking over my own program,” she said.
“I feel a lot more confident in the coaching role versus the playing role now and seeing it from the other side of things. When this position opened up, it was almost like a no-brainer for me to at least apply for it.”
The transition might be a bit easier since her brother graduated from Ontario in 2020. She also has a younger cousin in the volleyball program now.
“I’m familiar with some of the faces there and some of the people,” Sayre said. “I’ve received a ton of support from the community and the parents.”
The Lady Warriors, who compete in Division II, were 6-8 in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, 8-16 overall last year.
The team held its first open gym on Monday night and Sayre was pleased with what she saw.
“We got in the gym and got to see what we got. I didn’t have all my players there because of spring sports and all the things going on. But it was a very good first open gym. I was very satisfied when I left the gym last night. That makes it even more exciting for the upcoming season.”
Sayre, a former two-sport standout in volleyball and softball at Crestline High School, was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame last fall. She also played basketball. As a pitcher, Sayre led her Crestline softball team to the regional tournament in 2012.
Sayre has three seniors returning for her squad.
“I have a big freshman class coming in, which is fantastic. One of our goals is to have a winning record. I think it’s definitely achievable. The talent was already being shown last night. A goal for myself is to utilize the talent that is there to the best of my abilities.”
Sayre was a star player on the court and hopes to transition that to developing players in her first varsity assignment.
“It helps having so much playing experience. I know the game of volleyball well and understand the details and the strategic side of it enough, that I can explain it more to the girls than most would be able to,” she said.
A hands-on approach should also be an asset.
“I still like to jump in there and demonstrate things on the court at practice. I can take that playing background into practice.”
Taking over a new team can be an advantage, Sayre said.
“Going into this I was a little bit concerned about not knowing the girls. But after meeting them once and being in the gym last night, I honestly feel it will benefit me to not know too much of their background.
“Just to see them with their volleyball skills in the gym when they come to practice and being able to decide solely off that where they should be on the court. It’s kind of nice to have a blank slate and decide from that.”
As a player Sayre was an outside hitter, starting four years for the Lady Bulldogs.
“I played all the way around the court on the outside. I have front row experience and back row experience. I can work with my players no matter what position they are at on the court.”
Sayre has had several coaching mentors, including her older sister, Rachel Masters.
“She played three years ahead of me and is very knowledgeable. I did learn a lot from her and a lot from Taylor Kelso, currently their head coach. Taylor and I have such a great friendship outside of this. We’re both getting married this year and we are in each other’s weddings.
“I got to work closely with her and see how the varsity coach does things and what that role consists of. I give her credit for teaching me things at this level.”
Embarking on a new opportunity means leaving behind some relationships.
“Lots of credit to the girls at Crawford. I coached some of them since the eighth grade and it’s been fantastic to see them evolve as volleyball players.
“That was one of my hardest decisions. The girls who are going to be seniors this coming year I had in eighth grade. It was hard to leave them for their senior year.”
Sayre graduated from The Ohio State University with an education degree in 2019. She resides in Crestline and teaches second grade in the Shelby City Schools District, completing her third year there.
Looking ahead to the season, she added, “It’s going to be a busy fall.”