By Sam Rosenblatt
Sports Reporter
Newton South volleyball coach Todd Elwell will be inducted into the Massachusetts Girls’ Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame on October 19th.
Elwell is in his tenth season as the head coach of the girls’ varsity team and has also been the boys’ varsity coach for 12 seasons.
“It’s a great honor for me, but it really happened because of great kids and great families,” Elwell said. “We [the coaches] are not in it for ourselves; we’re in it for the kids.”
Under Elwell’s leadership, the girls’ team has made multiple sectional appearances, and the boys’ team won a state championship last spring. While there is no Boys’ Volleyball Hall Of Fame, the state title definitely helped Elwell to be selected, according to senior boys’ volleyball player Brendan Duggan.
Although there are numerous highlights in Elwell’s coaching career, one of his favorite moments came in a girls’ sectional playoff victory over Newton North High School. North came into the game as a higher seed with a very experienced varsity team. The Tigers were hosting its final home game at the old high school, but Newton South was ready for the upset.
“It was the best David and Goliath matchup you could have,” Elwell said. “We ‘Moneyballed’ that team to victory. We needed to be [a bit] better in every category of the game, and we won because of it,” having won the game in only three sets.
Elwell attributed much of his success to former Newton South volleyball coach Judy Kennedy, who mentored Elwell when he began his volleyball coaching career. Kennedy was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004, and Elwell stands in a similar place ten years later.
“It’s interesting to see how the torch has been passed on. The success that she had has now rolled over into the success I have.”
Amid the Hall of Fame honors, Elwell continues to coach the girls’ volleyball team, which graduated nine seniors on last year’s volleyball team. “We’re rebuilding, its no secret, the key for us is just trusting the process,” he said. “Usually every team that works hard turns a corner some place, and I think we had our best game last Monday.”
Elwell says the team’s goal is to qualify for the state tournament, noting that the tough schedule in the Dual County League prepares the team for playoff competition against strong programs. “We want to make the state tournament, because like that Newton North game, once you’re in, anything is possible,” Elwell said.
“This year’s team has great energy and a great attitude, which is helpful for dealing with adversity. The girls are getting better every day.”
