Emma Thrift entering first year as Lady Sailors head volleyball coach

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – The Lady Sailors at Sarasota High School are in preseason volleyball action this week. The girls are biting at the bit to get the season underway.

They believe they’re going to surprise some of their opponents and folks in the community with how they’re going to play in 2025. “I’m so excited to start my season,” Gracie Lane, a senior and setter, said. “[It’s my] second year on varsity as a senior. I can’t wait to play with all the girls again, a bunch of games.”

Part of the surprise is due in part to a new philosophy for the program. Emma Thrift is entering her first year as the Lady Sailors’ head varsity volleyball coach. She tells ABC7 that she’s enjoying her new gig.

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“I’m very excited,” Thrift said. “I already knew some of the girls here that I coached. They’re great. I love them, and I said Why not?”

Thrift is only 23 years old, and this is her first time being a head coach at the high school level. “I was at The Classical Academy of Sarasota last year,” Thrift said. “I was the head coach for the JV team, assisted Varsity, and coached the middle school teams. I was also the head coach for the beach volleyball team there.”

She’s learning as she comes into the gym to teach and guide the girls each day. The players are doing everything that they can to make this a seamless transition.

“She’s such a great coach,” Lane said. “She’s very good at teaching and breaking things down. She brings good morale at the whole entire team.”

However, Thrift is chomping at the bit. Camp has been great, but she and the girls are ready to get the season going. “I’ve heard a lot from some other people that the girls are really excited,” Thrift said. “A lot of the parents are really excited.”

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