Transition game for Baker volleyball

Lisa Roy isn’t just following a coaching legend as Baker School’s new volleyball coach. She’s following a friend who happens to be a coaching legend.

Roy has known her predecessor, Kathy Combest, since she played on Combest’s early Baker volleyball teams in the 1980s.

The two remained close through the years. How close? Combest was a bridesmaid in Roy’s wedding.

Roy now takes over a Gator volleyball program Combest guided to 517 wins, 12 district titles and seven regional championships over 22 years.

“You know it’s going to be hard for whoever follows Kathy because she’s an awesome coach,” Roy said. “The fortunate thing is, I played for her and can gather a lot of tips from her.

“I respect her highly. I’ve gone to her in the past if I need advice, and I probably will in the future. She’s been a great help, which eases my mind.”

Roy comes from a long line of Baker Gators. She is the sister of current Baker football assistant Brian Wagner and of former Gator athlete Michael Wagner.

Roy played college basketball at the school now called Alabama Southern Community College after graduating from Baker in 1989.

She is about to start her third school year teaching at Baker, where she will instruct middle school science classes. She stayed involved in sports by coaching her kids’ youth baseball and basketball teams.

Combest, who made her volleyball retirement plans public last season, approached Roy and asked her to consider taking the volleyball position.

“At first I was a bit hesitant because those were some big shoes to fill,” Roy said. “But I’ve always been competitive and involved with athletics, so I thought I would give it a try.”

Baker football coach and athletic director Bob Kellogg expects Roy to be “a good fit” for the program.

Baker Principal Tom Shipp also spoke highly of Roy.

“She’s a product of Baker and is real familiar with our athletic program,” Shippp said. “She was very strongly recommended by coach Combest and everybody else we talked to. We’re real excited and we think she’ll be a great addition to the girls athletic program.”

Roy started unofficial workouts with the Gator volleyball players this week.

Gator fans can expect to see many of the same traits that characterized Combest’s teams.

They’ll play hard, and they’ll play together.

“The No. 1 thing is teamwork,” Roy said. “We’re also going to make them good and strong and in shape. If we’re going to play five games, we want them good and strong for five games.”

Roy asks Baker parents and fans to remain supportive during the transition process, and hopes to add to her friend’s legendary accomplishments.

“There will be some new things,” she said, “but we hope to build on what Kathy started.”