SPRINGDALE -- Emily Doss and Springdale Har-Ber volleyball coach Shyrah Schisler finally shared the embrace that had been a long time coming following the Lady Wildcats' five-set upset win over nationally ranked Fayetteville on Sept. 14.
The win propelled Har-Ber to 13-2 overall and into the driver's seat in the 7A-West. Doss performed as Schisler says a senior leader should, tallying a match-high 46 digs against a powerful Lady Purple'Dogs attack.
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"After the Fayetteville game I went up and hugged her and started crying because we could all see everything paying off," Doss said. "She's one of the biggest role models in my life."
The home locker room was filled with tears of joy, finally getting a bit of payback after falling to Fayetteville the year prior in the 7A state finals. The program has grown from six wins in the season preceding Schisler's arrival to 20 the next, and 26 wins in Doss's junior season. Elation encapsulated the thrilling win, but the team is still short of satified.
And as much as the team has developed the past few seasons, the same can be said for Doss herself. Early in her Har-Ber career, stress would overcome her in tight situations. Now, she's learned to control her emotions.
"Emily is one of those kids that I watch every day and I want to tear up because of how much she's grown, how mature she is and how great of a person she is," Schisler said. "She wasn't very vocal, but she showed that she could lead. Now, she's both. Her maturity exceeded what I thought it could be."
Doss's senior class has "been through hell and back" since sophomore year, she says. Capping her time at Har-Ber with a state championship is goal No. 1. Strong team chemistry has been one of the driving forces in the club's 22-2 start to the season.
"Everyone is best friends with each other," Doss said. "If we see each other in the hallway we'll stop and say, 'Hey, how's your day going?' It's everyone on the team. It's not like a group here, and a group there."
No matter what happens her senior season, though, it won't be the end of her road. Doss, a University of Central Arkansas commit, will continue her career at libero for the Sugar Bears next year. Schisler says UCA is "getting a steal" in Doss, who leads the 7A-West with 439 digs.
The opportunity to play collegiately has been a blessing for the senior, who admittedly began stressing over her options before UCA made their offer.
"UCA was actually the first school that showed interest in me," she said. "They had different coaches at the time. And randomly, the new UCA coaches said they were going to come watch me and said they were really interested in me. That night they offered me. It really was kind of like a God thing, I feel like, because I didn't know what to do. Then this came along."
Schisler is certain UCA will admire Doss's passion once she steps on campus. But there's still work to be done at Har-Ber, Doss says.
"We want (a state title). We want it like we've never wanted it before."
Sports on 09/29/2016