New coach hopes to help Gateway girls volleyball build on success

By: Michael Love
Sunday, August 11, 2024 | 11:01 AM

The first time new Gateway girls volleyball coach Erica Bosh expected see her players on the court was Aug. 12 at the first preseason practice at Gateway’s Furrie Sports Complex.

The Keystone Oaks and Pitt-Greensburg graduate and volleyball product officially came on board at the beginning of August as the new Gators program leader.

She said she’s excited to get to work with the girls and help develop a team that will challenge for a WPIAL playoff spot in Class 3A.

“I had coached at Pitt-Greensburg and in club, and I felt I was ready to get into high school coaching,” Bosh said. “I had talked to a few people, and I saw Gateway’s opening for a coach. I saw the success they had last year, and I want to help them build off that and continue that growth.”

Bosh hoped to get to know the players and their parents at a meeting and get up to speed with them before tryouts and the first practice.

“We’re really ready get going with the girls and see what kind of teams we can put together,” she said. “I am excited to work with them and develop a nice routine and rapport. I want to get in there and kind of lay down what my expectations are for them and talk with them about what their goals and expectations are for the season. I think we will be able to build rather quickly.”

Bosh said work by the girls the past couple of months in the gym should pay dividends during the early practice slate and into the scrimmages.

“Talking with (Gateway athletic director) Don (Holl), the girls got a lot of good work in over the summer in the gym with the boys team,” Bosh said.

“I also spoke with (Gateway boys) coach (Phil) Randolph a little, and he said there were a consistent number of girls at workouts, and it is looking promising. These girls want to win and want to get better together.”

Gateway finished tied last year with Plum for second place in Section 1-3A at 9-3 behind champion Hampton (12-0).

The Gators drew the No. 11 seed for the WPIAL playoffs and were stopped by Armstrong in straight sets in the first round.

Gateway was a youthful team last year with just four seniors. All four — McKenna and Mallory Brown, Alice Childs, and Michelina Estremera — earned either first- or second-team all-section honors.

Senior outside hitter Ashley Young picked up second-team recognition while senior middle hitter Auroya Brown was an honorable mention pick.

Gateway this fall will be in Section 5-3A with Derry, Franklin Regional, Greensburg Salem, Indiana, McKeesport and West Mifflin.

Derry, Indiana and West Mifflin joined the Gators in last year’s WPIAL playoffs.

“I know it is a new section for everyone, and I was able to look at a few things,” Bosh said. “I think the best thing we can do is take it one day at a time and game plan and work to the girls’ strengths. We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves. We have a lot to work on internally before we can concentrate on (regular season) matches, especially in the section.

“I come from a more defensive background, but from high school and into college, I had experience hitting too, so I just think making the girls well-rounded is a very important thing. With club this season, we worked a lot on defense, and with serve-receive coming into play first, then we really worked on that offense.”

Bosh said the scrimmages — at Ambridge on Aug. 19 and at home with Highlands on Aug. 22 — will be a good test to see how the girls are working together with things such as system rotations and combinations.

Bosh graduated from Keystone Oaks in 2014 and quickly became a valuable member of the women’s team at Pitt-Greensburg.

As a sophomore in 2015, she helped the Bobcats earn their most wins since 2008 (eight) and clinch a conference playoff berth for the first time since 2009.

Bosh, from her libero position, posted 418 digs as a senior in 2017. That total ranked second-most in program history for a single season behind only her school-record of 459 as a junior in 2016.

She transitioned from Bobcats player to the program’s head coach in 2018 and served a four-year tenure.

The 2019 season was her best as she guided UPG to seven wins overall.

Bosh also started her club coaching career during her freshman season at Pitt-Greensburg. For the past several years, she’s coached at P3R Volleyball, which starts its season in November and plays until the spring.

Her 14 Platinum team got a chance to extend its season as it earned a trip to USA Volleyball Nationals last month in Las Vegas.

“Erica is volleyball through and through,” Holl said. “She’s a person who loves the sport. You can tell that through the enthusiasm she has when you talk to her. And her body of work as a player and a coach speaks volumes. Her experience and her personality has us pretty excited to see what she can do here at Gateway.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Gateway