By Chuck Licata, Big Daddy Media CEO
SMALL SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL HAS FEW RIVALRIES AS GOOD AS THIS ONE
Not a lot of people know about the small school “Legendary Rivalry” between head coaches Jeff Coker of Crawford (a Class 2A school) and Lauren McPherson of Blum (a 1A school).
Between the two coaches, they account for 14 trips to the UIL state tournament since 2013 and own five state championships between them (Coker has three and McPherson has two).
McPherson, who’s retiring from the Blum sidelines after this season, saw her Lady Cats dominate the last of the great rivalry, sweeping Coker’s Pirates, 25-22, 25-9, 27-25, Tuesday night (Sept. 16) at Glen Rose High School. The match was part of a dual match between the three schools.
I’ve known both small-school legends for about eight years each. Their friendship with each other runs deep – even to the point Coker has been an inspiration for Lauren’s daughter Kinsley, herself a senior for the Blum Lady Cats.
“For Kinsley, he’s been so helpful,” stated Lauren. “He’s always supported her over the years; he’s given her some extra guidance from a different coaching perspective. He’s given advice to her as a player and she appreciates it.”
Kinsley, on her own Facebook page, said this about Coker and his staff: “The Crawford vs. Blum rivalry is officially over for me. Win or lose, I have so much appreciation for this man (Jeff Coker). He helps me as a player, a person and never fails to make me laugh. Love you Jeff!
“And to his sweetest assistants Kenzie and Kirk; Kenzie is such an amazing coach and person all together. And, well, Kirk is just along for the ride – thank you all for the impact you have had on my volleyball career and my life.”
Are you starting to understand the emotion in this rivalry?
“It’s a little sad to think about,” Lauren told me. “From playing each other so many times, we’ve grown close. He’s such a great coach and a great person.
“We talked and helped each other as coaches. We exchanged film, we went on scouting trips together and he helped me grow as a coach, especially with my scouting skills. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Then, she added: “I told my Jeff it was sweet to win the very last match between the two teams.”
About the McPhersons, Coker told me: “I love Lauren and her family. It’s kinda crazy how the UIL putting 1A and 2A in the same district for those several years gave me one of my best coaching friendships over my career. Blum is so lucky to have Lauren and her family! I’m not really even sure it hit me that (match) would be the last time we’d play them until after it was over and we were saying bye.
“It’s crazy to think that little girl chasing mom around all those years is now over halfway through her senior volleyball season. I will definitely miss getting to see Lauren and Kinsley regularly but I won’t miss not being able to defend her and getting so mad about it! Those two are definitely legends and deserve to be celebrated!!”
As is typical of a Lauren McPherson team, Blum (13-18 overall) has not played a Class 1A team yet this season, rather playing a brutal schedule against schools mostly from 3A-5A. This has been the Coach McPherson stamp on the Blum squad and the reason the Lady Cats have been to state tournament six times – and won back-to-back state titles in 2022-23 – since 2017.
In the match against Crawford, the Lady Cats registered three players who tallied double-doubles. Haley Scott led the team with 22 kills and completed the double-double with 20 digs. Kinsley also tallied a double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs, and also served up four aces. Tallie Rufino dished out 34 assists and made 14 digs while slamming two kills and serving two aces.
For Crawford (15-15), Tatum Miller had seven kills while Camryn Powers, Charis Milam and Ella Connell added five apiece. Powers added three total blocks and eight digs. Ainsley Anderson had a double-double with 24 assists and 16 digs and added a block-assist.
On a side note: Lauren enters this weekend’s play with 471 career victories as a head coach. There are only 11 matches left on the regular-season schedule, which includes six in District 17-A play. Even with another trip to state, McPherson won’t hit the 500-win plateau before she hangs up the whistle in November.
But then again – who knows? Maybe the attraction of hitting 500 career victories – and yet ANOTHER match against her great friend Coker and his Crawford Pirates – could draw McPherson back to coaching at the high school level sometime down the road.
