Early Enrollment Eases Transition for Volleyball Newcomers
8/22/2026 9:30:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CONWAY, S.C. – As the Chanticleers prepare to close their preseason schedule Saturday afternoon at Winthrop, four players who enrolled in January are reaping the benefits of their early arrival.
Natalie Hughes, Talia Johnson, Jonna Spohn and Hatteras Welker participated in spring practice, giving them time to learn head coach Steve Loeswick's system and develop relationships with their new teammates before preseason began.
Welker, Hughes and Spohn arrived with Division I experience after competing at Eastern Michigan, San Diego State and Maryland, respectively.
College volleyball was familiar to them. Coastal Carolina was not.
The spring gave the three time to adjust to new practice expectations, terminology, academic responsibilities and life away from the gym.
"Every coach runs their program differently, and here I am very grateful to have such a family culture," Welker said. "I got close with the team and coaches pretty fast, so having that environment was amazing."
Hughes also became more comfortable with her new surroundings.
"It feels like home now and like I've been here forever," Hughes said.
After working within more defined defensive responsibilities at Maryland, Spohn had to adjust to the additional freedom Coastal gave its liberos.
"I think it took me a second to get acclimated to the fact that they want me to be a ball hog," Spohn said. "There's a system to who should be picking up which balls, but liberos here have free rein to pick up what they can. Once I got adjusted to that, I think that part really freed me up as a player and expanded my range as a defender."
Johnson faced a different transition.
The Savannah, Ga., native graduated from high school in December and enrolled at Coastal a semester early, giving her time to adjust to the academic and athletic demands of college.
"Coming in during the spring gave me a head start because I was able to become familiar with the team, the campus and the coaching style before the intensity of preseason," Johnson said. "It allowed me to build a foundation both physically and mentally without pressure."
The value of arriving early extended beyond the repetitions during spring practice.
Hughes, Johnson, Spohn and Welker had time to learn their teammates' personalities, how they communicated and what brought them together away from volleyball. Those relationships developed in the coaches' offices, around campus and between practices.
That familiarity made the start of preseason less of an adjustment.
"Having time in the spring to get used to the program and being familiar with how we do things made the transition so much smoother," Welker said. "I can't imagine going straight into preseason."
Spohn said the team's closeness is most evident in the time the players choose to spend together away from the gym.
"I think I really understand the power of a tight-knit, real and honest group now," Spohn said. "We love to hang out as an entire group, and everyone is so inclusive with everything they do. I can't remember the last time I went on just a grocery trip without several of my teammates."
Natalie Hughes, Talia Johnson, Jonna Spohn and Hatteras Welker participated in spring practice, giving them time to learn head coach Steve Loeswick's system and develop relationships with their new teammates before preseason began.
Welker, Hughes and Spohn arrived with Division I experience after competing at Eastern Michigan, San Diego State and Maryland, respectively.
College volleyball was familiar to them. Coastal Carolina was not.
The spring gave the three time to adjust to new practice expectations, terminology, academic responsibilities and life away from the gym.
"Every coach runs their program differently, and here I am very grateful to have such a family culture," Welker said. "I got close with the team and coaches pretty fast, so having that environment was amazing."
Hughes also became more comfortable with her new surroundings.
"It feels like home now and like I've been here forever," Hughes said.
After working within more defined defensive responsibilities at Maryland, Spohn had to adjust to the additional freedom Coastal gave its liberos.
"I think it took me a second to get acclimated to the fact that they want me to be a ball hog," Spohn said. "There's a system to who should be picking up which balls, but liberos here have free rein to pick up what they can. Once I got adjusted to that, I think that part really freed me up as a player and expanded my range as a defender."
Johnson faced a different transition.
The Savannah, Ga., native graduated from high school in December and enrolled at Coastal a semester early, giving her time to adjust to the academic and athletic demands of college.
"Coming in during the spring gave me a head start because I was able to become familiar with the team, the campus and the coaching style before the intensity of preseason," Johnson said. "It allowed me to build a foundation both physically and mentally without pressure."
The value of arriving early extended beyond the repetitions during spring practice.
Hughes, Johnson, Spohn and Welker had time to learn their teammates' personalities, how they communicated and what brought them together away from volleyball. Those relationships developed in the coaches' offices, around campus and between practices.
That familiarity made the start of preseason less of an adjustment.
"Having time in the spring to get used to the program and being familiar with how we do things made the transition so much smoother," Welker said. "I can't imagine going straight into preseason."
Spohn said the team's closeness is most evident in the time the players choose to spend together away from the gym.
"I think I really understand the power of a tight-knit, real and honest group now," Spohn said. "We love to hang out as an entire group, and everyone is so inclusive with everything they do. I can't remember the last time I went on just a grocery trip without several of my teammates."
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
L
/ Women's Volleyball
MB
/ Women's VolleyballThursday, October 09
Thursday, September 11
Thursday, November 14
Friday, October 18
