Upperman Volleyball Coach Tori Permenter transformed the Lady Bees into a consistent postseason contender during her first two seasons leading the program.
Upperman captured back-to-back district and region championships under Permenter while compiling a 60-16 overall record and a 22-1 district mark. The Lady Bees finished 8-14 the season before Permenter took over.
“Our culture started from day one when I took over last year and again they’ve lived up to it every single day,” Permenter said. “It’s about the little things and when we do the little things right, success follows and that’s exactly what they did.”
Upperman strengthened its schedule as the program improved, taking on some of Tennessee’s top teams along with elite competition from outside the state.
“We’re trying to build a culture that hey we’re here, we want to be a top contender in Tennessee, and we want to continue that every single day in and out,” Permenter said. “This year in one week we played the 1-A state champs, the 2-A state champs, and the 3-A state champs in one week.”
Permenter said building the players’ confidence became one of her priorities when she arrived in Baxter. That confidence has carried into the postseason.
“We play really selfless ball in this postseason and we haven’t lost one set this postseason,” Permenter said. “They’re playing their best ball right now and I couldn’t be more proud of them and they bought in because they have the confidence now, they’re ready to go.”
Last year’s state tournament appearance increased expectations surrounding the Lady Bees. Permenter has pushed the players to concentrate instead on the point in front of them.
“If we can take it one point at a time, be consistent every single point, work hard every single point, and have the energy every single point, then it reflects on the scoreboard, right?” Permenter said. “Eliminate the outside noise and look at your teammates next to you. That’s who you’re fighting for, who cares what anybody else says, who cares what anybody else thinks. We play our game and we take it one point at a time.”
Permenter gives the Lady Bees a brief opportunity to enjoy each victory before turning their attention toward the next opponent.
“We’re never satisfied,” Permenter said. “That’s another thing, too, our team culture: We’re never satisfied, we’re never complacent, we want every single win, every single point.”