LYNCHBURG, Va. -- On August 26, 2024, Kevin Cardoza took the media day podium for the first time as a head coach. After 16 years as an assistant coach across various programs and divisions, the 36-year-old New York native laid out his goals for his debut Lynchburg volleyball season.

"I wanted to finish ODAC regular season top four," Cardoza said. "Finishing top-four gives us the ability to host a playoff game here at the University of Lynchburg—something we haven't done since 2020."

It was a bold statement from a first-year coach leading a program without recent postseason success.

Four months later, Cardoza's squad didn't just meet that goal—they surpassed it. Lynchburg clinched a top-four seed, earned a 3-1 quarterfinal win over the Guilford Quakers, and reached the ODAC semifinals for the first time since 2017.

So…how did it happen?

CULTURE

Team culture often drives behavior when no one is watching—an invisible force that shapes a group's identity. From day one, Cardoza brought a culture shift.

In his first meeting with the team, he didn't lecture. He listened.

"He pursued a relationship with all of us," said junior outside hitter Tori Williamson. "He asked for our opinions and how we felt—that helped us buy in. We had honest expectations and were treated as adults."

Cardoza allowed the players to set their own standards and goals. His role was simply to hold them accountable to what they created.

Wanting players to have a hand in decisions from their goals, to practice times, to uniform redesign, ignited a revitalization of energy and passion within the program. .

Cardoza also found creative ways to inspire his squad. Early on, he found an empty championship banner tucked away in the locker room showers that had been removed because it was blank.

 Rather than keeping out of sight and out of mind, he used it as fuel.

"He said, 'I want you guys to see that. I want you guys to see that you're gonna be the first team to put that up there,'" said Williamson. "I think him saying that was like 'You're right. We don't need to be embarrassed that we aren't up there. We need to be looking to how we can get up there.'" 

An "unapologetically Kevin, " as he called himself, resonated with the team. There was no filter from the first-year head coach – just brutal honesty with an encouraging tone. The Hornets quickly became a squad that revolved around authentic communication. 

A new era of Lynchburg volleyball was ushered in by the team, reinforced by the staff. Over time, it created a contagious energy and belief that laid the groundwork for success.

STRATEGY

Hired in late April, Cardoza observed the team during offseason practices and a spring tournament in Maryland. While Men's Volleyball Coach Ryan Turner led sessions, Cardoza took notes—literally—pacing the sidelines with a black notepad.

Instead of immediately implementing changes, he studied his roster. He recognized the team's strengths aligned with a faster, more aggressive style of play—a complete 180 from the slower system they'd run in previous seasons.

The Hornets' new method of attack emphasized physicality at the net, big swings, and aggressive serving. 

"We're the Mike Leach air raid," said Cardoza, referencing the late college football coach known for his fast-paced, pass-heavy offense. "We're going to go out there and we're going to get after it. Assertiveness is the way that I would say we approach the game." 

That shift brought energy—and results.

"Kevin brought back the fast offensive mindset, and we were all like, 'Okay, here we go,'" said senior libero Abbey Barlow. "It's what everyone wanted—we'd just been waiting to run it."

Still, there were growing pains. After dropping six of eight matches midseason, Cardoza reevaluated everything. He stayed up until 3 or 4 a.m. watching film prior to their matchup against the Bridgewater Eagles, which led to a critical adjustment: switching from a 6-2 to a 5-1 formation.

The result? Three straight sweeps and five wins in the next seven matches.

"That was the moment," said Barlow. "Normally, by the middle of the year, we just wanted it to be over. But this time, we knew we were good."

After the group found their rhythm and the training wheels came off, Lynchburg finished the year as one of the top 80 offenses in the nation – ranking 72nd in Hitting Percentage, compared to 225th the year prior.

DEVELOPMENT

The fast-paced system required a steep learning curve, especially for hitters and setters.

"It was like we were all baby giraffes," Barlow joked. "You're watching a baby giraffe fall and thinking, 'Oof…that doesn't look good.'"

But under Cardoza, and with support from assistants Thomas Chandler and Ryan Turner, the group grew quickly. Practices were high-rep and focused, and Cardoza made himself constantly available for extra work.

"We're being pushed harder than we've ever been before," said graduate student Mya Green. "We're doing things we're not used to doing. We're practicing harder, we're working different skills and that's very beneficial for us." 

Senior setter Jaina Leek exemplified that growth. After notching 353 assists as a sophomore, she stepped into a lead role following a preseason injury to Green. She finished 2024 with 904 assists—sixth-most for a single season in program history.

"Kevin was really focused on getting us as many reps as possible, that was the major difference," said Leek. "We got so much work in during practice…and he encouraged us to ask for extra reps. 

The coaching staff also innovated with scouting. Players were split into groups to watch film, present findings, and play pregame Kahoots in the lockeroom just before game time to reinforce game plans.

The work paid off. The Hornets closed the regular season winning seven of their final eight matches, including five sweeps.

With the 2024 season now in the books, Lynchburg volleyball is already looking ahead to an even bigger 2025.

The Hornets return 84% of their offensive production, losing only one senior, Sydney Phillips, and dealing with the spring loss of Bree Spainhour to injury. Meanwhile, the Hornets add four incoming transfers, one freshman and welcome back setter Mya Green to the court.

The belief in Lynchburg's resurgence is clear with players buying in and momentum building.

Hosting a playoff game is no longer a goal. It's the standard. The bar has been raised for Lynchburg women's volleyball. In 2025, the mission is clear: take down the empty banner, and raise it again—this time, with a championship on it.

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--LYN--