Leading with passion, teamwork, and a vision
DT Welcomes New Assistant Volleyball Coach
By: Kendall Pohlenz
The Doniphan-Trumbull volleyball team has a new assistant JV/reserve coach for the 2025 season. Ms. Emma Manke will be sharing her skills and knowledge to enhance the team's performance.
Coach Manke previously played volleyball in high school at Adams Central Jr./Sr. High and at the club level.
Manke has lofty goals for the team, saying she hopes to see “Growth in fundamentals, culture, and love for the game for all the players. There is nothing more fulfilling than seeing players change and develop throughout the season.”
She can’t wait to see how much people improve and change by the end of this season, and it’s her passion for the game and her interest in the DT community that brought her to the sideline this year.
“What brought me to coach at D-T was that my husband and I, and now our kids, have attended St Ann's Catholic Church in Doniphan for almost 6 years. Doniphan was such a welcoming community, and we just loved it! A coaching job got to my attention from a parent who attends the church, and I just felt a need to fill that position,” Manke said.
When she heard about the opening for coaching at DT, she just felt a need to fill that position.
Coach Blake, who has been the Cardinal head coach for 3 years, is excited to see how Coach Manke can impact and improve the volleyball team.
“Her knowledge increases the performance by helping them succeed and helping the team overall. All of this has made a change to the team's attitude and performance,” Coach Blake said.
The DT players have taken to Manke and are enjoying her different coaching style.
“She has helped me see and reach my potential in my setting and in the game of volleyball,” said freshman setter Taylor Knott.
Coach Manke has been trying to bring the team together while focusing on helping and improving people in their different skills.
“She helps us bring us together as a team by doing everything as a team, beginning loudly and vocally, and she continues to find ways to give it our all in everything we do,” Knott says.