MERRY HILL – There’s a doctor in the house.

Well, in the gym, actually.

Lawrence Academy Athletic Director Robert Kravitz recently announced the appointment of Dr. Ed Clouse as the school’s new volleyball coach.

&uot;I’m excited about the knowledge and experience Ed brings to the volleyball program,&uot; Kravitz said. &uot;He’s been a volleyball coach for a long time and he’ll build a program here, not just a team.&uot;

The new skipper at Lawrence has been coaching volleyball since 1993 where he spent a year coaching at his alma mater, Geneseo, which is a part of the State University of New York.

Following his year there, Clouse taught and coach seven years at Brandon Hall School in Atlanta, Georgia. Following that stint he spent two years at Gaston Day School before working the last three years at Hunter Huss High School in Gastonia.

During last year, Lawrence Headmaster Eric Meadows contacted Clouse about a vacancy at the school – assistant headmaster for grades seven through 12.

&uot;I wanted to get back into administration,&uot; Clouse said. &uot;When Eric called, I saw the chance.&uot;

Clouse, who will teach chemistry as well as provide direction for the high school grades, readily agreed to take over the volleyball program when the job was vacant.

While the Lady Warriors have made three consecutive trips to the North Carolina Independent School Athletic Association state tournament, Clouse takes over a team that returns no starters from a year ago.

That fact hasn’t deterred the volleyball veteran who has been pleased with what he’s seen early on.

&uot;Right now we’re doing drills and basics,&uot; Clouse said. &uot;We’re starting to implement a 6-2 offense with a swing defense.&uot;

Clouse said the swing defense was difficult to learn, but he was putting it into the Warriors repertoire because they were picking it up so well.

&uot;You have to be quick and intelligent to pick it up,&uot; he said.

Clouse also said it usually took teams half a season before he was able to start working on set plays, but his Lawrence squad was picking it up the first week.

The new coach plans to start a Junior Olympic travel team to help the girls work more on the sport.

As for the team, he has set three goals: have fun, learn and win.

&uot;I told them if we accomplish the first two, the third one will take care of itself,&uot; Clouse said.

A graduate of Geneseo with a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree, Clouse earned his doctorate at LaSalle University in Louisiana. He has taught at Gaston Community College and with the Red Cross in addition to his fulltime duties at high schools.

(Editor’s Note: The following story appeared in the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald Tuesday, August 8, but had mistakes. It is being rerun correctly. The News-Herald regrets the error.)