Dowagiac’s volleyball program has gone through numerous coaches over the last few seasons.

Some of them have found success, while others have not been able to get the Chieftains over the hump in the Wolverine Conference.

New coach Vince Strefling, who has been very successful coaching both at the club and high school levels, is trying to change all that.

Strefling is no stranger to Dowagiac volleyball and its Athletic Director Brent Nate. He and Nate were on the coaching staff at Coloma High School and it is one of the reasons he decided to take over the program.

“A few things made me decide on coaching at Dowagiac,” Strefling said. “A big factor was Dowagiac has always had very good female athletes. I’m at the age where I have to work in the right situation and for the right athletic director. Brent Nate and I go back to my Coloma days and I just feel like he cares about female sports and wants to see them succeed.”

Dowagiac has already found early success under Strefling as the Chieftains are 6-1 after competing in the Cassopolis Invitational last Saturday and its own quad match on Wednesday.

“I had a very good opportunity to work with a lot of the kids during the off season, way before I ever decided to take the coaching position,” he said. “I knew they had a strong showing in our spiker league with five teams last season.”

Strefling also pointed out that for the seniors, this is their last chance at success.

“The seniors are excited about their final season,” he said. “No matter what happened the prior years to them, this is the one I want them to remember most.”

Learning to win has been the focus of the preseason and the first few matches of the regular season.

“That is a little different for them, but they seem to be buying into everything I am selling,” Strefling said. “We are very young in very key spots like setting and libero, but these kids are athletes and they are starting to catch on.”

Stefling admits he is an “old school” style of coach, but doesn’t seem to have any concerns about his team adjusting to his coaching.

“Just outwork your opponents and limit the unforced errors and good things will fall your way,” he said. “Every kid on this team understands what direction the program is headed and is willing to do their part to see it through.”

As for the future, Strefling said the plan is simple.

“They just need to get excited to get in the gym and work for what they want,” he said. “Too many kids these days aren’t willing to put the time and effort into committing fully. Not everyone deserves a trophy. So as soon as our kids realize they have to work for what they want, you will see a consistent winner at all levels in this program.”

Dowagiac returns to action on Tuesday when it hosts Goshen Home School at 5 p.m.