JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Westminster volleyball a family affair

NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- For the first time in their volleyball careers, the three Simmons sisters of East Palestine and Crestview High will be part of the same team at the same time -- at Westminster College.
And Shannon Simmons, who played an indirect role in recruiting younger sisters Lindsay and Kelly Simmons to play for the Lady Titans, happily is looking forward to the reunion.
"I'm really close to my sisters. I get along with them both. I think it will be a lot of fun. I am looking forward to it," said Shannon, a former Westminster player who will be in her second year as a graduate assistant coach for the Lady Titans. "I am looking forward to this opportunity to coach them at the same time."
Lindsay will be entering her senior season, while Kelly is a freshman recruit along with Katie McDermott of Austintown Fitch.
First time with Kelly
"I played one season on the Crestview varsity with Lindsay, but I never played with Kelly," said Shannon, who is studying for a master's degree as a reading specialist in elementary education. "I played two seasons with Lindsay at Westminster. Then I was a grad assistant last year, and I will be it again.
"This will be the first time that all three sisters will be on the same team."
Lindsay is expected to be a starter this coming season after battling injuries last year, while Kelly will be seeking a starter's role after being named Crestview's Best Defensive Player last season and valedictorian of her graduation class.
"Indirectly, I played a role in getting both sisters to come to Westminster," said Shannon, who tipped off coach Tammy Swearingen, a Columbiana High and Youngstown State graduate, about her sisters' capabilities. "Kelly never looked at another school."
Great for parents
Shannon said the sisterly reunion creates an ideal situation for parents Rhonda and Paul Simmons, who usually come to watch the girls play their matches.
"It will be more convenient because we are all at one school and they can see all three play," said Shannon, who hopes to continue coaching at Westminster.
"I will be coaching at Westminster until I get a full-time teaching job, but I am looking in the New Wilmington area [to teach] so I can continue to be involved in the [Westminster volleyball] program."
Swearingen has success
The three sisters are part of one of the top NCAA Division III volleyball programs in the nation under Swearingen, who has a 257-109 record in 10 seasons. The Lady Titans were 26-10 last season, including a perfect 10-0 mark in the Presidents' Athletic Conference for the championship.
Swearingen, who formerly coached volleyball at Columbiana, became a star swimmer for YSU before embarking on her collegiate volleyball coaching career.
She also serves as an assistant athletic director and assistant swim coach at Westminster.
Kelly Simmons, an outside/middle hitter and team captain for Crestview and also a National Honor Society member, led the Rebels to a 17-2 record last season.
A three-year starter, Kelly was Most Valuable Player of the Crestview Volleyball Camp and played for a Junior Olympic volleyball club called Club Hollywood.
McDermott led Fitch
McDermott, an outside/middle hitter and National Honor Society member at Fitch, had 63 blocks and a 94-percent serving percentage for the Falcons. She made the All-Steel Valley Conference First Team as well as being picked All-District.
In addition, McDermott was a Vindicator All-Star and WYTV Student-Athlete of the Week.
The daughter of Sherrey and Bill McDermott, Katie will major in physical therapy and biology at Westminster.
McDermott also played basketball for Fitch and made third-team All-District and All-Northeast Ohio and second-team All-SVC.
kovach@vindy.com