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09/20/2018 12:00 AMTori Ramada was a standout athlete for the volleyball and softball squads when she attended North Branford High School. This fall, Tori has returned to her alma mater to take the reins as head coach of the T-Birds’ volleyball team.
Tori, who still lives North Branford, recently started working as a substitute teacher at Totoket Valley Elementary School. When she heard the Thunderbirds were looking for a new volleyball coach, Tori thought it would be a great opportunity to coach a team that she played for in her hometown. Tori picked up her first win as North Branford’s coach when the T-Birds notched a 3-1 victory at Old Lyme on Sept. 13.
“I received the email and I thought it would be awesome to be the head of the program after being a part of the program,” Tori says. “The program hasn’t been successful for so long, so it’s a challenge, and I want to take that on. I want to build up the program.”
Tori attended Southern Connecticut State University after graduating from North Branford in 2013. Although she didn’t play volleyball in college, Tori’s passion for the sport stayed strong. Now that she’s back in her old gym, Tori says the memories of her playing days are all coming back to her.
“It’s weird being on the other side. The way they perform gives me flashbacks to when I played,” says Tori. “We developed over time. We had a young athletic class, so as the years went on, we developed.”
Tori was thrilled that so many kids came out for North Branford’s tryouts this year. When she saw that type of turnout, Tori knew that she was right back into the swing of things on the volleyball court.
“I had a lot of déjà vu when it came to tryouts. I had a great turnout. There were 40 girls, and I took 30,” Tori says. “Once I saw the skill and the ability they had, I was so excited to take on this season. I was already looking to the future as far as what I could fix and work on as time went in. It’s definitely an exciting feeling.”
Tori is coaching North Branford in tandem with assistant coach Jake Sweet, who has been with the volleyball program for three years. Tori thinks that she and Sweet are going to make a great team. In turn, Sweet says that he’s excited to be coaching the T-Birds with Tori.
“She’s hungry and eager to not only just coach, but coach this group of girls. She sees a lot of talent in them that she can hone based on her volleyball experience and involvement in community at large,” says Sweet. “She went to the high school, graduated from the program, so she had things that she will use based on her past experiences and new practices that every new coach brings to the table. I think she’s a fresh pair of eyes, and she has the drive.”
Tori wants her athletes to have fun at practice, but she’s also looking for intensity on the court. In the end, the most important thing for Tori is that she helps the kids on her team grow as both players and people.
“Being the oldest of four kids, I kind of have that second mom mindset, so when it comes to the players, I’m there for them. I’m OK joking around with them as long as we’re learning and developing skill, but when I’m serious, my tone will change, and they respect when it’s time to be serious,” Tori says. “The major thing I want to bring on as a coach is developing skills to help them on and off the court. I want to bring them up as young adults.”
Coach Sweet says that Tori is already making a positive impact on the squad in the early goings. Sweet believes that Tori’s experience of having previously played for North Branford will prove a huge benefit as she steps into her new position.
“Having come from the program, she is able to see things from so many different perspectives. As a player you think things should go one way, but when you come back as a coach, you realize there is a more productive direction you can take, and I think Tori’s got a good head on her shoulders when it comes to that,” Sweet says. “She has a good instinct and she definitely has a direction she wants to go in, which is good to see.”
Tori is eager to give back to North Branford by coaching a new generation of T-Birds’ volleyball players. Tori feels confident that if everyone on her roster stays on the same page, the team will be able to put its fair share of wins in the books.
“You definitely want to develop skill and responsibility they can bring with them off the court and keep through the years on the court, especially if they play in college,” says Tori. “Winning is just a bonus. I’m focused on team togetherness and communication. With that will come the winning.”