FAMILIAR TERRITORY

Franklin Community High School volleyball coach Roxanne Chapman is no stranger to the Mid-State Conference.

She’s no stranger to success, either.

Formerly the head coach at Martinsville (2006-13) and Plainfield (2000-05), Chapman-led squads won a total of 10 league titles and four sectional championships.

Chapman stepped away from coaching the past two years as a result of her husband’s job as finance director at Rolls-Royce. During this time the family lived in Portishead, Somerset, a coastal city in South West England.

Now equipped with a slight British accent of her own —  13-year-old daughter, Kabria’s, is much more prominent — Chapman looks forward to putting her stamp on a program that has enjoyed success of late.

She succeeds Travis Gabeheart, who posted a 57-15 record in two seasons as Franklin’s head coach.

Chapman, who will teach first grade at Northwood Elementary School in Franklin, doesn’t believe the time away will adversely affect her abilities as a coach.

“I think it’s kind of like riding a bike. I enjoy coaching, I’m very competitive, and this comes very natural,” said the former Martinsville High School outside hitter who would go on to be a four-year starter at Western Kentucky University.

“It is kind of interesting (being back in the Mid-State Conference), but the good thing is I know most of the coaches. This is just a great fit for my kids and my family.”

Franklin is coming off a 30-6 season.

Many familiar faces return, including those of senior Abby Sewell (91 kills), juniors Rachel Kinney (338 kills) and Alyvia Sundheimer (161), and sophomores Brooke Phillips (925 assists, 153 kills) and Isabell Mahin (110 kills).

Kinney and Phillips were named to the Daily Journal’s 2015 All-County Team.

“I’m not sure there’s a particular style we’ll play. I just like my players to be smart, competitive and respectful. To be leave-it-all-on-the-court type of kids,” Chapman said. “I’m still putting the pieces together.

“I actually haven’t seen my full team on the court yet. Open gym is so hard because you can’t make everyone attend all summer. I’m excited for Aug. 1 to get here so I can see my whole team on the court and for tryouts to start.

“I’ve heard things about the past, but can’t wait to start fresh.”

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THE CHAPMAN FILE

Name: Roxanne Chapman

Age: 42

Born: Martinsville

Family: Husband, Tim; daughters, Kabria, 13, and Kaysen, 11

High school: Martinsville (1992)

College: Western Kentucky University (1997)

Major: Elementary education

Favorite TV show: “Game of Thrones”

Favorite food: Italian

Favorite movie: “Dirty Dancing”

Favorite team: University of Kentucky men’s basketball

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