Kitty Batterson (2008)

Kitty Batterson was the founder of the Ridgewood High School girls volleyball program and served as head coach from 1974 to 1986. Coach Batterson always demanded the best in play, attitude and sportsmanship from her players. A leader by example, her methodology was to give the responsibility for success to her teams while taking a very passive role during matches. Her teams were well-prepared during training and always coached to play with the highest standards of ethical behavior and dignity. Coach Batterson's squad won the Bergen County championship in 1982, an NNJIL championship in 1984 and the Group 4, Section 1 state title in 1986. The 1986 squad boasted a career best 23-3 record for coach Batterson. In 1983, her RHS squad was selected to play a preliminary match at Hofstra Universitybefore a USA versus Japan women's match. Coach Batterson's final record as a coach stands at 199-71, but well beyond the wins and losses over the years is the incredible education each of her players received about being outstanding citizens of the world, whether that included volleyball or not.

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