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Harker’s summer volleyball camp returned the week of July 15, offering instruction from experienced, top-level coaches to students in grades 4-9. The camp catered to various skill levels, first grouping students by age and grade, and later moving students to different groups depending on their level of experience. Each day began with warm-ups, with students going through drills for various skills, and each session ended with team play.
The main purpose of the camp is, first of all, for the kids to have fun, said Harker volleyball coach Dan Molin, athletic director and one of the coaches running the camp. “We want them to come here and enjoy themselves and improve in every skill of volleyball, from offense to defense, passing, setting, hitting, digging, blocking and ping pong sets.”
“By the end of the five days, they will be better volleyball players,” Molin said. “We do show them at times high-level concepts so they can see what the game will look like to them, because we have high-quality coaches here who really know the game at a high level.”
Harker girls volleyball coach Theresa “Smitty” Smith said students at the camp enjoy the environment that’s provided for them. “The ground rules are set at the very beginning and the kids understand that they’re all here working together, that they are to include each other and everybody in the activity, and the kids are really, really good about doing that. They’re very inviting, very friendly.”
“I think the people are really awesome,” said Harker student Sameep Mangat, who starts grade 8 in the fall. “Whenever there’s a break or something, you can just ask one of them to come play with you, or one of the coaches, and they’re totally fine with it.”
Mangat said the camp helped her improve some areas of her game that she thought were lacking, particularly her serve. “I finally learned how to perfect my serve and serving is one of the most important parts of volleyball,” she said.