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Volleyball camp a big hit

Manawa draws more than 80 players

By Corrie Ziemer


Ultimate Volleyball Player Award winner Claire Kreklow and Spirit Award winner Kelsey Jaeger take a break during a recent volleyball camp for grades 10-12 at Little Wolf High School in Manawa. Photo Submitted by Corrie Ziemer
Ultimate Volleyball Player Award winner Claire Kreklow and Spirit Award winner Kelsey Jaeger take a break during a recent volleyball camp for grades 10-12 at Little Wolf High School in Manawa. Photo Submitted by Corrie Ziemer

Laughter, bouncing balls, loud cheers and squeaking shoes: these noises filled the Little Wolf High School gym July 15-22 during the Manawa Wolves Volleyball Program’s annual summer camp.

The camp was a huge success, as more than 80 area girls participated in three different sessions.

The first session – Volleyball Basics – met for one hour a day and was dedicated to introducing fourth- to sixth-grade girls to the skills of volleyball. Throughout the week, these young netters had the opportunity to practice passing, setting and serving while playing fun games and learning silly cheers. They greatly enjoyed playing volleyball with balloons and trying to pass the ball back and forth over the net.

The Volleyball Team Challenge is designed for girls going into grades 7-9. Meeting for two hours a day, players were divided up into four different teams that competed in a variety of different skill challenges to earn points.

Each team, coached by two varsity volleyball players, had to come up with a team name at the beginning of the week. The Setting Ducks, coached by Ellen Field and Laynie Bessette, finished the week-long competition in first place. The other three teams were the Spiking Savages, led by Harmony Rice and Skye Amador; Planet Volleywood, coached by Haley Reierson and Dakota Affeldt; and the Spiking Queens, coached by Claire Kreklow and Kirsten Hebert.

An individual prize was also awarded to the girl who demonstrate the most spirit. Freshman Sydney Lee received the Spirit Award for her positive support toward her teammates and opponents.

The final session of each day was dedicated to preparing high school players for their upcoming season and focused on the Ultimate Volleyball Player.

While the girls practiced their skills, worked on reviewing defensive positioning and offensive plays, did conditioning drills and attempted team-building activities, individuals were given points for how well they competed in designated drills. Each girl was driven to compete at their highest level so that they could be named this year’s Ultimate Volleyball Player.

Kreklow was named the camp’s Ultimate Volleyball Player, while Kelsey Jaeger received the Spirit Award for her positive energy and ability to make everyone around her laugh.

Coaches were very excited to see so much growth within the one week of camp. With the season right around the corner, the netters proved they are ready to compete.

• Corrie Ziemer is the varsity volleyball coach at Little Wolf High School in Manawa.

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