Last week the Avery Lady Vikings held its summer Volleyball Camp. The four-day event was developed by Lady Vikings volleyball coach Kim Hayes as an opportunity for elementary, middle, and high school girls to receive specialized volleyball skills training close to home without the high costs of larger team camps and traveling expense.The camp was the largest attended single camp for students in the county this summer, as approximately 55 girls ranging from third grade through high school senior took the floor in Viking Gym to improve their skills and learn from former players and expert instructors.
“We’ve had around 26 girls come out for the morning camp for third through eighth grade, and we had high school sessions in the afternoon and evening, with around 28 for those sessions. It’s been so exciting and every single kid who has been at this camp has worked their butt off,” Coach Hayes said during one of the sessions.
Directing the week’s camp was Fish Gupton, former regional and district championship head volleyball coach at Virginia High, Coach Hayes’ college coach where he restarted the Lees McRae College volleyball program, and is currently a national referee who officiates matches for the Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic 10, Southern, and Big South Conferences.
“Fish has done a terrific job. He was the first coach to recruit me, and he is so knowledgeable about the sport. He just knows more than me and has been absolutely terrific,” Coach Hayes added. “This has been terrific for the girls because at some point during the week of camp he took time to stop for individual work with every single kid.”
For Gupton, it was an easy decision to accept Coach Hayes’ invitation to help the Avery volleyball program through the camp.
“Kim played two years for me at Lees McRae before going to Appalachian State, and she is one of those athletes who would do anything you asked them to do,” Gupton remarked during a drill. “When you have a bond with your athletes, you want to do anything to help them, so when she contacted me to tell me she was back in coaching and wanted to organize the camp I told her that I would be glad to help her.”
Girls participating in the camp were well versed in a number of drills, with emphasis placed on running offense, transition from offense to defense, and placing the ball effectively without utilizing a one-hit style of play.
“This week we wanted to break down every skill into its parts and put it back together, and there has been great improvement in the players from the first day through the end of camp,” Gupton stated. “We’re teaching footwork, approach, reach, and hitting, and we wanted to instill confidence in these girls that they can win a conference championship and compete for a state championship.”
Overall the week was a productive camp and the camp’s director strongly believes it will serve as a valuable building block when the high school players prepare for the upcoming fall volleyball season beginning with tryouts this week. “These girls have a great coach who knows what she is doing, and the players know that they have the opportunity to make a state championship,” Gupton explained. “It is a lot of fun to come back to this camp. I have great respect for Kim and she has always shown the same to me. It is great to work again with Kim and with the athletes here at Avery.”
Avery volleyball will hold tryouts on Tuesday, August 5th and Wednesday, August 6th, with a team scrimmage at North Henderson on Thursday, August 7th.
