CHS volleyball hosts successful summer camp

The Chester High School Lady Jacket players and coaches hosted a summer camp last week for young, aspiring volleyball players to kick off the upcoming volleyball season. The four-day event was deemed a huge success with everyone, including participants, parents, coaches and Lady Jacket players thoroughly enjoying the experience.

"Since COVID kept us from holding a summer camp last year, this was the first camp that Coach Alyssa Keith and I have hosted," said CHS Head Coach Colleen Runge said. "All of the feedback we received from campers and parents was positive, so I guess we did it right!"

The event was held at the Chester Grade School July 12-15 and was open to students entering 3rd through 8th grades.

About 50 students turned out for the camp and each day 15-20 of the high school players came out to help.

"We were very happy with the turnout of campers as well as the turnout from our current players as helpers," Runge said.

The first two days of camp were dedicated to skill development with passing and serving being emphasized. The second two days of camp were dedicated to setting and hitting. Campers also played games and put their newly learned volleyball skills to use.

"It was a fun camp and the kids learned a lot," Assistant Coach Alysa Keith said. "It was really rewarding for Coach Runge and me to see the youth campers grow as the week went on.

It was also very fun to see the campers enjoying and loving the sport of volleyball the same way that we love it. It was a great camp."

Tryouts for the CHS Lady Jackets' 2021 season will be held Aug. 9-10. The first games of the year will be the week of Aug. 24 at the annual Marissa Tournament.