Buffalo Volleyball Camp a Smashing Success

Over thirty spikers from Buffalo and the surrounding area benefited from a week of intense volleyball training at the Buffalo Volleyball Camp July 20-23. The camp was divided into three divisions to cater to students individual volleyball needs.

Coaches Lori Shaw and Daryl Skelton provided a junior high camp for twenty-two youngsters during the morning hours. Campers worked on the fundamentals of passing, hitting, blocking and serving along with emergency plays such as dinking, hitting overplays, overhead passing and tipping. In addition, students were introduced to age-appropriate offensive patterns. The eighth grade campers looked at the 6-2 offense while seventh grade concentrated on the 4-2 offense.

From 11-12:30, junior high and high school students alike participated in a “setter’s camp”. Students worked on traditional sets, back sets, quick sets, and learned drills to improve setting technique.

High school campers put in double duty with two three hour sessions. Chelsea Morris Pattison from Texas A & M-- Commerce, assisted by Buffalo graduate Kaitlyn Shaw, provided the instruction for the high school players. The morning was devoted to individual skills while the afternoon was reserved for team play. Fourteen high school students participated in the upper level camp.

Pattison, a graduate of Royse City High School and TAMU Commerce, is the daughter of Larry and Emmlee Morris of Buffalo. Chelsea was a four-year varsity letterman in volleyball, basketball, track and softball while in high school, and competed at the state track meet her junior and senior years. Chelsea was a setter/hitter for the Lady Bulldogs and played point guard under the guidance of Coach Ron Shaw. Following high school graduation, Pattison attended TAMU-Commerce on a track scholarship. The vivacious instructor taught volleyball and aerobic dance at the university while completing her master’s degree.

“I saw tremendous growth in every camper over the course of the week,” commented Coach Lori Shaw. “The girls were excited and worked hard, even when their muscles screamed from the intense activity. This was our first year for a high school division, but I hope we can make it an annual event.”