UVU volleyball teaching others

About to enter his twelfth season as Women’s Volleyball Head Coach, Sam Atoa was already on the court last week, coaching and teaching.

Volleyball players ages 14 to 18 participated in volleyball’s annual Advanced Skills Camp that took place at Shurian Family Activity Center July 12-15.

Atoa has hosted the camp each year since he began coaching at here and said the purpose of the camp is to bring kids in and teach them to have fun playing volleyball.

Camp participants learned volleyball fundamentals and were able to learn skills in game-like situations at an advanced level.

Members of UVU’s volleyball roster were also in attendance throughout the week, assisting and taking part in the game-like situations.

Brookelyn Campbell from Gilbert, Ariz. came to participate in the camp, having played volleyball since the eighth grade. Campbell will join the volleyball roster this fall as an incoming freshman.

“We learn to work as a team and develop our skills,” said Campbell. “The coaches are very involved, which is good.”

Campbell is excited to be part of the volleyball program. “The team’s awesome,” she said.

Lynnsie Togiai is a high school senior that traveled from Blackfoot, Idaho to attend the camp.

“I’ve learned to go for everything,” said Togiai.

Togiai first played volleyball in third grade and has continued to play ever since.

The team has had a busy summer the last few weeks, between traveling abroad in May for humanitarian aid and hosting skills camps.

“This is the last week of camp before we start preparing for the season,” Atoa said.

They will begin their 2010 season August 27, facing off against Nevada at the Tiger Invitational being held in Comumbia, Mo.