BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Martin County High School volleyball team got firsthand exposure to college volleyball techniques July 20-21 from Morehead State.
Martin County coach Katie White-Patrick brought in the Division l team that was runner-up in the Ohio Valley Conference this past season.
Morehead State assistant coach Sarah Martin is a specialist in defense and passing. She played for four years at Transylvania University and coached for seven years in Lexington.
The girls participated in drills to teach them how to block and collapse properly, engage shoulders for passing, get into position, footwork, and the proper platform for hitting, spacing and serving.
The Lady Cards have two seniors on this year’s squad: Hannah Robinson and Kirsten Wells. The two have been playing since the fourth grade. Wells also plays for the Bluegrass Volleyball Academy, a club team.
“It’s been fun learning new positions,” Wells said. “We’ve been moving more and have come closer together as a team. It’s about trusting each other more and getting the ball where we need it.”
Robinson has also played club volleyball and enjoyed having Coach Martin.
“I really got into back-setting and learning how to get into position,” Robinson said. “Communication is so important in volleyball, and it’s something this camp has helped us on.”
Coach Martin believes this will be a good season for the Cards.
“All 19 girls had fun and were very hardworking,” she said. “I’m excited to be here in Martin County and to give these girls something to help them get better.”
Coach Patrick said, “We’re a young team this year with only two seniors. But they’ve already stepped up and put the team on their backs. They’re really good at guiding the younger girls and showing them where they need to be. I can’t wait to see where we are at the end of the season.”
The team will host a clinic July 30 for kids in grades 4-7. The clinic runs from 9 a.m. to noon and will focus on serving and passing. A second clinic, set for Aug. 6, will focus on setting and hitting and runs 9 a.m.-noon.
Camp fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt.
For more information, contact Patrick by email at katiepatrick1995@gmail.com.