This is the scene in one of four gyms that the SOU volleyball team is using this week.
Southern Oregon Volleyball Camp Turns 32
ASHLAND, Ore. - Now at the ripe age of 32, the Southern Oregon University volleyball camp continues to bring in the campers at a high rate.
The 2009 version of the camp features 152 campers, four gyms and two schools and shows no signs of slowing down.
“The fact that we’ve been able to keep this going year after year helps with the numbers,” SOU head coach Josh Rohlfing said. “We have former players who are now bringing their daughters to this camp.”
The camp is using both gyms at SOU and both gyms at Ashland Middle School.
The 2004 camp set the record with 183 campers and after a little dip in 2005, this year marks the fourth straight year of growth.
The camp runs until Thursday and features 34 hours of contact and an 8 to 1 player to coach ratio.
The campers also get to experience a coaching staff with credentials that is hard to find at any small college camp.
The staff boasts three state coach of the year honors, 14 conference coach of the year honors and three collegiate regional coach of the year honors. Included in the mix are current and past SOU players, current NCAA Division I players and many All-Americans.
“To get this many potential students on our campus and to give them a positive experience is a huge boost for the entire University,” Rohlfing said.