Anna Happy, Raegan and Presley Burrows, Kaylen Halverson, Andrea Canchola and KayLee Poffenroth attended a three-day volleyball camp in Yerington last weekend.
“Players take the initiative to attend camps like these to get better,” said Coach Monica Halverson. “This was not a mandatory team camp.”
YHS alum Cole Aiazzi ran the first-time event, which focused on position skill work, game play and fundamentals. Girls from Fernley, Dayton, Smith Valley, Yerington and Lowry also participated.
After graduating from Yerington, Aiazzi played libero for Montana State University, where he now coaches volleyball.
“It’s awesome to have a high school kid go to college, play sports and then come back and offer his expertise to the community and future volleyball players,” said Halverson.
Aiazzi plans to offer the camp again next year.
Last season, the PCHS volleyball team finished 7-5 overall. Their six-week season ended with a three-game winning streak against Wendover, CASR and Incline.
The 2A coaches noticed their efforts. They awarded Kaylen Halverson an Honorable Mention. Presley Burrows was named the 2A League MVP.
Burrows will be a senior this fall and looks forward to full basketball, volleyball and track seasons. Besides volleyball, Halverson is a record-setting shot putter and discus thrower.
Anna Happy and KayLee Poffenroth played JV on Nancy Meissner’s freshman team last season. Meissner named Happy MVP. Raegan Burrows starts ninth grade at PCHS this fall.
“The camp helps me learn new drills and techniques,” said Coach Halverson. “I also reconnected with some old coaching friends.”
Halverson coached at Dayton for 13 years before coming to Lovelock in 2018 and stepping up as head coach the following year.
In Yerington, she reunited with a few Dayton teens that attended her summer clinics as elementary schoolers.
What’s next for the Mustangs?
The volleyball players are putting the off-season to good use with weights and in the open gym.
They’re carpooling to Carson City for the summer league scrimmages July 9, 16 and 23. The mandatory Gold Medal Squared Volleyball Camp comes to PCHS Aug. 9 - 12. Next come tryouts and practices, the more the better.
The Mustangs will put their skills to the test at a preseason tournament in Battle Mountain on Sept. 3- 4.
