2008 Woodie Awards
SIUE hosts volleyball tournament
Issue date: 7/30/08 Section: Sports
Summer camps might seem laid back, but last week's Summer Volleyball Team Camp was far from arts and crafts or a relaxing canoe ride across the lake.
Instead, it gave more than 20 high school volleyball teams the chance to go net-to-net with opponents from different schools, divisions and states at a two-day tournament held Friday and Saturday in the SIUE Student Fitness Center.
SIUE Volleyball Head Coach Todd Gober said the tournament style camp is unique in its aggressive nature and diverse area of teams.
"It's as competitive as a team camp can get," Gober said. "It gives the teams a chance to see how they match up against a team they may not be familiar with."
While the teams come from as far as Kentucky or Texas, Gober said some of the teams may be driven to take down a rival team from the previous season or last year's volleyball camp.
"We have two state championship teams facing each other," Gober said. "The rivalries can get pretty intense."
Junior SIUE Volleyball player Tiffany Turner of Mt. Pulaski, said the camp is not as strict as normal season games, allowing teams to adjust to the upcoming seasons.
"Teams can see how they hold up against a team they may not play normally," Turner said. "It's a good refresher."
The tournament is split up into gold, silver and bronze brackets based on Friday's Pool Play, which normally lasts from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with five matches taking place at a time, Gober said.
"It's a tough, grueling day," Gober said. "These teams are playing four to five matches a day."
Lisa Lee of Shiloh, a member of O'Fallon High School's Volleyball team, said her first year at the camp was tiring but worthwhile.
"We've been working really hard," Lee said. "But we're still having fun."
Gober said the camp allows SIUE's Volleyball program to scout out future Cougars to recruit for the school's newly titled Division I team.
The camp also brings an influx of parents, packing the gym to the brim.
"The (Student Fitness and Vadalabene Centers) did a wonderful job to accommodate us, despite the construction," Gober said.
Though the number of participating teams was down this year, Gober said the camp brings in a quality high schools in great numbers.
"We have Class A's and 4A's playing each other," Gober said. "All the schools do a professional job."
Instead, it gave more than 20 high school volleyball teams the chance to go net-to-net with opponents from different schools, divisions and states at a two-day tournament held Friday and Saturday in the SIUE Student Fitness Center.
SIUE Volleyball Head Coach Todd Gober said the tournament style camp is unique in its aggressive nature and diverse area of teams.
"It's as competitive as a team camp can get," Gober said. "It gives the teams a chance to see how they match up against a team they may not be familiar with."
While the teams come from as far as Kentucky or Texas, Gober said some of the teams may be driven to take down a rival team from the previous season or last year's volleyball camp.
"We have two state championship teams facing each other," Gober said. "The rivalries can get pretty intense."
Junior SIUE Volleyball player Tiffany Turner of Mt. Pulaski, said the camp is not as strict as normal season games, allowing teams to adjust to the upcoming seasons.
"Teams can see how they hold up against a team they may not play normally," Turner said. "It's a good refresher."
The tournament is split up into gold, silver and bronze brackets based on Friday's Pool Play, which normally lasts from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., with five matches taking place at a time, Gober said.
"It's a tough, grueling day," Gober said. "These teams are playing four to five matches a day."
Lisa Lee of Shiloh, a member of O'Fallon High School's Volleyball team, said her first year at the camp was tiring but worthwhile.
"We've been working really hard," Lee said. "But we're still having fun."
Gober said the camp allows SIUE's Volleyball program to scout out future Cougars to recruit for the school's newly titled Division I team.
The camp also brings an influx of parents, packing the gym to the brim.
"The (Student Fitness and Vadalabene Centers) did a wonderful job to accommodate us, despite the construction," Gober said.
Though the number of participating teams was down this year, Gober said the camp brings in a quality high schools in great numbers.
"We have Class A's and 4A's playing each other," Gober said. "All the schools do a professional job."
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