HANCEVILLE – Team camps in the sport of volleyball have moved into the spotlight for July after basketball stood out during the month of June.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association allows volleyball teams an opportunity to get in summer work with team camps (also known as play days) for three of four weeks in the seventh month of the year.
Using this as an opportunity to get as many teams and recruits on campus as possible, Wallace State Community College began the first of three consecutive weeks of team camp excitement this week.
Directed by coach WSCC Randy Daniel and assisted by his current squad, the first week wrapped up at Tom Drake Coliseum Friday evening.
Eight varsity teams spent two straight days of playing in a round-robin format that was followed by single-elimination tournament play.
Nine teams participated in the junior varsity division with Buckhorn High School having a JV along with its freshmen team, enjoying the atmosphere of playing at a collegiate venue.
Walker High School was ready for this. The Lady Vikings, semifinalists in the 6A state tournament last year, stormed through the competition without losing a match.
The Lady Vikings romped to the No. 1 seed through pool play, took care of eighth seed North Jackson in the quarters and fifth seed Scottsboro in the semifinals in straight sets.
At the same time, Deshler was making progress. Finishing third in pool play, the Lady Tigers topped Winfield in the quarters then stunned No. 2 seed Buckhorn in straight sets in the semis.
That set up a hotly contested final between Walker and Deshler.
Walker led early in the first set, only to see Deshler come back with good serves and good play up front to take a 10-7 lead.
The Lady Vikings then regrouped following a timeout and went back on top to stay, winning the opener by the score of 25-17.
A close encounter took place in the second set with Deshler gaining the lead. The Lady Tigers went in front 10-9 and moments later, had the Lady Vikings asking for time out, trailing 18-15.
Then after the timeout, Walker was back in a groove. The Lady Vikings scored six straight points, featuring a pair of key plays at the net, and never trailed for the rest of the set.
Walker won the contest 25-20 as the match was completed in 32 minutes.
For the two days playing at the Coliseum, the Lady Vikings were 7-0.
Looking for attention as well, the Walker JV handled the competition pretty efficiently before getting a good test by Buckhorn in the championship.
Walker won the first set with little trouble, dominating 25-10.
Game two was much different as Buckhorn gained confidence and hung in with the Lady Vikings.
But Walker was able to fight off Buckhorn's momentum, winning the second set 25-20 and the match in straight sets.
Wallace State will have a middle school team camp next week (July 13-15) then return with plenty of varsity teams to close out the final week of the month before they start fall practice at their respective schools on Aug. 1.
Thirty teams are to be at the Coliseum July 25-27 in varsity and junior varsity play.
In between hosting team camps, the Lady Lions are preparing for the new season with six consecutive ACCC championships under their belt.
Wallace State will start the 2016 campaign at Faulkner State in Bay Minette Aug. 25.
Prep volleyball teams across the AHSAA will get the season underway on Aug. 25 as well.
