About 40 future volleyball players show up, hope for a spot on
the three Baler teams
New San Benito High girls varsity volleyball coach Jennifer Beal had the chance to gage the talent she has to work with for this coming season during the volleyball camp put on by Cal Poly – San Luis Obispo this week.
About 40 players attended the clinic taught by Cal Poly coaches. They were divided into three teams based on age and skill and had the chance to tone their games and pick up new skills.
Overall, Beal said she was happy with the effort she saw and looks forward to making small tweaks.
“No problems,” Beal said. “We got a couple little things here and there to work on. But they are easy to fix.”
Tryouts begin next week and run from 4-8 p.m. each day. Beal said she was hoping to have tryouts in the morning but was unable to because of teacher orientation. Currently, she is scheduled to teach the basic physical education classes, but she could also teach advanced physical education as well.
“After the first day, you usually have a good idea of who who can play,” Beal said. “There may be a few questions, but I should have the team pretty much set by the end of next week.”
Beal, who was a four-year varsity coach in Maryland, made the trip across country to take over as the head coach. She got in late Sunday evening and then spent Monday unpacking in her apartment in San Juan Bautista that she shares with two roommates.
But she was able to watch the camp on Tuesday and Wednesday. She didn’t want to miss it.
“I am glad I was able to see them practice,” Beal said. “It gives me a little of a head start before tryouts. We have got good defense and pretty good outside hitting. Our passing and setting also looks descent.”
Although those who attended the camp are pretty much the ones who will be on the team, Beal said she has a couple more players not in the camp trying out for the varsity team as well.
“It is evident there is definitely a lot of skill,” Beal said. “And it is something we can work with. They have the potential to be really good. We just have to tweak some of the stuff, as far as technique, that I want done differently.”
