By: Isabelle Puente
The Jackson State Community College Volleyball team is holding their second summer volleyball camp. The camp will be a three-week program and will end with a free kids camp on August 9.
The Green Jays held their first camp last summer one month after the sports program was created. After accepting the job as head coach in 2024, Alexis Kapales and the team at JSCC worked on how they could get the West Tennessee community involved in volleyball.
About 150 kids from across five states attended the camp to learn more about the sport.
This summer, the camp continues through June 24 ranging from grades 3-to-12 as well as some college camps, they will also host a free camp on August 9 for grades K through 6.
The camps are instructed by Coach Kapales with the help of Green Jay volleyball team members.
Coach Kapales offered her perspective on how important it is for kids to be able to attend a program where the coaches truly care for them and want to help better their skills.
“I think having somebody in your life that’s a mentor or coach that genuinely cares about you as a human being as opposed to what you could do for them, it changes everything, I think great teams have leaders that your student athletes trust with 100% of their life” Kapales said. “And I think when you’re honest with them 100% of the time, all the time then it builds that relationship of them knowing you would do anything in the world for them and in turn they would do the same for you.”
Coach Kapales encouraged kids to give the camp a try saying it’s super fun and you don’t really know unless you give it a try. If you like it – amazing – if you don’t, then at least you gave it a try.
Mia, a first-year volleyball player, is attending the Green Jays camp for her very first time this summer.
“This is my first year, I’m excited to learn more here,” Mia said. “My favorite thing about volleyball is making friends and having fun.”
If you have a child or know someone that might be as interested as Mia in the volleyball camp, you can register them at jsccgreenjaycamps.com. If you’re interested in signing up for the free camp, you can find the registration link in the press release Talk-N West Tennessee posted regarding the camp.
For more information call Alexis Kapales, 731.424.3520 x50315
JSCC Volleyball Camp Schedule
June 15 – Green Jays Serving Camp; 7th– 9th grade; 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; 10th– 12th grade; 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; $30
June 16 – Green Jays Boys Camp; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.; $20
June 17 – College Prep Camp; Session 1: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.; Lunch: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.; Session 2: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.; $50
June 18 – Elite Invite-Only College Prep Camp; 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
June 22 – Green Jays Defense/S&R Camp; 7th– 9th grade: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; 10th– 12th grade: 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; $30
June 23 – Green Jays Hitting Camp; 7th-9th grade: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; 10th– 12th grade: 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; $30
June 24 – Green Jays Setting Camp; 7th– 9th Grade: 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m.; 10th– 12th Grade: 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.; $30
(PHOTO: – Volleyball camp continues at Jackson State Community College – courtesy Isabelle Puente – Golden Media Group)
