The Mississippi State University volleyball coaches and players will host a free volleyball clinic for children Saturday as part of Super Bulldog Weekend festivities. The “FUNdamentals of Volleyball” clinic will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Newell-Grissom Building and be for boys and girls ages 6 to 13. The children will be working with MSU coaches and players on volleyball techniques.
MSU head coach Brenda Bowlin is excited about the event and hopes that it will introduce children to the sport of volleyball.
“We want to provide some exposure and get younger kids involved with a game that is really great,” Bowlin said.
Volleyball is not a popular sport in Mississippi, which as a result, causes the volleyball programs at the state universities to suffer. Neither MSU nor University of Mississippi posted winning records in the Southeastern Conference last season and not a single player on the Bulldog roster hails from the Magnolia State. Bowlin hopes that hosting this clinic will increase interest.
“We want to get some kids interested who might have the opportunity to earn a scholarship down the road,” Bowlin said. “In states like Texas and Illinois, kids start playing volleyball competively at ages 12 and 13. That is not happening in Mississippi.”
People with questions about the clinic can call assistant coach Holly Richards at 325-8371.