NHS volleyball team attends Florida camp

For the third straight year, the Northshore Lady Panthers’ volleyball team attended a camp at the University of Tampa.

The idea for NHS to go to the July 10-13 clinic was to help the squad enhance their skills improve team chemistry.

“The biggest thing was team unity and the camaraderie that’s developed by the players interacting with one another,” said Northshore coach Sandy Blancher, who is entering her 17th season as the head coach of the Lady Panthers. “For the coaches, it’s an opportunity to look at different lineups in a game situation.”

It was the third straight year the team has gone to the clinic, which is run by University of Tampa Lady Spartan coach Chris Catanach, who is beginning his 25th season at the school. Catanach has guided the Lady Spartans to a 752-146 record for an .837 winning percentage along with a 2006 Division II National Championship.

Northshore coach Blancher said Catanach runs one of the best clinics she has ever seen.

“I’ve been going to basketball and volleyball camps for the last 30 years (as a player and a coach) and I’ve never been to a more organized camp,” Blancher said. “A lot of camps are huge tournaments. In Tampa, Chris Catanach brings in a vast staff of professionals to work his camp.”

Blancher added the camp not only helps her players, but her coaching as well.

“It reinforces that what you’re doing is correct. You build on what you’re doing to make it more challenging,” Blancher said.

The campers work drills and compete in matches. The clinic divides the squads up into divisions for a tournament they hold on the final day. NHS made it to the title game of the tournament, but suffered a loss and took second in its division and 18th out of 47 teams that attended the camp.

Last year’s season saw the Panthers reach the playoffs, going 17-14 before falling to Fontainebleau, 25-21, 25-18, 25-16, in the bi-district round of the postseason.

Outside hitter Jennifer Wells, one of six seniors on the squad, was selected to the all-star team for NHS because of her hitting. One player from each team makes the all-star squad. It comes out to be 47 players of more than 500 that are recognized. Wells said she was happy to earn the honor, which 2008 graduate Sarah Shields got last year.

“I didn’t expect to get it,” Wells said. “I was excited. I wanted it last year, but she was deserving of it.”

Wells also said the camp was good for the team.

“It brought us together,” Wells said. “Last year, we had a lot of cliques. Over there, we supported each other on every play and we’re trying not to be so negative about everything.”

Wells added the team got better with its skills and mental attitudes.

“We learned more about passing and being positive. We have to have energy on the floor otherwise it’ll bring us down,” Wells said.

Setter Richelle Saluga said she was happy with the performance of the Lady Panthers during the camp and is looking forward to the season.

“We did very well. We played up to our potential,” Saluga said. “We haven’t peaked yet and we’re going to have a lot of stuff we will carry over. It was a terrific camp.”

Northshore opens its season with the “Jam of Champs” on Aug. 28, which this year will be at Mandeville.