For most teams, the preseason is a time of two- or even three-a-day practices, conditioning runs, team bonding and various other activities to prepare for the upcoming season.

The Coker College volleyball team is no exception, but when head coach Jon Stenman received a call from Coker alum and Georgetown (South Carolina) High School assistant coach Kathy Harsh Cunningham asking for old game film to show her young players how volleyball is supposed to be played, Stenman decided he would take it a step further.

The Coker Lady Cobras took a break from their first-week workouts and traveled to Georgetown High School to conduct a free volleyball clinic for local players.

“This was a great opportunity to have our players give back to the community,” Stenman said. “Even though it was our first week playing together, I thought it would be an excellent chance for these young ladies to teach others about the great sport of volleyball.”

Stenman and the Lady Cobras showed more than two dozen aspiring volleyball players from the Georgetown area the four basic fundamentals of the game: serving, setting, hitting and passing. After more than an hour and a half of instruction, participants divided into teams and scrimmaged. Afterward, the Lady Cobras played a two-set inter-squad match to wrap up the clinic.

“It was an awesome experience for our girls to learn from the Coker volleyball team and see volleyball played at the collegiate level,” said Cunningham. “We’re excited to take what we’ve learned and apply it on the court this season. We want to thank coach Stenman and the Coker team for this opportunity.”

“This was a great experience for our players,” said Stenman. “It gave them a chance to teach the game they love to players who in just a few short years will be looking to play college volleyball.”

Coker opens the 2009 season August 28 against UNC Pembroke at the Lenoir-Rhyne tournament.