NASELLE – She was unquestionably the Pacific League’s MVP in volleyball and was starting outside hitter for Western Oregon University as a sophomore last season and now Sylvia Herrold is giving back to the Naselle community where she grew up and learned to excel in the net sport.

Herrold, for the second year in a row, has volunteered to host the three-day Comets Booster Club sponsored volleyball clinic at Lyle Patterson Gymnasium and the response has been “awesome” according to NHS coach Kim Eaton. Seventeen sixth through eighth grade girls participated in the morning and 14 high school age girls came in for instruction in the afternoon July 12 through 14.

“Putting on these clinics is a great experience for me and I hope it is a good one for the girls who attend,” Herrold humbly says. “I love to coach and plan on making coaching a part of my career. Putting on these clinics has been a lot of fun for me and I can see that it is fun for the girls.” She is majoring in biology at WOU.

When asked what they are learning, the middle-school aged girls quickly chirp, “Volleyball skills. Receiving, setting, passing, serving, we are learning them all.” Herrold adds, “Today (July 13) we will learn to hit.” The young ladies clap and one says, “I can hardly wait.”

The middle school girls in attendance included Kendra Leeland, Madison Wirkkala, Abigail Bennett, Jacqueline Jarrett, Madison Green, Haley Footh, Abbie Eaton, Kyryn Jacot, Ellie Chapman, Savannah Zimmerman, Hannah Ellsworth, and Breanna Smith from Naselle. Brianna and Lorna Cummins and Ahnna Neace attended from Long Beach and Josi Harrison and Laura LeFebvre from Clatskanie also participated in Herrold’s camp.

High School girls who participated included Haley Pine, Shae Trost, Haleigh See, Megan Agee, Jordan Smith, Nicole Tarabochia, Danielle Larson, Rochelle Mahlur, and Kristen Scrabeck. Also attending were Lidia Sanchez, Kayti Nelson, Kelsey Kelly, Grace Zimmerman, and Cassie Van Dusen. Assistant Becca Wirkkala and middle school coach Diane Bennett, and Coach Eaton all helped put the camp become a success.