<p> Campers at the three-day Bulldawg volleyball camp break huddle at the conlucion of the camp Thursday at Armand Larive Middle School.</p>

More than 60 youth volleyball players from across the county participated in the three-day BullDawg summer volleyball camp hosted by the Hermiston Bulldogs volleyball program and head coach Becky Wadekamper.

The camp was for all young volleyball players entering fourth through eighth grades. Wadekamper said she was happy with the turnout and the enthusiasm displayed by the campers throughout the week.

We know this is more of a basketball town in terms of girls sports, she said. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many individuals turned out for the camp and with the level of energy each campers gave this week.

Wadekamper said the goal of the camp was three-fold for the participants.

We wanted everyone to have fun, hustle and bring a positive attitude, she said. I think we were extremely successful in all three of those aspects.

Many of Wadekampers current and future varsity athletes helped run the camp and coach the campers.

I think its a huge benefit to my current players, she said. It gives them a fresh perspective. I think having to teach a fundamental move to someone else will only ingrain it in their own minds.

Reigning Columbia River Conference Player of the Year and incoming senior Noa Ena was one of the current Bulldogs helping with the camp.

Teaching the game definitely helps you get better as a player, she said. I had to walk some of the campers through the basics this week, and that just reaffirms those fundamentals to me.

On top of being a learning tool for the varsity athletes, Ena said coaching the camp was a lot of fun.

Its just fun to be in the gym, Ena said. There were so many people in the gym all working towards getting better. It was great to be a part of something like that.

Now that the summer camp is over, Wadekamper and the Bulldog varsity team will get back to preparing for a season that is only two months away.

Hermiston will have a skills camp for its varsity athletes next week and will continue to play in a summer league for the next few weeks. Wadekamper said its a challenge to get everyone on the team together during the summer for a variety of reasons.

Its tough because we have so many multi-sport athletes, she said. Right now, theres summer basketball, softball, track and field and other things going on. A lot of our athletes also have summer jobs, as well. Its difficult to get everyone together, but we are doing our best.

The Bulldogs begin fall practice a week before school starts in August and will open their CRC title defense later that month.