By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

LAGRANGE – Numbers aren’t everything, but it helps.

When LaGrange High volleyball coach Angie Newton held tryouts during the spring, nearly 50 girls came out.

There were so many players that Newton decided the time was right to begin a freshman team.

So when a new LaGrange volleyball season rolls around this fall, there will be a freshman team, a junior-varsity team, and a varsity team.

Most of the players for those three teams were a part of a camp last week at LaGrange High.

There were also a few players from Callaway, as well as a number of local middle-school players.

For Newton, it was a valuable opportunity to get a better measure of her players, to see them on the court as she prepares for a new season.

“I’m still questioning where I’m going to put this one or that one, so it gives me an opportunity as a coach to see some different things,” Newton said.

Assisting Newton during the three-day camp was Heather Smith, who was Callaway’s head coach during the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

Smith has helped out at Newton’s camp the past two summers.

“It’s been a great experience,” Smith said. “It’s always nice to come in and work with other coaches, because we all have the same goal, building volleyball in Troup County.”

Newton said it was a “really exciting” week working with the dozens of players.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm,” she said. “The kids seem to be really upbeat about everything. And they’re working hard.”

Newton said many of the players made a lot of progress during the camp.

“I’ve already seen some improvement from them just in the three days,” Newton said.

Newton is eager to see get the freshman team started this fall, and she feels it will be a major benefit for the program.

“I think in about two years, we’ll see a huge difference,” she said. “They’ll learn the fundamentals before they get to me.”

The Callaway and LaGrange volleyball teams will both host camps in July, with the coaches from Point University serving as instructors.