Some of the future pieces of the Coupeville High School volleyball team could be seen at the middle school gym last week.

The Wolves and coach Breanne Smedley hosted a volleyball camp for third- through eighth-graders Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Smedley said about 15 athletes took part.

“The goal is to get young athletes to love the sport of volleyball while teaching them fundamentals and giving them tools to be able to practice and grow their volleyball skills at home,” Smedley said. “My aim is to create interest at a young age, then provide opportunities for athletes to play and learn volleyball throughout their elementary and middle school years.”

The hope, Smedley added, is that the campers’ entry-level skills will improve and they will be interested in playing in the high school program.

Those taking part in the camp, she said, will also experience the core values of CHS volleyball: effort, attitude, competitiveness and selflessness.

The campers aren’t the only ones who gain by taking part.

Current Coupeville High School players help Smedley with the camp, which helps them understand the importance of giving back to the community, she said.

“The players also gain leadership and responsibility as they work with kids who look up to them as role models,” Smedley said. “Additionally, our players were able to get a lot of quality contacts on the ball as they were teaching and used the opportunity to bond with each other and the incoming freshmen.

“I am proud of the hardworking and invested players that volunteered their time. They see the bigger picture of how their service impacts the youth and the CHS volleyball program.”

The high school players will have their own opportunity to go camping later this summer when the Wolves attend the Western Washington University Team Camp July 8-11, Smedley said.