Packer Volleyball hosts 2nd annual youth camp following program’s first winning season
In her 1st season, Jessice Cohen hosted two summer camps and led the pack to their first winning season, playoff appearance and first college signee.
MOULTRIE, GA- The Lady Packer Volleyball team wrapped up the last day of their second annual youth summer camp on Wednesday.
“I believe last year we had about 30 kids sign up, this year we have about 50, so there’s huge growth there, I can tell that the interest is building,” said Jessica Cohen, Packer Volleyball head coach.
Cohen started the summer camp when she became head coach last June in hopes of teaching kids the game while building new relationships.
“So, the main goal is to build the basic fundamental skills. So, we actually do about ten-to-fifteen-minute rotations for each skill. Thats passing, setting, hitting, serving, ball control, we even do fitness. Just every aspect of the game that we want to improve and just give them time to build those basic skills,” said Cohen. “Another thing is it allows them to build those relationships. we have a lot of girls that are going into sixth grade here and they’re all coming from different schools. Finally, they will be together, and they can meet people before the school year.”
She also believes this is a beneficial experience for her athletes.
“It’s so important for the future of our program that we gain that interest, and we have the girls building these relationships so that the kids and the community want to come. We have kids from rising first grade to sixth grade here and they just love it. They want to play, and it starts building that interest since we’re such a new program down here. It really starts building that interest quick” Cohen explained.
And she is already excited for next year.
“Everybody is welcome! Rising first to sixth grade boys, girls, it’s not a camp to ensure or see who’s good or who’s not. It’s a camp to get people’s toes wet and get them in a setting where they are comfortable in doing it and feeling confident when doing so,” Cohen said.
In her first year as head coach, Cohen led the program to their first winning season and first playoff appearance since its birth in 2017. The Lady Packers finished the 2022-2023 season with a 21-16 overall record but went 2-7 in Region 1-7A. Their best record prior to Cohen’s arrival was the 2021-2022 season, where the Pack went just 13-13 (overall) and 1-8 (region). Cohen also became the first coach at Colquitt County to have an athlete sign a college volleyball scholarship.
Ava Dickens signs with Andrew College Volleyball
“I feel great. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we had last year. Having our first winning season, making it to the first round of playoffs for the first time and we also had our first college signee in program history, Ava Dickens who signed with Andrew College,” Cohen said.
Despite a historical season for the program, she expects nothing but bigger and better things from her team going into the 2023-2024 season.
“Although we lost four seniors, three being starters, we have a good, experienced team this upcoming season with eight seniors who are all great leaders and athletes. All the girls come out and give me their all every practice and every game and that’s all I could ask for.”
Coach Cohen says the official Packer Volleyball schedule should be released in approximately two weeks, and she would love for Packer Nation to come out and support.
“I really do hope this year more come out to support the girls. I want all of Packer Nation to come and cheer them on. It really does make a big difference when athletes have filled stands and the girls are hearing that constant support. Colquitt County has the best fans in the state, and I know if they show up and show out, our program will be that much more successful!” said Cohen.
