The Lady Sharx Volleyball Club staged a five-day clinic this past month at Ceres High School.

“I got great feedback from parents,” said Kelly Heese, Ceres High volleyball head coach and Lady Sharx founder/director. “They told me how well the camp was run and how in tune the coaches were with the players to help them improve throughout the week.”

Approximately 65 boys and girls, aged 6-18, attended the June 23-27 camp.

Cost was $100 per camper.

Heese and her coaching staff provided instruction.

“It was two hours of non-stop drills every single day,” she said. 

Emphasis was placed on serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, serve receive, defense, communication and team work.

Drills were staged in smaller groups.

Water breaks were given every 20 minutes.

“The players had more one-on-one time with coaches,” Heese said.

“We kept them constantly moving,” she added. “They didn’t have any time to think about anything else.”

The purpose of the camp was to expose younger athletes to the sport.

It also served as a fundraiser for Ceres High’s volleyball program.

“The camps are very important,” Heese said. “Learning the basics when you’re young is huge in your development. You have to stay active, not just physically but mentally.”

The Lady Sharx will be hold tryouts for travel teams at 10 a.m. on July 27 at Ceres High School.

“The growth of this sport continues to increase every year. You have to learn the basic skills early on if you want to compete in general. A lot of kids aren’t making teams in junior high because other kids are doing travel ball.”

Heese has coached volleyball in the Stanislaus District for over two decades.

“It’s nice to see how the sport is growing, not just for females but males,” she said. 

Heese doubled as head coach of Ceres High’s boys and girls volleyball programs for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25

Ceres High’s boys team enjoyed one of its most successful seasons to date this spring by compiling an 11-9 overall record and placing fourth in the Western Athletic Conference with an 8-6 mark.

Ceres High’s girls team amassed a 7-11 overall record and finished fifth in the WAC standings (6-8). The Bulldogs increased their win total from the previous season.

Heese also coached at crosstown-rival Central Valley High School in the past. 

Central Valley’s girls team reached unprecedented heights under her guidance from 2012-16. 

The Hawks amassed a 30-23 record in WAC action and qualified for the postseason three times.

“It’s a sport that gets overlooked by people. There is so much to offer. There are a lot of college scholarships available for boys and girls. Coaches are searching for players. Continuously playing gives you a greater advantage.”