Rocketfuel volleyball lifts off at first college event
Central Arkansas volleyball coach John Newberry leads camp instructions at the RocketFuel 318 Volleyball Club college camp held at the Ruston Sports Complex. Leader photo by Matt Belinson
Volleyball’s visibility in north Louisiana is inching closer to takeoff.
Founded in 2016, Ruston- based Rocketfuel 318 Volleyball Club held its first ever College Coaches Camp Wednesday and Thursday at the Ruston Sports Complex, with a handful of college coaches giving hands-on evaluation to more than 40 players.
Coaches from Louisiana Tech, Grambling State, Louisiana-Lafayette, Abilene Christian, University of Central Arkansas, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, and Henderson State were in attendance as Central Arkansas head coach John Newberry led drill instruction.
Amanda Cauley, Rocketfuel 318 Volleyball coach and coordinator, was thrilled with the camp’s turnout and the momentum it can create for not only Rocketfuel, but volleyball across the region.
“Fifty (girls) would have been amazing. We got 45,” Cauley said. “So, we’re excited with the fact that we have people from all over from Sulphur, New Iberia, Hughes Springs, Texas, and others here and just the fact that these coaches, who are so busy, came to Ruston which technically doesn’t have a prominent volleyball footprint – yet. It’s awesome. I’m very pleased.”
The camp was not advertised or run as a showcase per se, but Cauley said girls could come to the camp with different approaches – some attending for the fun and additional reps, and others hoping to get on the coaches’ radar.
Alongside Newberry, Tech assistant coach Alex Holt, GSU head coach Paige Phillips and SLU associate head coach Collin Wilson worked with players.
“It’s a win- win for our club and for the city to host an event like this,” Cauley said. “Hopefully we provided them a great experience and hopefully word spreads and next year instead of four courts, we need all six courts.”
Cauley, who played college volleyball at Tech, still remembers a time when volleyball’s footprint in north Louisiana was non-existent and the idea of holding a summer development camp seemed like a faint dream.
Given the turnout and feedback for the camp, Cauley hopes Rocketfuel and its new connections can put together more camps and training opportunities in the near future.
With three daughters of her own looking to make their way in the sport – Harper, Baylor, and Josie – Cauley believes Rocketfuel’s mission to grow volleyball talent and awareness in north Louisiana is just getting started.
“This is one of the many things we hope to do as we try and make Ruston a small town with a volleyball legacy,” Cauley said. “We want to be the place where people say, ‘oh yeah, we go there for volleyball.’” “A few years ago, it wouldn’t have been an option for the girls, so just the fact that this is here is huge for the girls.”
Rocketfuel 318 Volleyball will hold a popup clinic at Cook Baptist Church on June 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m for kids ages 7-14.
Registration costs $20 per player and can be found at rocketfuel318.net.
