ASU beach volleyball players and coaches give local youth a glimpse into collegiate athletics during the ‘Building Bright Futures’ outreach event in Tempe. (Video screengrab by Deaundre Sanders/Cronkite News)
TEMPE – Shouts of excitement and bursts of sand filled the air at the Sun Devil Beach Volleyball Facility. The Arizona State beach volleyball season might not begin until February, but the athletes didn’t need competitors on the other side of the net to help push their sport last Wednesday.
As Sun Devils junior Tori Clement tossed volleyballs to her teammate Samaya Morin, Kastyn Hoffman helped an assembly of kids with their serving technique during a session of “Building Brilliant Futures,” a program created by Beach Nation Volleyball to reach out to underprivileged youth in multiple communities throughout the U.S.
“I hope that by being a role model for the kids here right now, they can follow by example and fill in those shoes when they get older,” Clement said. “These sessions help hone their skills, and learn about teamwork. The lessons learned can apply this to many different aspects of their life. They can really grow their game, make themselves better athletes, better friends and better leaders.”
Middle school students participate in drills and learn key skills from ASU athletes during the ‘Building Brilliant Futures’ event. (Video screengrab by Deaundre Sanders/Cronkite News)
Arizona State hosted the “Building Brilliant Futures” event for the first time in the school’s history. Local middle schoolers came out to the beach volleyball courts to learn more about the sport from members of the Sun Devils beach volleyball team. For second-year coach Kristen Glattfelder, the turnout and success of the event exceeded all exceptions.
“It’s really special for the sixth to eighth graders that are able to come here to work with our athletes who are great mentors for them,” Glattfelder said. “Our goal with this program is to give people that don’t have the opportunities to go to camps and clinics the opportunity to come to get high-level coaching at a college campus and just have fun.”
ASU’s beach volleyball team is separate from the Sun Devils women’s volleyball team. That team is one of the country’s hottest, 17-2 overall and 7-0 on their home court which, like other Division 1 programs, is typically made of carbon fiber or Taraflex. ASU’s beach volleyball team, meanwhile, plays outdoors and on sand, and finished last season with a 21-10 record.
As they prep for their upcoming season, community events help keep everyone engaged. One of the main incentives of the Building Brilliant Futures event was the free admission. The cost to participate in volleyball camps can range anywhere between $100 to $1,000, according to the NCSA College Recruiting website. Some camps even exceed that price range when travel expenses come into play.
Arizona State beach volleyball players engage with local middle schoolers with hands-on instruction during the inaugural ‘Building Brilliant Futures’ program in Tempe. (Video screengrab by Deaundre Sanders/Cronkite News)
For parents like Michelle Shook, not having to worry about the cost of her daughters participating in these types of learning sessions is appreciated.
“I think having a free program where the kids are able to learn from experienced athletes who they can look up to is amazing,” Shook said as she watched from the sidelines as ASU players guided the school children through drills. “The kids are able to come and enjoy themselves as they improve their skills. And as parents it’s a relief not having to stress and worry about the financial costs.”
The members of Arizona State’s beach volleyball team in attendance felt privileged to give back to the community and act as an older sibling to the younger generation.
“Being in a position to inspire the younger generation is very powerful and motivating,” said Morin, a junior. “Growing up in Washington (state), I always went to the Husky games. I loved being on their sidelines and getting to play on the court with the Huskies players. And now seeing that ASU supports the same type of program and that we get to give back to the community is just amazing.”
The “Building Brilliant Futures” program will host one more two-hour lesson on Oct. 23. While this will be the last session at Arizona State this year, three more sessions will be held next year between January and February. The plan going forward is to have two sessions every year, with one being held in the fall and one in the spring.
