More than 40 middle school athletes spent three evenings learning the fundamentals of volleyball while getting a firsthand look at the Pahrump Valley High School program during the PVHS Volleyball Camp, held July 27-29 in the school’s main gym.
The camp welcomed 42 girls who participated all three days, giving athletes entering grades 6-8 an opportunity to develop their skills under the instruction of PVHS coaches and members of the Trojan varsity volleyball team. Throughout the camp, participants worked on volleyball fundamentals, including passing, serving, setting, hitting and defensive techniques, while also participating in drills designed to improve teamwork, communication and confidence on the court.
For PVHS Head Volleyball Coach Amber Lugo, the camp was about much more than teaching volleyball skills.
“I love having the opportunity to host a camp for the junior high athletes,” Lugo said. “It reaps so many benefits. It provides structure and key skills for athletes at a young age. Current varsity players work the camp and serve as mentors. And mostly it grows the volleyball community here in Pahrump.”
Lugo said she was thrilled with the response from local families, noting that all 42 participants attended the full three-day camp.
“We had a great turnout of 42 for all three days of the camp,” she said. “I know the program will continue to thrive for years to come.”
In addition to providing instruction, the camp also served as a fundraiser for the Pahrump Valley High School volleyball program. Registration fees collected during the event will go directly toward supporting the Trojan volleyball team throughout the upcoming season.
The camp was made even more accessible through the generosity of several local businesses that helped cover registration costs for young athletes. Newvine Law, Top Dog Realty and Budget Property Maintenance each sponsored six campers, allowing a total of 18 girls to attend who may not otherwise have had the opportunity.
The sponsorships reflected the community’s continued support for local youth athletics while helping introduce more young players to the sport and the PVHS program.
Having current varsity players assist throughout the camp gave participants an opportunity to learn from athletes who have already experienced the transition to high school volleyball. In addition to demonstrating drills and techniques, the varsity players served as role models, encouraging the younger athletes and helping create a welcoming, positive environment.
While the camp focused on the future of the program, Lugo is equally excited about the season ahead for the Trojans.
“I was able to build my schedule this year from ground zero, which has allowed a full lineup of 14 matches and two tournaments,” Lugo said. “It is a very challenging schedule for all levels, and that is what we need.”
The Trojans’ preseason schedule will feature primarily Class 5A opponents, giving the team an opportunity to compete against some of the state’s top programs before league play begins.
In addition to the regular season schedule, Pahrump will compete in both the Las Vegas Classic and the Aloha Classic, tournaments that will bring together teams from California, Hawaii, Utah, Alaska, Idaho, Arizona, Tennessee, Texas and Oregon.
“Needless to say, that is an amazing opportunity for the girls,” Lugo said.
With several experienced athletes returning and others stepping into new roles, Lugo believes the Trojans have the pieces in place for an exciting season.
“We have key players returning and others moving into positions that will balance our team wonderfully,” she said. “We have a lot of work to do, and I know I am very excited to get started.”
With a successful youth camp, strong community support and an ambitious schedule on the horizon, the future looks bright for Pahrump Valley volleyball as the Trojans prepare for the start of the 2026 season while continuing to invest in the next generation of players.
