October 10, 2006 - Katzenbach Clinic
October 10, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
College Volleyball
Rider University Conducts Katzenbach Clinic
LAWRENCEVILLE--As part of the Rider Athletics community outreach program and the MAAC Gives Back, the Rider volleyball team conducted its annual clinic with the Katzenbach School for the Deaf volleyball team on Tuesday.
“We’ve been involved with the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf (MKSD) for the past three or four seasons,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “It is great to give back to the school because they will come and watch a few of our matches and some of the Rider players will go over and watch a few of their matches. We’ve developed a real bond with the school and as their players have grown, you can see improvement in their skills as our players have been helping them.”
The clinic which lasted an hour and a half went over the basic skills of volleyball from pre-game stretching to serving, setting and passing.
“It’s nice to see the interaction between the two teams and it is great that the players can teach the game that they love to a younger generation of players,” Ahlquist added. “Since we’ve worked with the team over several years, instead of running a generic clinic, you had their players asking for help on specific skills today and that led to a lot more interaction and helped our players get as much out of the clinic as the MKSD team did today. It was a great learning experience for everyone.”
Founded in 1883, the Katzenbach School in Trenton, New Jersey offers both day and residential programs that make services accessible to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing students from age three to 21.
“We are very proud of the volleyball team for taking the time each year to work with the Katzenback School,” said Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator Nancy Roberts who coached the volleyball team from 1991-1998. “The time and effort that the team has given helping the local community has shaped not only the lives of the MKSD players but has also broadened their own experience as student-athletes at Rider and will help shape their lives in the future.”
“Anytime you can get your team to teach the game, it’s great because they have to concentrate on doing the basic skills correctly and that makes them better players if they can teach the sport,” Ahlquist added. “The bonus is that the players are giving back to other student-athletes who have overcome a disability and who may not have been as fortunate or have had as many opportunities as our players have had growing up.”
The Broncs return to the court hosting Canisius and Niagara on Saturday and Sunday.
-RU-
The Rider Volleyball team with the Katzenbach School for the Deaf volleyball team
at the 2006 clinic on October 10th.
