Stillman hosted the second annual Pam Phillips Volleyball Challenge Camps.  Eight teams competed in the high school division, which ran Monday & Tuesday, July 19th & 20th. Participating high school teams included: Brookwood, Bryant, Central-Tuscaloosa, Hillcrest, Northridge, Tuscaloosa Christian, Tuscaloosa County, & Southern Academy.  There was pool play on Monday, with twelve matches played from 8:00 AM until 5:30 PM.  At the conclusion of Monday's pool play, teams were seeded (according to their won/loss records in pool play).  The teams then battled for the title on Tuesday.  After six tough matches, the 2010 Pam Phillips Challenge Camp Championship was claimed by the Northridge Jaguars.  Coach Sherri Shuttlesworth and her Jags defeated a talented Hillcrest Patriot squad, coached by Camillia Redmond, to win the title by scores of 25-21 and 25-22.

The camp’s middle school division was held on Wednesday & Thursday, July 21st and 22nd.  Participating middle school teams included: Eastwood, Hillcrest, Northside, Tuscaloosa Christian, TMS, and Southern Academy.  Twelve matches were played in a round-robin format on Wednesday & Thursday.  After the conclusion of round-robin play, the top two teams (as determined by their W/L records over the two days) met in a best of three championship match.  The championship match saw Coach Karen Wedgworth's undefeated Southern Academy squad (at 10-0) square off against Coach Jennifer Thrasher's Tuscaloosa Christian team (at 8-2).  Southern fought from an 8-16 deficit to win a grueling first set by the score of 25-23.  Tuscaloosa Christian rallied back to win set two 25-20 to force a deciding third set, which Southern won 15-13 to claim the 2010 Pam Phillips VB Challenge Camp Championship (Middle School Division).

Coach Phillips said, "I started these Challenge Camps last July in order to provide an opportunity for volleyball teams in our area to compete against one another to gain valuable court experience prior to the start of their school seasons in August.”  The camp has grown considerably. Last July, only five middle schools competed.  The high school division didn't have enough teams to play.  This year, eight high school teams and six middle school teams signed up.  

Phillips continued, “This experience is an awesome one for all involved.  The kids get an opportunity to compete on the home court of our NCAA Division II Stillman Lady Tigers volleyball team.  That is really exciting to both the middle school players and the high school players.” Phillips went on to explain that the players get valuable court time with their teammates.  They strengthen their individual and team skills.  They refresh their knowledge of the rules of play.  Phillips stated, “The coaches get to see their teams in action prior to the start of their competitive seasons.  This aids them in developing their team goals and determining the strengths and weaknesses of their squads.  From such knowledge gained, they can plan their upcoming practice sessions to address such.”

 
When Phillips was asked how she thought the camp was received by the community she said, “I received many positive comments from coaches, athletes, parents of players, booster presidents, etc.  They were all grateful for the opportunity and look forward to returning in the future. I have always in the past and will continue in the future to do all I can to promote the positive growth of young student-athletes."

                                               -STILLMAN-