Above: BLA Sophomore Nayary Martinez Bernabeau practicing her form during last month’s spring break camp with BPS and Lionhearts Volleyball Club in the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center. Seth Daniel photo
It was 8 a.m. on the first day of spring break for Boston schoolkids last month, and most students were happily sleeping and enjoying the break. But more than 250 students reported to the Reggie Lewis Center for a week-long volleyball skills camp for boys and girls. The camp is a partnership with BPS and Lionheart Volleyball Club, Boston’s new club team for ages 10-18.
“We had 452 students register and 250 showed up on the first day,” said Nikita Selivan of Lionheart, who was on one of Boston’s first 12U club teams 17 years ago. “It’s definitely the biggest group we’ve had at our camps so far…I think volleyball has grown in the US, but really blown up in the last few years.”
Dorchester’s Nayary Martinez Bernabeau, a sophomore at Boston Latin Academy (BLA), was the camp’s ‘Player of the Day’ on the first day. She said she has come to love volleyball and Lionhearts.
“I was introduced to it in middle school by some friends and we were seeing it a lot on social media,” she said. “Overall, I think it’s a low impact sport in that there’s not a lot of physical contact and aggressiveness. Everybody is happy and having fun and making friends…I think everyone should play volleyball. It’s the best sport out there.”
