Volleyball: Even with late date, Basin's Best Clinic features strong speakers

A change on the calendar doesn't appear to be affecting the quality of the Basin's Best Volleyball Clinic.

The fourth annual BBVC is set for today and Saturday in the Odessa High Fieldhouse, barely more than a month before coaches will begin gathering their teams for preseason workouts.

Odessa High head coach Linda McMillan - the event founder and organizer - originally had the clinic planned for the first weekend in June.

That changed, however, when the UIL pushed the state track meet to the same dates as it postponed spring sports in response to the North American flu.

The lineup McMillan had planned did get shuffled because of conflicts with this weekend, but previous experiences and word of mouth turned out to be a good combination.

All of today's speakers - Hereford's Brenda Kitten, Houston Cy-Fair's Donna Benotti and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi's Tony Graystone - are making return appearances.

Saturday's opening speaker, Debbie Jaehne of Houston Cypress Creek, is making her first appearance at the behest of Benotti.

"She asked me to come out there and I like going to different places," said Jaehne, who has won three Class 5A state titles in her Cypress Creek career. "Some of the low-key clinics are fabulous."

Also included Saturday are two women set to be inducted next month into the Texas Girls Coaches Association Hall of Fame - El Paso Franklin coach Flo Valdez and Lubbock ISD interim athletic director Melynn Hunt.

The Saturday lineup will be rounded out by Terri Johnson, who led Magnolia to a Class 4A state tournament appearance a year ago.

Topics will range from volleyball tactics to dealing with issues off the court - reminders and tips that have worked all over the state.

No matter which part of June the messages are being conveyed, McMillan hopes coaches from throughout the area will enjoy and learn.

THE LINEUP

At Odessa High Fieldhouse

- TODAY -

>> 5 p.m.

Brenda Kitten, Hereford ISD girls athletic director.

Topic: Common sense and the law for Texas coaches.

>> 6:15 p.m.

Donna Benotti, Houston Cypress-Fairbanks head coach.

Topic: Drills, drills, drills.

>> 7:30 p.m.

Tony Graystone, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi head coach.

Topic: Training to reduce and improve out-of-system play.

- SATURDAY -

>> 9 a.m.

Debbie Jaehne, Houston Cypress Creek head coach.

Topic: Setting.

>> 10:15 a.m.

Flo Valdez, El Paso Franklin head coach.

Topic: TBA.

>> 11:30 a.m.

Melynn Hunt, Lubbock ISD interim athletic director.

Topic: Taking care of business.

>> 1:45 p.m.

Terri Johnson, Magnolia head coach.

Topic: Training the outside hitter.

>> 3 p.m.

General.

Topic: Drills and questions.