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Craig — Volleyballs flew through the air in rapid succession Wednesday in the Moffat County High School gymnasium.

Thirty-six girls bumped, set and spiked their way through drill after drill as the three coaches running the event yelled in their ears.

MCHS girls volleyball coach Brianna Montgomery was joined by Little Snake River Valley School (Baggs, Wyo.) Athletic Director Ann Wille and Lyman High School (Lyman, Wyo.) girls volleyball coach Louise Kennedy, in the annual "Cowboy Up" girls summer volleyball camp.

"It's a phenomenal honor to have Kennedy and Wille here running this camp," Montgomery said. "It's really fantastic what they do. They put them through all kinds of different competitive drills. They really get the girls to dig in."

Montgomery said she didn't hesitate when approached by Wille and Kennedy about hosting the camp, after all, she knows first hand the depth of volleyball knowledge the duo possesses.

Montgomery played for Wille (head coach) and Kennedy (assistant) in Baggs, while the two were sharing the same bench of a dominant LSRV volleyball program.

Montgomery earned three consecutive all-conference selections under Wille as the Rattlers went without a regular season defeat on their way to three straight state championship bids.

The 2007 Western Slope League girls volleyball coach of the year carried that success with her to Moffat County.

The Bulldogs reeled off 17 consecutive victories on their way to a district championship berth in her first season at the helm, and the "Cowboy Up" camp is a way to get the ball rolling in 2008.

For all three programs.

Eight LSRV girls and two Lyman girls joined the 26 MCHS girls present Monday through Wednesday who were looking to hone their volleyball skills.

"This camp gives all of the girls an opportunity to play," Wille said. "Girls of all ages get a lot of repetition and learn how to compete."

MCHS freshman Annie Sadvar was getting her first taste of high school volleyball action on the court Wednesday, blocking balls at the net and working on her hitting skills.

Sadvar played on the Craig Middle School volleyball team, but she was the first to admit volleyball at the high school level is completely different.

"It's a big difference," Sadvar said. "It's a lot faster, pacing-wise, than I've ever seen.

"It's tough."

And, that's what Kennedy wants to hear.

"We are here to work these girls," she said. "It's tough out here for a reason. We want all the girls to understand volleyball isn't easy. There is a lot they can all learn about this game."

LSRV senior Jaymie Sheehan knows what to expect.

She's started on the varsity squad in each of her previous three seasons and the endless drills have become second nature to the veteran setter.

"It's great playing time," Sheehan said. "It's tough. There are a lot balls flying around everywhere. But, we are playing with great athletes, and we will come out of this improved."

As the competition dwindled, two teams were left on the court battling.

Montgomery's squad won, and the girls gathered in the middle of the court to cheer each other on.

Wille told them to chant "team," but each girls yelled her mascot name instead.

All except for a few girls doing crunches off to the side.

The girls who lost.

Each of the three coaches looked startled when asked why the extra workout.

"Losers have punishment," Montgomery said.

Kennedy replied, "They have to cowboy up."