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Volleyball pro holds clinic at MCS
Mount Carmel School student-athletes pose for a photo with volleyball pro Jeff Carlucci and their coach Tomoko Shimizu. (Thomas Manglona II)
In his inaugural sports clinic, the retired athlete taught student-athletes the fundamentals of spiking, serving, and returning a volleyball. Carlucci, who has been playing professional volleyball for over a decade, has visited the island several times before and recently decided to call Saipan his home with the hopes of giving back some of his knowledge to young student-athletes.
“I think if you are given a gift, then you should share it. Whether it is sports or not, why not try to give information to a young generation and pass it on?” the 6’6” volleyball pro said.
Carlucci noted that volleyball has grown on the island since his first visit in 2005.
“The skill level has increased,” he told Saipan Tribune. “More people are involved. It is nice to see the interest level increased as well.”
Mount Carmel sophomore Caitlin Tinney described the hour-long clinic as “amazing”.
“For a professional volleyball player to take time to teach a group of kids some skills is amazing. I’m really glad that he came to the school,” she said.
School coach Tomoko Shimizu added “it is great that he came to teach the students”. She also said that Carlucci’s visit serves as an inspiration for students to work hard on and off the court.
