Snow College head coach, Mike Daniel returns to Alamo for annual volleyball camp

For more than three decades, summer in Alamo hasn’t felt complete until Snow College head volleyball coach Mike Daniel arrives to work with the next generation of Pahranagat Valley volleyball players.

This year marked Daniel’s 31st consecutive annual volleyball camp in Alamo, continuing a tradition that has become a summer highlight for Panther athletes and a cornerstone of the Pahranagat Valley volleyball program.

The tradition began more than 30 years ago when former Pahranagat Valley High School head volleyball coach Ginger Whipple met Daniel while he was working as a young clinician for another volleyball camp company.

“He worked for another company at the time,” Whipple recalled. “He basically started his own camps after that and did several camps every summer besides ours. After that first camp, he asked if I’d be interested in hiring him, and he promised he’d come back every year. He doesn’t do that many camps anymore. I feel pretty lucky he still comes to us.”

When Whipple retired in 2018, Milly Walch became head volleyball coach at Pahranagat Valley High School and continued the tradition. Walch has organized the annual camp ever since, welcoming Daniel and his staff back to Alamo each summer and continuing a legacy that has benefited generations of Panther athletes.

Joining Daniel this year was his daughter, Dalayne Daniel, a former collegiate volleyball player and longtime camp instructor who has spent years mentoring young athletes. On Monday, two current Snow College players, Maddi and Brittany, also helped instruct campers. Brittany is the granddaughter of Ron Williams of Western Elite, adding a local connection to the camp.

“We are grateful to host this volleyball camp,” Walch said. “This year in particular was fun and had such a great vibe.”

The camp welcomed approximately 20 athletes in fifth through seventh grades and 22 athletes in eighth through 12th grades, with players spending three days developing their volleyball skills and preparing for the upcoming fall season.

Each day, Daniel emphasized the core fundamentals of volleyball, including serving, passing, setting, hitting, blocking, footwork and court awareness. Through high-energy drills and constant encouragement, he challenged players to push themselves beyond their comfort zones and elevate their level of play. The demanding sessions left the athletes with plenty of sore muscles, but also noticeable improvement in their confidence, technique and understanding of the game.

One of Daniel’s favorite messages to campers was, “The ball knows no age.” He reminded players that success isn’t determined by age, but by a willingness to work hard, compete and give their best effort. His philosophy encouraged every athlete—from the youngest campers to the graduating seniors—to strive for continual improvement every time they stepped onto the court.

Tuesday evening gave players a chance to relax during a team barbecue, allowing athletes and coaches to enjoy one another’s company while strengthening friendships and building team chemistry before the season begins.

The camp concluded with recognition for seniors Rylee Lewis and Allie Lasike, who received Leadership Awards in appreciation for their guidance, positive example and commitment to the Pahranagat Valley volleyball program. Coaches expressed gratitude for the leadership both athletes have shown while mentoring younger teammates.