Participants in Oakdale High’s summer volleyball clinic received some expert tutelage from some of the best instructors in the sport — worldwide — earlier this month at the Mustang gymnasium.

Two-time volleyball Olympian Kim Oden and 1992 U.S. team captain Ruth Lawanson (both bronze medalists) were on hand to mentor Oakdale’s volleyball youth as they prepare for another successful run at the Sac-Joaquin Section prep season.

The pair, along with University of Nevada coach Nate Hallett and Oakdale head coach Shelli Ponce, took Oakdale students through a barrage of drills and instruction around the net with only a month to spare before the start to California Interscholastic Federation competition.

“Just to have two former Olympic bronze medalists in that gym was incredible,” Ponce said. “They really worked on our fundamentals and reminded the girls to focus on basic skills that we will reiterate as the season progresses.

“I think it will help us run a quicker offense.”

Oakdale’s varsity team received some expert advice from Oden at the net during clinic action, and will look to translate that on the court in a Sept. 9 preseason opener against visiting Escalon.