Explosive kills in volleyball always brings the crowd to its feet with excitement.
However, without the hard work of the back row defenders, none of those cheers are possible.
Often performing well outside the spotlight, defensive specialists and the libero jump-start the action on the floor.
Shady Spring all-stater Camille Testerman has hit her fair share of rockets from the front row, but fielding those bombs on the back line is what has set apart.
Her defensive ability is also sending her to the next level.
Tuesday evening with family, friends, coaches and teammates on hand at Shady Spring High School, Testerman signed a National Letter of Intent to play volleyball next year at Concord University.
“This is super exciting and something that I have been looking forward to,” Testerman said. “It was a hard decision trying to consider all of the good things that come from each college, but I am happy with my decision.”
The future Mountain Lion played three seasons for former Shady Spring head volleyball coach Kelly Williams who talked about her former standout.
“Camille is someone that is a total team player all the way around,” Williams said. “When she played for me and was hurt in the state tournament, I had no idea she was even hurt. She was completely committed to her team no matter how much pain she was in.”
Playing hurt or playing any position necessary to help the team are just some of the attributes that make Testerman a solid candidate to play college volleyball.
“She comes to practice everyday ready to go. She will do whatever you ask her to do and gives it 100 percent all of the time,” Williams said. “She has a great personality and a lot of friends. She is just a committed player.”
Williams also talked about how Testerman’s move to the back row was a blessing in disguise.
“She came from the front row and moved to the back row to play all the way around. That back row is really where she helps maintain the stability. We depended on her for years on the back row,” Williams said. “Camille will be willing to do anything she is asked to do. Her expertise and where I feel like she will thrive is in her defense and passing. Her serve receive is phenomenal. She is willing to learn and she will just continue to get better.”
With just two seniors on the team this year, herself and Haley Sweeney, Testerman also had to step into more of a leadership role this year with a very young team around her.
“Her leadership on and off the court is great. She is more of a silent leader that leads by example,” current Shady Spring head coach Brantlea Wood said. “She takes it into her own hands to make everybody feels welcome. She is just a good kid on and off the floor.”
Wood also admitted that Testerman will leave a big hole to fill for the Tigers going forward.
“Everybody wants to be a front row player and a hitter that gets all of the acknowledgment. Nobody wants to be the one that is in the back, getting the balls up to the setter and then to the hitters,” Wood said. “Camille does a phenomenal job of that. When she is on the back row passing, we are putting the ball down on the front row.”
While some players struggle with the rigors on defense, it really seemed to be the ideal spot for Testerman.
“I think the back row was something that I just grasped onto and it kind of came easy to me,” Testerman said. “I love hitting, but passing and serve receive just came so easy to me.”
Choosing Concord University was also an easy decision for Testerman.
“I have been on the campus so many times and I played for their travel team since sixth grade,” Testerman explained. “The campus just really feels like home. I love the coaches and the players who are all really super sweet.”
Along with the new jersey she will wear, Testerman will most likely be playing a new position on the back row in college.
“(Head coach Kate Dillon) talked to me about being the libero. It will be a big change for sure, but I am so excited,” Testerman said. “She wants me to hit in practice, but I will definitely play as a defensive specialist or libero.”
While the new position and new environment will be a challenge, Testerman will have two former high school teammates, Meg Williams and Chloe Thompson, to help with the transition to the next level.
“It is so exciting. They have been some of my best friends and we became really close during high school. I am really excited to be back playing with them again,” Testerman said.