NATCHEZ — Dozens of young Natchez tennis players have seen their fair share of serves, volleys and lobs this summer at the Duncan Park tennis camps.

Duncan Park tennis Director Henry Harris said approximately 40 children are attending the camps each week. The camps are Tuesdays and Thursdays, and they started the second week of June and end July 28.

“We work on drills with forehands, backhands and how to serve,” Harris said. “Then we let them play to see if they are doing what we teach.”

Harris said this year’s turnout is the second largest he has had at the camps. The large number of young players is a good thing for the players and also the local schools’ tennis programs, he said.

“It provides a broad range of students that the schools can pull players from,” he said.

Cole Mosby is one of the campers that made his school team last season.

Mosby, 12, started playing the game last year and was the second-youngest player on the tennis team at Trinity Episcopal, he said.

“I just like (tennis),” Mosby said. “I like that I’m able to play people better than me, and I can get better too. I think I’m pretty good, but compared to some people I’m not so good.”

Mosby said the camp has helped him out with all aspects of his game.

Mosby said he hopes to continue his tennis career through high school at least.

“I watch the pros a lot on T.V. and try to be like them,” he said.

Mosby is also a member of the 12-year-old Natchez Dixie Youth All-Star team that is still alive in the Dixie Youth tournament. Mosby said it is difficult juggling the two sports this summer.

Harris said he likes the amount of interest in tennis he is seeing from the campers.

“For them to be here in this heat, they have to want to play it,” he said.

Harris said the campers range from older players trying to prepare for their high school seasons, to new players hoping to get their tennis careers started.

One of those players new to the game is 12-year-old Xavier Hawkins.

Hawkins said he started playing in June, but he is already seeing improvement in his game through his work at the camp.

“I’ m getting better,” he said. “I just enjoy playing.”

Hawkins said he hopes to try out for Cathedral’s tennis team this year.

Alcorn State tennis player Pushpendra Rajpurohit is helping Harris out as a guest instructor at the camp, Harris said.

“Having Pushpendra is great because it gives the kids someone a little younger to relate to,” Harris said.

Harris said many of the campers this year have attended the camp in the past, but a few new players, like Hawkins, are participating as well.