Aleeya Jones of Wiscasset has been known to bounce a volleyball around the house, taking out lamps in the process. These days, she's the one bouncing off the walls, her mother and coach Julie Jones said.

Weeks ago, the mother and daughter, along with Aleeya's father Chad Jones held out only slim hope that the 10-year-old volleyball player would get to train out-of-state this summer.

The program she tried out for in Holyoke, Mass., in March puts athletes in a pipeline toward possible international competition.

At 4 1/2 feet tall, the Wiscasset Christian Academy fifth-grader was shorter than fellow competitors, but she is used to that. She's been on the academy's varsity high school volleyball team for three years.

When the Massachusetts tryout results came out, Jones had missed the cut; but she made the alternates list. “But then, it got so late, we kind of gave up on it,” her mother said.

Then, at about 10:30 p.m., May 23, the family got an email inviting the young player to the Team USA Future Select National Development Program in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in July.

“I feel really, really excited about it,” Jones said May 31.

The academy's school year is done, but she has kept up with daily training on the family's own sand court at home on Sukie Lane.

The family is nearing its goal to raise $1,900 for Jones' entry and other costs associated with next month's training in Florida.

Chad Jones' employer,  Hodgdon Yachts in East Boothbay, is chipping in. “(P)assion like Aleeya's and her family's is infectious,” Hodgdon Yachts President and Chief Executive Officer Tim Hodgdon wrote to the Wiscasset Newspaper/Boothbay Register. “This is a fantastic but well deserved opportunity for her.”

Much of the company's success is due to its tremendous employees like Chad Jones, a very valuable member of the team, Hodgdon wrote in a May 31 email. “So when it comes to supporting … worthy causes in our community, it only makes sense to start at home.”

Julie Jones will accompany her daughter to Florida, but after the plane lands, the younger Jones will be under the supervision of USA Volleyball, the sport's national governing body.

The only time mother and daughter could get to see each other before the return trip home is an open-door training session that may take place.

In addition to playing as a setter on her school team, Aleeya Jones is a hitter for the Maine Juniors Volleyball Club.

She will be among the youngest of 128 girls chosen nationwide for this year's training in Florida and Grand Rapids, Mich., her mother said. One wrinkle occurred in ordering gear on the registration form: The clothes  sizes listed were all too big.

However, next month's training fits well into Aleeya Jones' big dreams. Her mother got her out of bed the night the invitation came by email. “And I remember Aleeya said,  'It's one step closer to the Olympics.'”

“She's been bouncing off the walls ever since.”

The family has a fundraising link here. As of June 2, $1,360 had been raised toward the $1,900 goal.

Susan Johns can be reached at 207-844-4633 or sjohns@wiscassetnewspaper.com