Notes for February 27, 2009
The tournament season is in full swing for many teams and just beginning for a few others. I hope that everyone is having a successful season so far. Success in club volleyball can look like many things. For some it will be tournament wins. For some it will be game wins. For others it can be accomplishing something you have not accomplished before like getting your serve over. As I have told many teams over the years and this season is no different-my goal for each of our players is that they learn the proper fundamentals, they improve individually, the team and coach works well together and they have fun. I know that winning is fun-so I certainly hope there is plenty of that!
The folks who turned out for Scott Carter’s presentation on recruiting experienced a real treat. Scott did an excellent job of de-mystifying the process along with offering some very down to earth advice about recruiting. Ron Grindle and I had the chance to spend additional time with Scott following the presentation, and we both agreed he is someone we would like to come back and work with our coaching staff. I always love to listen to two coaches discuss technique and coaching philosophy. Which passing technique is better, how do you position your body on your approach to get the most height and power, in a 3 step approach, is it one big and two little steps or is it one little, and two big? Ron and Scott had quite an animated conversation. It ended with Ron paying Scott the ultimate compliment, “I could coach with him.” Now, if Scott felt the same way about coaching with Ron remains to be seen! (I love to tease Ron!)
There have been some exciting inter-club matches. You hate to drive to Cleveland to play your own sister team, but 16-1 and 15-1 played each other tough last weekend in the 16 Power Challenge. 16-1 came out on top, but 15-1 did not go down without a fight. 12-1 and 11-1 had a big match at Premier with 11-1 winning game 1 convincingly. 12-1 came back and won the match in 3. When I watch those matches, I always have to make sure I am not cheering for either team. I sit there stoically watching. And anyone who has ever watched me watch a volleyball match knows that sitting stoically is not in my repertoire. 12-2 won their first tournament last weekend in Dayton. They had to overcome a feisty 12-3 team in the finals to get the gold!
The qualifier season starts next weekend with the 16’s, 17’s and 18-1 heading to Indianapolis with their first attempt at qualifying for Nationals. Good luck to everyone. I love the Mid East qualifier-something about Indy is just fun.
I want to remind everyone of making sure you follow facility rules when at tournaments and set a good example by picking up after yourselves when you leave a team bench and camping area. It makes a huge difference at the end of the day when people have been conscientious about keeping the benches clean. I am glad that we are “Green” at our tournaments with our recycling bags for plastic bottles. There is a whole lot of garbage generated at a volleyball tournament and it is good that we are doing our part to keep these bottles out of the landfills.
By now most everyone should have received their team photos. I know there are a few teams who have not yet received them. I am expecting them any day now. They will be put in your coach’s mailbox as soon as I get them.
The Early Bird Teams are winding down their seasons this week and next. My thanks to Coaches Duran, Davidson, Collins and Bilius for a fine job. I hope the girls have enjoyed their brief JO season and I wish them all luck as they head into their spring sports. I will post an evaluation on the website and hope that all who participated will take the time to complete an evaluation.
Congratulations to last week’s Athlete’s of the Week. Katie Johnson (17-M) and Rachel Todak (16-M) were recognized by Jonathan Shapiro and Brie Hagerty for their efforts in the conditioning room.
Finally, on a personal note, I would like to remind all of our young drivers (and old drivers) to make sure you wear your seat belt at all times. Last Saturday morning, I was at the LCRC and received a call that makes your heart stop. My daughter Maggie, her roommate, Sarah Casey (former TVC teammate) and sister of Claire (15-4) and another friend were in an accident on their way back to Miami University. Maggie was driving her friends car and hit an ice patch, went into the oncoming traffic, overcorrected and ended up in a field with the car rolled over. All 3 girls had their seat belts on and after extricating themselves from hanging upside down, they escaped without injury. The car is totaled. The girls are sore, but it is nothing compared to what could have happened if they had been thrown from the car. So, buckle-up! So, if you saw me walking around the LCRC last Saturday in a bit of a daze, now you know why.
Have a safe and fun weekend.
Michelle Hills
mwhills@bex.net or tvc2009@bex.net