Notes for March 12, 2010
So much Vollleyball . . . So Little Time!
I really had great plans to write volleyball notes each week, but here we are 3 weeks since my last notes, and I am just sitting down to write something. It is hard to believe that we are two months into the season already.
Today’s notes will take on a more random feel than most. I think they call it “Stream of Consciousness” writing. Basically, putting on paper thoughts as they occur to me. I have to admit some of these thoughts occurred to me a few weeks ago, but here goes.
Maggie is home from Miami U and spending her spring break in Toodleedoo! Bad news for her . . .good news for her mom. I enlisted her to take the 13-3 practice yesterday and from all reports, the girls and Maggie enjoyed the experience. Maggie coached the 13-4 team for TVC when she was a senior in high school and did a fantastic job, so I love having her in the gym. She is excited that one of her first players is still hanging tough on the volleyball court-Megan Baas on 17-Mizuno.
I was so impressed with the poise of the girls on the 14-3 team a few weeks ago. I received a call from a parent letting me know that the team was playing at Premier in the Power League and that Coach Kelly O’Day had been admitted to the hospital with premature contractions. Could I find someone to coach the team, since her very capable assistant, husband, Tom was needed at the hospital. By the time I arrived at Premier, Coach Tammy Cox of 12-1 had taken over and the girls were calm and cool and rolling with the punches. Tom arrived back at the tournament to give a good report on Kelly’s condition and said that she was home resting but wanted to return to the tournament since it would be more relaxing that sitting at home. You can tell that Kelly’s calm demeanor has rubbed off on her team!
Speaking of coaching demeanor rubbing off on a team-how about the 13-Mizuno team? Coaches Katie Zechman and Amanda Longeway have to be two of the most energetic and excited sideline coaches there are. If they could have willed their team to victory over the 13-1 team they would have. As a club director, I really do not like being in stands when two TVC teams play each other. If I sit in one set of bleachers, I am rooting for one team to beat the other, if I sit in the other; I am rooting for that team. As it was with this particular match, I sat one game with one team and one with the other and as luck would have it, the match went to 3! I stood in the middle between the two sets of bleachers.
Congratulations to 13-1 who finished 3rd in the Power League and 14-1 finished 4th in the Open Division. 14-M lost a tough one in the finals of the 14U division and finished 2nd. 15-1 finished 3rd in the Open Division.
Our 12-1 team is on a roll having won 2 of their last 3 tournaments and finishing a very respectable 3rd in the MidEast Power League against some very strong competition in Muncie, Indiana. This weekend they will get their biggest test so far in the season as they compete in the 13 National Power Challenge in Parma along with 13-1 and 13-M. I know when you open the website and see another picture of the 12-1 team, you probably think to yourself, “Not them again!” Website pictures are definitely a case of the squeaky wheel gets the grease. If you send in a picture, we will post it!
11-1 is off to a fast start-winning two tournaments. 12-2 has won a tournament and finished 2nd in 2. 11-2 finished in the silver of the 12’s tournament over President’s weekend and has showed great progress. I had the chance to watch just a few points of 10-1’s first tournament and was excited to see how well they are doing. Coach McCabe told me that they are steadily improving
This weekend, the NWO Power League will finish up at the LCRC and Premier. 17-1 will be playing at the Rec Center and 18-1, 18-M, and 17-M will be playing at Premier. If you want to see some good volleyball, this is a good place to do it.
It has been great to have the Power League in Toledo –great competition close to home. Our 16-1 team had quite a run this year in the 16 National Division. They ran the tables in pool play and faced a strong CVA team in the finals. CVA was hoping for some revenge, as we had beaten them earlier in pool play. The match was quite spirited, but this time, CVAa came out on top. I am sure the teams will meet again and I know the coaches are working with the girls on their game plan to win the next meeting.
Next weekend, the 16-1 and 16-M teams kick off the qualifier season in St. Louis at the MidEast Qualifier. Traditionally, this tournament is held in Indianapolis, so a trip to St. Louis will be a first for us. St. Louis is a great town-I had the pleasure of visiting there when Kelsey played in college. A trip to the top of the arch is a must-I did it once, glad I did it, but the thought of doing it again makes me claustrophobic.
The 15’s, 17’s and 18’s will head to Indy the following weekend-same weekend the 14-1 and 14-M teams head to Baltimore. 16’s will spend Easter weekend in Atlanta.
I am slowly but surely making my way to watching all of our TVC teams play. Last year, I did not quite hit my mark, but this year, I think I will! I have looked at the schedule, and I think it might take me all the way to the regional championships. It is hard to believe that the Early Bird Season’s are over! Congrats to all of the girls who are now off to their spring sports!
The end of the early bird season also means it is almost time to say goodbye to Coach Kim Agnew. Kim has coached for TVC for the past 3 years and her husband recently relocated back to Cleveland. Kim is staying in Toledo until their house sells and we are lucky that she has agreed to step in and help out some teams who need sub coaches. She and her early bird buddy, Angie Grajczyk-Parisho stepped in last week and helped lead the 13-3 team to the gold round at UT! We are so fortunate this year to have an incredible roster of great coaches!
I want to extend a get-well shout out to Demma Strausbaugh from our 15-3 team. Many of you have inquired as to how Demma is doing after her accident at practice two weeks ago. Demma ran into the net during a drill, fell backwards and suffered a concussion and a broken collarbone. It is always scary when I get a call that the rescue squad has been called to the facility. I talked to Demma’s mom that night and Coach Macias has been in contact with her and Demma is on the road to recovery. We hope to see her back in uniform soon!
Congratulations to Coach Norm McGhee from our 13-1 team who was recently named the varsity coach at Rossford High School. Norm returns to the head coaching ranks after spending the past few years as the varsity assistant at Notre Dame Academy.
I will tweet results from St. Louis next weekend. I am excited to see the TVC teams, parents and coaches decked out for the Dig Pink Day next Saturday in St. Louis and the following Saturday in Indy. Just wait till the guys get their pink Hawaiian shirts! I know it is not a stretch for Sonny Lewis, our resident Hawaiian shirt expert, but Ron Grindle in a pink Hawaiian shirt will be a sight to behold!
I am sure I am missing some important and relevant news, but I am going to call it a day. The 60-degree temperature is calling ACE and me! I hope everyone is having a great season so far. Just remember, It is not where you start . . . it is where you finish! Please drop me a line if there is something you would like me to include in the notes.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Michelle Hills
mwhills@buckeye-express.com