Toledo Volleyball Club

Take Pride in How Far You Have Come.
And Have Faith in How Far You Can Go!

When I returned home on Sunday night from the Mid East Qualifier in Columbus, I found a card on my dresser with the saying above.  I am a bit of a card hound, I have a stash of cards in a drawer in my office that I have purchased over the years-always knowing that the perfect occasion and recipient will appear.  I remember buying this one a few years ago, and who knows how it reappeared.  But it was very fitting for the weekend in Columbus, and I would imagine fitting for many of our teams.

I would like to send this card to all of the young women in our club who played this past weekend in Columbus.  With special wishes for the members of the 14-1, 14-Mizuno and 15-1 teams.  All 3 teams were playing on Sunday in the gold division with a legitimate shot at a bid for Dallas.  15-1 survived a play off on Saturday to advance to gold, beating Legacy 15-1 in a one game play off to 25.  It was a sweet victory in that Legacy had beat them earlier in the day.  They won their first match in gold before the wheels came off in Match 2.  They finished a very respectable 9th out of 79 teams.  But, they will wonder what could have been had they been able to sustain a win in Match 2 after winning Game 1.

14-Mizuno led by the Energizer Coach who just keeps going and going, Norm McGhee had an awesome weekend.  They lost just two matches the entire weekend-first to 14-1 in a hotly contested match on Saturday and on Sunday in the first round of gold to Maverick.

Coach Buck’s 14-1 team was poised to accomplish something that hasn’t been done ever by a TVC team-run the table at a qualifier.  We have had 3 teams over the years win a qualifier, but none have done it without dropping a game.  14-1 had one team left on their dance card-that pesky team from Cleveland-Maverick’s.  In most years, their semi final win over a very nice Austin Juniors Team would have guaranteed them a bid.  Unfortunately, the field was 8 teams shy of an automatic 2nd bid.  So, they lined up to meet Maverick in the final.  Maverick played a nearly perfect match and alas it was not to be for the lovely ladies of 14-1.  It is hard to believe that in their first three tournaments, they have won 2 and finished 2nd in the third and they left Columbus feeling bad.  The good news is that all of our national teams will have a chance to get their bid at the OVR bid tournament April 12-13 back in Columbus.

Our other teams in the tournament had moments of excellence and I am looking for them to build on those as they head toward the OVR Bid tournament.  13-1 advanced on Day 1 after a very exciting match against CVC.  12-1 was undefeated on Day 2.  13-M and 15-M had some nice victories and some disappointing defeats.  But all of the teams represented the club well and I enjoyed being able to watch them compete.

Back on the home front, there were lots of gold being dug in Northwest Ohio by TVC.  Our 10-1 team won their tournament, as did 12-3 and 16-3 and 17-1.  15 Brown came in 2nd place and 13 Blue keeps knocking on the golden door, finishing in the gold once again.

Thanks to all who have asked about my lacrosse trip.  It was fun (and cold!)  The varsity went 3-0 and the JV went 2-1.  It is quite a different “gym culture” to watch boys play and compete.  Some of the sideline comments I could overhear made me blush.  Lord knows what they were saying that we could not hear.  There are days when I think that a little of that “male stuff” might be good for our girls.  Coaches can say things to boys that you can never say to a girl.  And in most cases, the boys will not take it personally and stew about it for days.  There is definitely a difference in coaching boys and coaching girls.  That said, I truly believe that the most successful coaches are the ones who are positive and can find a way to sandwich a criticism with a compliment.

Speaking of coaches, I want to congratulate Rachel Mohler on her recent hire as the new varsity coach for Perrysburg High School.  Rachel has been coaching for TVC for several years and was most recently the coach of our 15 Early Bird Team.  She is also presently assisting Jim Loomis on the 15-3 team.

Best of luck to all of the teams competing this weekend.  15-1, 15-M, 16-1 and 16-M are heading to Baltimore to compete in the Northeast Qualifier and I wish them much luck.

I will be around town keeping an eye on the local teams.  I look forward to continuing my quest to see all of the TVC teams play.  Here is the score card of who I have seen play so far-
11 Blue 1
12-1
13-1
13-M
13-3
13-4
14-1
14-M
14-3
15-1
15-M
15 EBM
15 EBD
16-1
16-M
16-3
16- EB
17-1
17-2
17-EB
18-1
18-2
18 EB
23 teams down . . .. 12 to go!
Have a great weekend

Michelle Hills
mwhills@buckeye-express.com