Notes for Spring Break Week
Today, I want to share with you a living example of one of the great things about TVC. On Monday, I attended Laurie Fox’s memorial mass. As I mentioned last week, Laurie passed away last week after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer. She is the mom of Brittany. Brittany played for TVC for many years-graduated in 2005 and continued her career at the University of Akron.
As I looked around the church, I saw so many TVC families and coaches-past and present who were there to honor Laurie and support Brittany, Jim and Andrew. Barry Fissel gave a beautiful eulogy to Laurie and talked about the many wonderful times their families shared together. Barry’s daughter, Kate played club with Brittany and they are still very close. Barry’s talk reminded me of a very important thing about TVC, and truly one of the main reasons that I continue in my role as club director. TVC is as much about relationships as it is about volleyball.
TVC is a family, and as such we celebrate our successes and we support each other when things do not go as planned. I know that last week; I spent way too much time on airing the “family dirty laundry.” I said what I think needed to be said and now it is time to look ahead.
I want to offer my sincere condolences to Kelly and Tom O’Day, coaches of 14-3 on the passing of Tom’s mom this past weekend. With Baby O’Day’s arrival expected in the next few weeks and Tom’s family responsibilities, Kelly and Tom are sadly turning over their team to Vicki Brown.
Vicki has been my “go-to” girl this year. When she arrived back in Toledo after playing professionally in Spain and called to see if we had any coaching openings, I jumped at the chance to get her involved. She has been doing a great job assisting the 15-3 team. She is also helping the 12 blue team and has subbed in with the 13-4 team. She is always willing to lend a hand and I know how much Kelly and Tom appreciate her willingness to step in and help finish the season with 14-4.
Vicki is the 5th coach in our program from the class of 2004. That class will always be one of my favorites-first because it was Kelsey’s class, and secondly because I don’t think I have ever seen such a large group of volleyball players before or after who were so committed to the game and playing for each other. It was the first class of volleyball players where our #2 team competed at the highest levels against many club’s #1 teams.
It is really no surprise to me that we have so many girls from that class who have come back to coach for TVC. That group just has volleyball in their blood. One of the players from that group is coaching in Cleveland for CVC. Seanna Steinle is the coach of 13-Black for CVC and she hopes to run into her former teammate-Sydney Antonio next week at the bid tournament. Sydney just recently took over the head coaching duties on 13-1 and recruited one of TVC’s most talented players, Sarah Florian to join her on 13-1. Nikki Pierzchala and Nicole Bennett also from that class are doing a great job with 18-M. If any players ever need a pep talk on what it takes to be a great volleyball player and what it means to play as a team and not for yourself, you need to look no further than the TVC class of 2004.
The whole concept of team first has been very evident the past few weeks through the NCAA tournament. I heard interview after interview with players talking about how they wanted to help out their teammates and knew they had to take their game to a higher level. As all of our teams head toward the home stretch and the National and Mizuno teams have their big bid tournament next weekend, let’s live that motto. “Team First.”
Getting back to the present . . . How about the 16-M team???? This team has progressed each and every week. They went to St. Louis with just 2 match wins under their belt and finished with a 6-1 record, tied for 9th out of 82 teams. They followed that up with a great showing at the Big South Qualifier in Atlanta, just missing out on the gold division and finished 19th out of 148 teams. They certainly embody the saying, “It is not where you start, it is where you finish!”
This weekend the 11’s will all be playing at Premier along with the 13-1 and 13-M team. TVC is hosting a 16 Regional Challenge this weekend, but unfortunately, we do not have any 16 Regional teams to participate. We are at the mercy of what age levels and tournaments that the region sanctions for our facility. I will be hanging out at Premier!
Keep the pictures and updates coming! I know that I enjoy seeing the pictures, especially when I have not made it to everyone’s court yet at a match!
I hope everyone is having a great Spring Break Week. Although the weather is a little cloudy today, I do think spring is here!
Michelle Hills
mwhills@buckeye-express.com