Extract Heart From Throat

Nothing like starting a Saturday morning with a call from DD: "I hurt my wrist in practice yesterday and the trainer thinks I should go to the doctor." At this point, a million things are zig zagging around my brain; how does a HS trainer know she should go to the doctor? What if she tore a ligament? What kind of doctor do we see on a Saturday? So, profoundly, I say "WHAT?" Thankfully, Maddie's total hatred of anything medical causes her to decide to wait a day and by Sunday, things appear OK. She had it wrapped for today's game and was able to play; starting game 2 in a Kangs 3-1 victory over winless Sammamish....so that's 2 wins over 2 winless teams and all of a sudden we're 2-4 and it feels great to taste victory. For a rebuilding program, a win is a win and the girls know what it feels like to close a match out and go home winners. Pretty good crowd at LW tonight. Because I take lots of pictures and cannot sit still during matches, I usually hang out on the empty side of the gym and my new best friend at the games is the janitor, who I have to admit is pretty enthusiastic about the team. The AD was there too tonight and we're fist bumping and yelling like kids from the sideline with each kill. I hope the program continues to build and we start filling up seats because the girls are gamers and I'm proud of them. Feel good moment of the day was in game 3 where we were down 20-24 and coach subbed Maddie in to serve because she's by far the most consistent server on the team. She got the serve in, and even though they lost that game, she came through under pressure. Good job, #11! Some pics after Wednesday's game; let's keep it going!

In Sickness and in Health

Maddie has been feeling crummy for a couple of weeks now, so the day after a tough loss at Liberty, it was off to the doctor where they confirmed she had strep throat. The good news is that because we waited so long, she is on the way to recovery. (Bad mom and dad for waiting so long) Coach sent her home in a panic from practice yesterday, but I explained that she was no longer communicable and indeed, after 24 hours of antibiotics, she felt better today and suited up against another 0-4 team tonight, Bellevue High. The Kangs took the first 2 and Maddie started game 3 and the gals came from behind to win 25-23 and take their first match. Maddie played with more energy than I've seen this year and there were smiles all around as they got that monkey off their backs. I blew off a team dinner with the CEO at work (funny how your priorities change when you are a club volleyball parent) and I'm glad I did. First match win by LW in 2 years and it was great that the girls tasted victory. This is a good team and I really think they just don't know hOW to win sometimes, so this was step in the right direction. I was especially happy for the seniors who have been losing since they made the team. Good job girls; lets build on this!

Slaughter at the Falls

For those of you who are out of state, I can tell you that the drive from Seattle to the town of Snoqualmie winds through a beautiful rural valley before passing Snoqualmie Falls ( Twin Peaks country) and arriving at the base of Mt. Si, home of the 5th ranked Wildcats. This was the first match where we were just overwhelmed by a bigger, stronger and taller team. They have been to State 3 years running and look like they're on their way again. Maddie started and played OK, but it's tough going up against Juniors and Seniors of that level...but I think it's great for her to see that kind of competition; it will make the U16's in Club look a lot less intimidating.  Four days until the next match so the girls can catch their breaths and get some practice in (they have had one practice in 8 days and 5 matches). Even Club Volleyball Dad can take it easy for a few days and gear up for Monday. Hope all of you have a great weekend, and if you get the chance, go visit Snoqualmie; it's a pretty town. And they have a solid team.

Early Season Ups and Downs

I can't believe how quickly the games are going by! The Kangs made their home debut on Friday and dad was so excited! I wore my #11 Edgar Martinez number, but alas, Maddie was feeling yucky all day and by game time, she had nothing in the tank. Poor girl. She tried to play, but after a couple of points, coach yanked her. We lost a good match to Skyline but the girls won their first game of the year and got that monkey off their backs. Monday rolled around and even though Maddie was pumped full of cold meds, she came off the bench to start the 3rd game and contributed to a solid win against Interlake. She played all of game 4 too, but the Kangs lost another match, 3-1. This team is right on the edge. Two of their middles are hurt, so there has not been much height in front, so everyone is looking forward to their return.

I'm having a good time being the team photographer and have set up a website so all the girls can access the pictures and Maddie says they are all loving the fact they can post their images on Facebook. Good bunch of girls and solid parents. After tomorrow's game at Mt. Si, they will have played 5 matches in 7 days, so there may be a little burnout going on. I think they are all looking forward to catching their collective breaths!

@ Mercer Island

Proud day for Club Volleyball Dad as Maddie was the starting RS Hitter for the Kangs @ Mercer Island in the first game of her high school career. Maddie said her hands were shaking every moment she was in there, but I thought she played really well for her first game and I thought the team played well too, even though we lost 3 straight to a solid MI team. TALL front line blocked the heck out of us! I think it was 20-25, 18-25 and 21-25 so they really stayed in the games the whole time. This is a team that did not win a single match during 2009, so I came away impressed with how well the coach has the team playing. I spent the match as I always do; away from everyone and living and dying with each serve, but I kept busy taking pictures and not fretting too much that I was missing the NFL opener. And how cool that another blog fan was nice enough to introduce herself! I feel like the guy that ratted out Nixon, just substitute "Are you deepthroat?" with "Are you Club Volleyball Dad?" That will be me: the guy in the purple hat taking pictures and popping blood pressure pills every time a serve goes into the net or over the back line. Right back at it tomorrow at our new gym vs. Skyline!

High School Volleyball: Jamboree

The official start to High School Volleyball kicked off yesterday afternoon with the 3A and 4A Jamboree which was held this year at Juanita High. I love Juanita High for 2 reasons: 5 minutes from the house and it's enormous. Four courts with plenty of room so you get no stray balls flying into the court. While the games were fun, the big story of the night was Club Volleyball Dad making his LINE JUDGE debut, flags and all. Maddie had a teammate tell her "Wow, your dad is really into it!" I'm pretty sure I looked darn competent out there and there were no controversial calls that left me looking like an idiot. The most difficult part was tempering my enthusiasm when the Kangs scored.

OK, back to the games! Maddie started on the right side and dad was very proud to see her out there with all the 16 and 17 year olds and she completely held her own. Lost the first match to a strong Mercer Island team but rebounded nicely against Bellevue with a solid win. Lost tough matches to Juanita and Redmond (4A) but then had a solid win against Roosevelt (4A). Finished up with a loss against Woodinville (4A) where we fell behind early, tied it up at 18 but then wilted under a strong service run. So, 2-4 with a couple of the losses against 4A teams. We need some work on passing and strongside hitting, but I thought the girls played with spirit. It may be an up and down year, but this has been a downtrodden program that a new coach is trying to build and I think she's doing a good job.

Opening day at Mercer Island tomorrow, Skyline at home in the new gym on Friday, helping out at the JV Jamboree on Saturday, and games Monday and Wednesday next week. I'm exhausted already. Special thanks to Woodinville Volleyball Mom who came up and introduced herself at the Jamboree. So glad you enjoy following the blog; I wish we could have spoken a bit longer! Go Woodinville!

Happy Labor Day, Club Volleyball Family!

As we head into Labor Day weekend, the first week of school and practices are about done. Maddie is absolutely loving it, practices are going great, and the big Jamboree is on Tuesday afternoon at Juanita HS. Is was supposed to be at Kangaroo High in our nice new gym, but I think the rain this week put things behind schedule because there is still limited parking and just GETTING to the gym is like going through a maze. I was signed up to be a line judge and everything! I guess we will host next year, and heck, JHS is 2 minutes from the house. Here are the schools in our 3A league:

Lake Washington
Bellevue
Liberty
Sammamish
Mt. Si
Mercer Island
Juanita
Interlake

Good group! I'd really be worried if this was football. If you have a DD participating in Jamboree, come find me and hello. I'll be the Kangaroo fan taking pictures and wearing a purple ball cap. Have a great Labor Day weekend!