Club Volleyball Holiday Greetings

Five Things on my Xmas List:

1. That all Power League matches will be held between Bothell and Bellevue.
2. That snow does not cause too many practice cancellations this winter.
3. A bag of miscellaneous hair thingies that will always be in the back seat of the car.
4. Success for ITVC Blue!
5. A fun, injury-free year for all the DD's out there.

Practice tonight then a nice holiday weekend. CVD wishes everyone much holiday cheer. Support your local brewpub!

And congrats to coach Danielle, named Head Coach at Edmonds CC!

Club Volleyball: Note from Maddie

Hey everyone, this is Maddie, or club volleyball DD, I guess I could say :)

I just wanted to write a quick note thanking everyone for their support. I just went back and read over all the older entries...I can't believe we've only been live for a year! All the comments, advice, and tips were truly a help and yes, I read them all because anything I didn't read on here would end up in my inbox. The preceding weeks before any tryout, the majority of my email messages are forwards from my dad about advice and information. I also remember the first time I checked out the site. "Who's Kate?" I asked. Now it's been over a year since Kate, Varsity at the junior high, and dreaming of playing for a traveling team. It has been an amazing and rewarding journey so far, and I'm certain that it will continue to be just that. I've had so many amazing influences: coaches, players, and teammates, and I can't express how honored I am to have the privilege of working with/getting coached by/or getting to know them. Thank YOU for reading and happy holidays!!

Also, a BIG thank you to my dad. I consider you my #1 fan because you're always there and supportive no matter what.
"Already booked my room in Spokane."
"Canceled a work trip to San Diego for a tournament."
"Sure, Maddie, we can drive 2 hours to Western to go see a game...for the third weekend in a row."
You're awesome. Love you DAD :)

Indeed, happy holidays to all,
Maddie

Club Volleyball: Slow December

During the dark and rain of December, with practices really just getting underway, Maddie turned her attention to the Huskies wonderful run in the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament. And what a run it was! A sweep over Hawaii followed by an amazing win over Nebraska left us playing Cal with a chance to make it to the Final Four, but alas, the Bears had our number 3 times this year and it came to a stop on Saturday night. Maddie went to both weekend games and came away with even more love and respect for Husky setter Jenna Hagglund than ever before. For long time readers of the blog, you'll remember that Jenna   spent a lot of time with Maddie at the UW summer camp and the girls stayed in touch all fall. After Saturday's loss, Maddie wrote Jenna and told her how proud she was of her and how much she looked up to her. This was Jenna's reply:


"Maddie, you are one amazing young woman. Your words mean the world to me. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to meet you, coach you, and get to know you. Stick with it and keep your positive attitude and you will accomplish so much. Keep me updated with volleyball and life, I hope to see you soon! Love u girl." Jenna


I'd just like to say that Jenna is one classy young woman and a hell of a volleyball player, and I wish her the best in wherever life takes her.


Less than a month to Power League 1!! Happy Holidays all. 

Club Volleyball: The Big Time

It was on December 4th at 6:27 PM that I realized we were not in Volleyball Kansas any more. Was it the realization that Maddie will play in 3 different states this winter? NO, but how cool is that!? Was it the fact that everyone at ITVC is organized and helpful? NO, but that has been awesome! You know what it was? It was when I dropped $200 on required logo stuff! But man, is she gonna look cool!

Club Volleyball: It's Baaack!

20 years I've lived in Seattle and I've been to Mercer Island about 4 times. Now my daughter plays for a team there and I'm sure I'll learn every dive and microbrew proprietor in town during the coming 6 months. Tuesday was that gut wrenching event called Parent Meeting Night. It's a time for parents and DD's to meet the coach and the other girls on the team. The parents all eye each other with a sort of bemused pride; pride because our girls are good volleyball players and are at the beginning of yet another fun journey, but bemused because we all know that we are being separated from our money and smiling like idiots while it happens. But hats off to ITVC who obviously have this down pat. Very organized, rules and schedules printed and handed out, uniforms sized, a website to order gear from - compare that to our club last year where we had to talk the Director into joining Power League and one could not help but come away feeling like we were in good hands.

Busy schedule for our 15 year olds... 5 Power League weekends, a trip to Corvalis, Qualifiers in Spokane and Minneapolis, Presidents Day and MLK tourney's and of course Regionals and a probable invite to the Emerald City Classic ( and of course JO's! right?). 12 weekends of volleyball over a 5 month season and then summer will be here! All kidding aside, I love it, Maddie loves it, and our decision to support her in her love for volleyball is something we'll treasure forever, I'm sure. And she's only a sophomore! The journey is only beginning!

First practice tonight, and surprise, surprise (not really), they want Maddie to set. (Remember she set in Jr. High and at Moxie last year, then switched to Right Side in HS) Maddie's cool with it, mom and dad both think it's a better position for her, and all is well this 2nd night of December. Maddie likes the coach, thinks her teammates are swell and seems happy to be playing VB again after that dreadful month off since high school wrapped up. Looks like the lady Kangs have about half of their varsity team next year playing club this year. Would like to have had a few more girls uber committed like Maddie, but it takes a pretty dedicated girl to want to do this...but you all know that already, don't you, volleyball parents. It's good to be back.