We're at the halfway point of the 2012 KingCo 3A/2A Volleyball season, and with a 3-0 victory over Sammamish on Thursday night, the Lake Washington Kangs have moved to 4-3 in league and a 6-3 record overall. Six victories equals the most victories they have had in the 2 years since Maddie has been there, so this will end up being their best season win-wise for sure. Standings look like this:
Mercer Island 7-0
Mt. Si 6-1
Lake Washington 4-3
Liberty 4-3
Interlake 3-4
Bellevue 3-4
Juanita 1-6
Sammamish 0-7
Sadly, during the season of our most balanced team, we have dropped down to 2A and where we finish does not matter in terms of our 3A tourney....because we're not IN the 3A tourney. On the other hand, we're a 3A team that gets to play in the 2A tourney, so that can't hurt, right? Does anyone out there know how the 2A post season works? How does a 2A team playing in 3A make it or get seeded?
Off to MI on Tuesday, and then an important game against Bellevue on Thursday.
Go USA! (Ryder Cup reference)
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Back at Last
Maddie was back on the court tonight, not at 100%, but much better. Tonight's opponent was Juanita. Two years ago they had Jade Finau and Dana Michaels and a solid core of other players and soundly beat us twice. Last year that core had moved on and it was basically Dana and Jade. They beat us at Juanita but then the wheels fell off the bus with coaching and other issues and by the end of the season, they were losing to us for the first time and getting bounced out of the KingCo playoffs in the first round. Now it's just Jade and they are really struggling. One good player does not a great team make.
Coach gave the nod in Game 1 to our freshman setter who did such a nice job stepping up with both Maddie and Soph setter out last week and she played well. She's a 6 footer and basketball is her game, but she's a good athlete and that added height helps when she's in the front row. Thankfully, we seem to be committed to the 5-1. Won Game 1 and Maddie led the charge in Games 2 and 3 and we went to 5-3 with a 3-0 win. Sammamish (0-8) comes in on Thursday. Maddie should be back to 100% and we can put last week behind us and get ready to make our run through the competition for Maddie's last 6 league games.
Oh, and OUR coach complained that the photographers were too close to the court and we were told to move to the wings. Really, coach? I've taken pictures at about 75 matches in the last 3 years and never been asked to move ever. My suggestion is to worry about winning and not some old guy trying to take pictures for the girls. It feels different without our coach from last year here. I may have questioned some of her coaching decisions, but I never questioned her nice way of taking time to talk at practice and after games. I LIKED our coach. Can't say that about new coach. Like the way she is coaching, but don't like the cold exterior. I'd have a beer with old coach; this coach? Well, I just want to send her to her room.
Coach gave the nod in Game 1 to our freshman setter who did such a nice job stepping up with both Maddie and Soph setter out last week and she played well. She's a 6 footer and basketball is her game, but she's a good athlete and that added height helps when she's in the front row. Thankfully, we seem to be committed to the 5-1. Won Game 1 and Maddie led the charge in Games 2 and 3 and we went to 5-3 with a 3-0 win. Sammamish (0-8) comes in on Thursday. Maddie should be back to 100% and we can put last week behind us and get ready to make our run through the competition for Maddie's last 6 league games.
Oh, and OUR coach complained that the photographers were too close to the court and we were told to move to the wings. Really, coach? I've taken pictures at about 75 matches in the last 3 years and never been asked to move ever. My suggestion is to worry about winning and not some old guy trying to take pictures for the girls. It feels different without our coach from last year here. I may have questioned some of her coaching decisions, but I never questioned her nice way of taking time to talk at practice and after games. I LIKED our coach. Can't say that about new coach. Like the way she is coaching, but don't like the cold exterior. I'd have a beer with old coach; this coach? Well, I just want to send her to her room.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Fighting Back
Maddie was not able to shake whatever bug that bit her, and didn't play again on Thursday against Interlake. As Sophomore Setter was also gone again, omce again the door was opened to our very capable FRESHMAN setter who led the Kangs to a 3-0 victory. In the NFL, a starter doesn't lose her job due to illness or injury, but who knows in the world of high school volleyball. The door was opened by Maddie not playing all week and the freshman stepped boldly through; we'll see how things look next week as we play both Juanita and Sammamish in our bid to get to 6-3 for the first time I can ever remember. I'm just sorry they don't sell hops in capsule form, because it's a proven fact that the high hop content in IPA prevents illnesses. Hop gel caps would make someone a millionaire. You heard it here first.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Volleyball Cold
Another 3 game week which is draining for the girls. Started out on a good foot in our non-league match against South Whidbey Island. Now, SW came in 0-2 and looked small to me, so rather than worry about them, I let my mind wander back to days of weekend trysts on their fair island, because if you've never visited, South Whidbey Island is very cool and I highly recommend going there for your OWN fun time. Here is some more info: http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/puget/Whidbey/whidbey_island.htm
Anyway....Maddie began her night by putting over 11 unanswered serves and I began making plans to get home in time for the second half of the Monday Night game...when all of a sudden those pesky islanders began playing excellent defense as we lobbed and dinked balls across the net at an alarming rate. No wind 'em up, smash'em hitters on our team...just lots of easy, quiet bloinks and floaters. So they came back, especially as girl after girl served into the net. I believe Maddie was about 30-30 on her serves, but I digress. They lost game 2, but came back to win game 3 and I began breathing a little easier. Then another loss in Game 4. To these scrappy, defense playing visitors! The horror. So on it went to Game 5 with Maddie playing all around in the 5-1 because SS (sophomore setter) was out. Back and forth and by this time my night is wrecked because we should have beat this team 3-0. And it finishes up with a Kang victory (on a well placed dink) and some of the acid beginning to pile up in my gut went away and and I philosophized....a win is a win, a win is a win....right. We looked sloppy and bored and we almost got beat.
Tuesday dawned bright and early with the news that Maddie didn't feel good. That is always worrisome because Maddie is not herself when she's sick. She succumbs to it rather than battle it. As competitive fathers who have grown up watching Michael Jordan score 50 points while he had the flu will do, I tried to impart the wisdom of my years. "SUCK IT UP; THIS DEFINES YOU. YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU. Yeah. That didn't work. Maddie was a scratch against Mt. Si. I was disappointed. You quit when you break something, not when you have a cold. Times are different than when I grew up, I guess. Now without both varsity setters, they turned to a capable freshman who actually led them to victory in Game 1, and within 2 of a victory in Game 3...but the #1 team in the state (while not playing like it) took us, 3 games to 1. I have visions of Maddie getting Cal Ripkened here. Anyway, hope she's back for Interlake on Thursday.
Anyway....Maddie began her night by putting over 11 unanswered serves and I began making plans to get home in time for the second half of the Monday Night game...when all of a sudden those pesky islanders began playing excellent defense as we lobbed and dinked balls across the net at an alarming rate. No wind 'em up, smash'em hitters on our team...just lots of easy, quiet bloinks and floaters. So they came back, especially as girl after girl served into the net. I believe Maddie was about 30-30 on her serves, but I digress. They lost game 2, but came back to win game 3 and I began breathing a little easier. Then another loss in Game 4. To these scrappy, defense playing visitors! The horror. So on it went to Game 5 with Maddie playing all around in the 5-1 because SS (sophomore setter) was out. Back and forth and by this time my night is wrecked because we should have beat this team 3-0. And it finishes up with a Kang victory (on a well placed dink) and some of the acid beginning to pile up in my gut went away and and I philosophized....a win is a win, a win is a win....right. We looked sloppy and bored and we almost got beat.
Tuesday dawned bright and early with the news that Maddie didn't feel good. That is always worrisome because Maddie is not herself when she's sick. She succumbs to it rather than battle it. As competitive fathers who have grown up watching Michael Jordan score 50 points while he had the flu will do, I tried to impart the wisdom of my years. "SUCK IT UP; THIS DEFINES YOU. YOUR TEAM NEEDS YOU. Yeah. That didn't work. Maddie was a scratch against Mt. Si. I was disappointed. You quit when you break something, not when you have a cold. Times are different than when I grew up, I guess. Now without both varsity setters, they turned to a capable freshman who actually led them to victory in Game 1, and within 2 of a victory in Game 3...but the #1 team in the state (while not playing like it) took us, 3 games to 1. I have visions of Maddie getting Cal Ripkened here. Anyway, hope she's back for Interlake on Thursday.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Busy Week of Volleyball
Throw in a couple of non-league games in back to back weeks and high school volleyball can feel like a long weekend at Regionals! This week it was Bellevue, Redmond, and Liberty on 3 consecutive nights; and it was busy for Club Volleyball Dad too as I linked up with Bellevue CVD on Tuesday for dinner and beers before the match and did the same thing with a Liberty CVD on Thursday. I'm going to do a longer post on the different parent dynamics in club vs. high school, but I have retained a few dad friends from Maddie's ITVC days and we get together before games when possible. So it was nice to see Bellevue dad and 3 of Maddie's club teammates on an improved Bellevue team. Sadly for us, while they have improved early this season, we are struggling to get our rhythm and unforced errored ourselves into oblivion. We lost 3-1 and there were a few meltdowns near the end. The one win was when Maddie ran a 5-1.
So Wednesday, I felt like we needed a win against non-league Redmond, just to get some mojo. And while we generally played down to Redmond's level, we ended up with a 3-0 win, and it was some much needed confidence. No one likes starting the season 0-3 like last year, and we avoided it.
The big test for me was Thursday in a contest with Liberty, who we seem to match up with evenly every year. I think we went 1-1 in 2010, last year we beat them 3 times but they were all close, and last night was no different. After dinner and a few Lucille IPA's with a Liberty CVD AND a Kang CVD, we watched Maddie run the 5-1 to perfection in a game one win. She really came out and took charge of the team. One of the parents even commented that she was out there directing traffic and being more forceful than usual. I loved it. In game 2, SS (sophomore setter) ran the 5-1 and Liberty pulled it out in a close one. Back to Maddie in Game 3 and a 25-18 win. Same offense in Game 4 and a 19-25 loss. At this point, my blood pressure was starting to rise a bit but we three dads settled in to watch Game 5. To my relief, Maddie was out once again in the 5-1 and though it was close, Lake Washington pulled it out 15-12.
I think it may have been Maddie's finest performance in high school. 28 assists (in 3.5 games), good command of her team, and I was really pumped to see her make 3 or 4 point saving hustle plays; very quick and instinctive efforts for a solid player that is not going to set any speed records. She has a pretty good burst and good instincts as to where the ball will be. Oh, and did I mention the 100% serving percentage this year? You have heard this here so many times, but what the hell, I'll say it again: "When you are playing mediocre teams, the goal is not aces, the goal is to put the ball into play and let the other team make the mistake!" Coaches, please use this at your discretion. :) We put too many balls out of play on serves. Not Maddie though, thank goodness. At one point, she ran off 9 straight points, and she does not have a killer serve. But she has a consistent serve and she can put it where she wants. Target the opponent's weakest link, servers!
I'm not saying we turned a corner or anything last night; we still have hitting and libero issues, but a 3-2 win against an evenly matched team is certainly good for the soul.
So, a fun week visiting with dads and winning a couple of matches. Another busy week coming up with a Monday non-league match against South Whidbey Island HS; they are 0-2 in the Cascade Conference. Then it's off to North Bend on Tuesday for our annual bittersweet trip. Sweet because we get together at Snoqualamie Brewing for some Wildcat IPS's, but bitter because the #3 ranked 3A Team in the state always kicks us brutally to the gym floor. That's followed up on Thursday with match at Interlake.
Anyway, more this weekend on the sometimes uneasy alliance between club and high school parents as they root for the same team and playing time for DD at the same time, and the beauty of friendships that form at the dad level during the volleyball life cycle.
Good weekend, all!
So Wednesday, I felt like we needed a win against non-league Redmond, just to get some mojo. And while we generally played down to Redmond's level, we ended up with a 3-0 win, and it was some much needed confidence. No one likes starting the season 0-3 like last year, and we avoided it.
The big test for me was Thursday in a contest with Liberty, who we seem to match up with evenly every year. I think we went 1-1 in 2010, last year we beat them 3 times but they were all close, and last night was no different. After dinner and a few Lucille IPA's with a Liberty CVD AND a Kang CVD, we watched Maddie run the 5-1 to perfection in a game one win. She really came out and took charge of the team. One of the parents even commented that she was out there directing traffic and being more forceful than usual. I loved it. In game 2, SS (sophomore setter) ran the 5-1 and Liberty pulled it out in a close one. Back to Maddie in Game 3 and a 25-18 win. Same offense in Game 4 and a 19-25 loss. At this point, my blood pressure was starting to rise a bit but we three dads settled in to watch Game 5. To my relief, Maddie was out once again in the 5-1 and though it was close, Lake Washington pulled it out 15-12.
I think it may have been Maddie's finest performance in high school. 28 assists (in 3.5 games), good command of her team, and I was really pumped to see her make 3 or 4 point saving hustle plays; very quick and instinctive efforts for a solid player that is not going to set any speed records. She has a pretty good burst and good instincts as to where the ball will be. Oh, and did I mention the 100% serving percentage this year? You have heard this here so many times, but what the hell, I'll say it again: "When you are playing mediocre teams, the goal is not aces, the goal is to put the ball into play and let the other team make the mistake!" Coaches, please use this at your discretion. :) We put too many balls out of play on serves. Not Maddie though, thank goodness. At one point, she ran off 9 straight points, and she does not have a killer serve. But she has a consistent serve and she can put it where she wants. Target the opponent's weakest link, servers!
I'm not saying we turned a corner or anything last night; we still have hitting and libero issues, but a 3-2 win against an evenly matched team is certainly good for the soul.
So, a fun week visiting with dads and winning a couple of matches. Another busy week coming up with a Monday non-league match against South Whidbey Island HS; they are 0-2 in the Cascade Conference. Then it's off to North Bend on Tuesday for our annual bittersweet trip. Sweet because we get together at Snoqualamie Brewing for some Wildcat IPS's, but bitter because the #3 ranked 3A Team in the state always kicks us brutally to the gym floor. That's followed up on Thursday with match at Interlake.
Anyway, more this weekend on the sometimes uneasy alliance between club and high school parents as they root for the same team and playing time for DD at the same time, and the beauty of friendships that form at the dad level during the volleyball life cycle.
Good weekend, all!
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Mercer Island Blues
This won't be a long post. Three years of playing MI and nary a match won. No different tonight; we were quite simply out-manned at every position. I wish more 6 foot plus hitters would move to Kirkland. They seem to have all settled in Mercer Island. Well, it was expected so no panic; at least we were home early. A great team like that exposes our shaky serve receive, lack of blocking, and lack of firepower. Luckily, we only play them one more time. Bellevue on Tuesday and let's hope the girls get in gear!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
2012 Jamboree
Finally! Volleyball is back in the schedule as the 2012 season kicked off with the 4A/3A Jamboree over at Juanita. The girls started out against a tough Woodinville team and things were pretty much over before they got started. Final score: Woodinville 25, Kangs 13.
Once we got that out of the way, the girls began to gel. Taking on another 4A team, we had a late lead, but one serve into the net and things went south (doesn't it always work that way?). Final score: Inglemoor 25, Kangs 23
Game 3 is when things finally seemed to click. The coach went to a 5-1 and the girls responded with passes, serves, sets and kills all crisp and confident and I believe we were up 15-4 at one point. Maddie's experience really allows her to take charge. She is constantly moving her teammates to their proper positions, offering encouragement and just playing steady, solid volleyball. She doesn't have a killer serve, and although I would have liked to see her work on this skill more in the past, she became comfortable being able to put it where she wants, and just about 100% of the time. I love a powerful ace just like the next guy, but when an ace is followed by a serve into the net, the net gain on points is zero. I like having someone on the team who you KNOW is going to keep the ball in play, especially late. Teams make enough mistakes on serve receive to justify this approach. Of course, a girl who has a CONSISTENT good serve is a godsend. Anyway, with the 5-1 and Maddie running the show, we beat Bothell 25-17.
Game 4 was another 5-1 with Maddie on the bench and it was a disaster (not necessarily the other setter's fault). The rotations were messed up and no one seemed in charge. That, along with the fact we were playing Skyline, led to a good old fashioned whippin. Skyline 25, Kangs 14.
After that debacle, it was back to a 6-2 and we took out Maddie's mom's old high school, Redmond, 25-19.
Then, it was arch rival Juanita. We started a sophomore and a freshman and ran the 6-2 and the game was extremely entertaining. The Juanita setter is a joy to watch, but they are a little thin after that; the game went back and forth and was the last game going. We would take the lead and give it up. They'd serve one into the net and we'd hit one long....but Lake Washington prevailed and we pulled it out 28-26.
So we went 3-3 against 4A schools and I think the team has some mojo. It still may take some time to click, and unfortunately, we start out with a ranked Mercer Island team on Thursday. Anyway, good to be back in the saddle again. Maddie had a good time tonight, is warming to the coaching staff, and likes her teammates.
Here's to a great 2012 to all of you!
Once we got that out of the way, the girls began to gel. Taking on another 4A team, we had a late lead, but one serve into the net and things went south (doesn't it always work that way?). Final score: Inglemoor 25, Kangs 23
Game 3 is when things finally seemed to click. The coach went to a 5-1 and the girls responded with passes, serves, sets and kills all crisp and confident and I believe we were up 15-4 at one point. Maddie's experience really allows her to take charge. She is constantly moving her teammates to their proper positions, offering encouragement and just playing steady, solid volleyball. She doesn't have a killer serve, and although I would have liked to see her work on this skill more in the past, she became comfortable being able to put it where she wants, and just about 100% of the time. I love a powerful ace just like the next guy, but when an ace is followed by a serve into the net, the net gain on points is zero. I like having someone on the team who you KNOW is going to keep the ball in play, especially late. Teams make enough mistakes on serve receive to justify this approach. Of course, a girl who has a CONSISTENT good serve is a godsend. Anyway, with the 5-1 and Maddie running the show, we beat Bothell 25-17.
Game 4 was another 5-1 with Maddie on the bench and it was a disaster (not necessarily the other setter's fault). The rotations were messed up and no one seemed in charge. That, along with the fact we were playing Skyline, led to a good old fashioned whippin. Skyline 25, Kangs 14.
After that debacle, it was back to a 6-2 and we took out Maddie's mom's old high school, Redmond, 25-19.
Then, it was arch rival Juanita. We started a sophomore and a freshman and ran the 6-2 and the game was extremely entertaining. The Juanita setter is a joy to watch, but they are a little thin after that; the game went back and forth and was the last game going. We would take the lead and give it up. They'd serve one into the net and we'd hit one long....but Lake Washington prevailed and we pulled it out 28-26.
So we went 3-3 against 4A schools and I think the team has some mojo. It still may take some time to click, and unfortunately, we start out with a ranked Mercer Island team on Thursday. Anyway, good to be back in the saddle again. Maddie had a good time tonight, is warming to the coaching staff, and likes her teammates.
Here's to a great 2012 to all of you!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Ready to Roll 2012
Labor Day Weekend and Maddie begins her senior year and last season of volleyball. The teams have been set, the girls are practicing daily and it's GO TIME. Things kick off on Tuesday at The 3A Jamboree at Juanita HS. I have not attended any practices this year but I walked to the gym on Friday at 3:55 and Maddie and S were already taking passes from the coach (ex-setter) and doing their setting drills. I wandered up next to her and just a look told me that she wasn't there to talk; she was at work. Things seem different this year. We have 9 seniors on this team and, 3 transfers, a freshman, 3 Maddie's, 2 Sara's, and 2 sets of sisters, one of them twins. And Maddie seems all business. I would have never seen practice already underway at 3:55 in her last several years. I think we have a couple of things going for us: those 9 seniors, a core group that has been together since last year, a new coach, and it seems, new spirit. Looking forward to next week! Here's to all of your girls beginning their seasons. Get your serves over!
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