Kang Volleyball: Taking Liberties

Always fun to trudge down 405 in rush hour traffic to play our friends from East Renton; fun because we've dominated them for 2 years. First we beat them twice last year before linking up in the playoffs and beating them in 5 games to determine some playoff seeding.
http://clubvolleyballdad.blogspot.com/2011/10/kingco-playoff-thriller.html

Last night we completed the sweep THIS year by beating them 3-1, thus securing my dominance over my ex-volleyball dad friends from ITVC (Bellevue and Liberty) by going 3-1 this year AND last year, running my record to a solid 6-2 and earning bragging rights forever. Hanging out pre-game and during the games with those 2 dads has been so fun; one benefit of club volleyball is the close friendships you have the chance to develop (as long as the girls don't play a similar position!) I will miss those guys during volleyball season, and wish nothing but the best for their lovely daughters (Jessica and Megan). I know we'll get together for a few cold ones down the road.

Maddie had a very solid game last night, leading the Kangs in the 3 victorious games. The ref last night was calling double hit setting errors like they were going out of style (but equally for both teams; Maddie said she actually really liked the ref and didn't mind the double hit calls as long as it was fair on both sides, which it was.) Our coach does little things that we lacked last year and I like it. She'll start Maddie Game 1 but let the backup have Game 2 if we won that first game, and if we're 1-1 after those 2 games, she'll have Maddie go the rest of the way. She also had the girls switch to bump sets if Maddie took the dig as it seemed like every girl that wasn't a setter was getting called for those double hits. That was a smart move. I like the way she adjusts "in-game" and isn't afraid to go with a hot hand. We lost one of our setters last night to a sprained ankle but our backup came in and played really well. She had lost some confidence after being moved to backup, but it just goes to show you that a backup role can turn into a starting role very quickly. Practice hard, stay positive, and stay ready. Good things will happen.

So we go to 8-4 overall with a tough Mt. Si game on Thursday and then finish up with 3 key games against Interlake, Juanita and Sammamish.