Club Volleyball Dad: Home Opener vs. Mercer Island

A big crowd at LW tonight to see the home opener vs. 9th ranked Mercer Island. I think this group had 7 or 8 girls that played Club this year; we have 4...but don't get me started on how to grow a strong high school program. Played a spirited first game but lost 17-25 but game 2 was a whole different story. Some MI errors and steady play from the Kangs and it was 21-21 late in the game. One rally in particular went on forever with super defensive play and some great setting by Maddie to her OH who went up time and time again only to have it returned....but then, one last perfect set, a well placed spike and it was POINT Kangs who used that momentum to close things out to win Game 2. Of course, games 3 and 4 saw MI back in form and saw us struggle with defense and serving to ultimately lose the match 1-3 and go 0-1 in league play. The outcome was not unexpected; we just don't have elite talent like some of these schools seem to have, but they played well (with again, 2 starters out). I'm a little frustrated with the 6-2 offense which means the best setter is only playing half the time, but I guess our program is more about the experience than trying to win at all costs....which, OK, I get it. Club this is not. We HAVE started a new 'tradition' where our girls give little gifts to the opposing players during the introductions and frankly, it has the parents in a bit of an uproar. I guess it just doesn't strike fear into the hearts of the enemy when you give them a little bag of chocolate kisses. On the other hand, perhaps it's a brilliant strategy to get the girls out of whack and sugared up during the match.

Big week next week: Away at Interlake and home against Mt. Si...that Interlake game is the one we need to take. Mt. Si is tough and we do not want to start the season 0-3. Maddie and I are pumped about seeing 'Contagion' this weekend and of course it's NFL Kickoff Sunday. Hooray!

Maddie directs traffic vs. Mercer Island