Penn State Wins Back to Back National Championships

          2014 National Championship…. Fifth ranked Penn State Nittany Lions against the unranked Brigham Young Cougars. This is a match that no one saw coming. I filled out a bracket before the tournament started and I had picked Penn State to win it all, mostly because I have been obsessed with Micha Hancock for almost three years now but also because after watching them win it all last year I knew they could do it again. Now BYU on the other hand is a different story. I had BYU losing in the second round to Arizona. Who knew that they would make it this far?

            Saturday, December 20^th was the big day for both teams. Playing for a National Championship, something that BYU probably never thought they would experience and something that Penn State knew they could do but were going to have to upset Wisconsin and Stanford first. Both teams, not expected to make it that far were now playing for the ultimate title, something that all volleyball players dream of experiencing. Or at least I do lol. In order for Penn State to win they were going to need to stop 6’7 Jennifer Hamson from terminating every ball she got and also make sure they weren’t hitting into her hands. Penn State did a really good job of hitting high over Hamson’s block, allowing her to only have 2 blocks. They were also going to have to shut down Alexa Gray by setting up a solid block and having defenders ready to dig her multiple shots. PSU did a great job of digging Gray, allowing her only 9 kills which is low for her.

            In order for BYU to defeat the defending National Champs they had a lot of things to watch out for. Micha Hancock’s deadly left handed top spin jump serve definitely was one of them. Also Micha’s left handed setter attack which is very efficient and really cool to watch. Adding to the list, freshman Ali Frantti and sophomore Megan Courtney who are both amazing outside hitters. Courtney had 11 kills and 14 digs for her second consecutive double-double performance landing her a spot on the All-Tournament team. She was also named Most Outstanding Player. Penn State also has 2 very effective middles, Nia Grant and Aiyana Whitney. Whitney contributed 11 kills while Grant had 9. PSU has an awesome back row too, libero Dominique Gonzalez had a match high 16 digs.

            6:30 ET was game time, and it was time for someone to be named National Champs. Would it be the underdogs, BYU? Or the defending National Champs PSU? From the beginning to the end Penn State was in control. Winning the first set 25-21, the second set 26-24 and the third set 25-14. Not very often does a team win a Championship in straight sets but Penn State took care of business. Seeing the aftermath of the game, the hats, tshirts, confetti, tears, hugs, and celebration made me realize just how bad I want that to be me someday. I want to say congrats to both teams for great seasons and a huge S/O to my biggest idol Micha Hancock J

            If you want to read more in depth about the game to can follow these links.

 BYU Falls to Penn State 

Penn State Defeats BYU in 3

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NCAAVB Semi-Finals Cont.

On the other side of the bracket in the semis, #2 ranked Texas was faced with unranked BYU. On their road to the semis BYU upset #11 Arizona, #6 Florida State, and #14 Nebraska. Obviously they proved to everyone that they should have been ranked. They were way overlooked. Honestly I thought Texas would win this game in straight sets but it almost went the complete opposite of that.

            BYU has 6’7 Senior Jennifer Hamson who averages 3.83 kills per set and has a .315 kill efficiency. They also have Alexa Gray, junior outside who averages 3.66 kills per set and has a .291 kill efficiency. To see their whole teams’ stats you can follow this link.

            Texas has Iowa native 6-3 senior, Haley Eckerman who averages 3.24 kills per set and has a .258 kill efficiency. They also have a sophomore transfer, Paulina Prieto Cerame who transferred from Penn State. Here are Texas’ stats for this year. Texas Stats

            On paper Texas should have beat BYU but that didn’t happen. BYU took the first set 25-23, second set was 25-16, third they lost 17-25 and the fourth set was back and forth until the very end when BYU came out on top with the score being 26-24. This was a huge upset and now BYU had earned a spot in the National Championship, being the first unranked team to EVER make that happen. I can’t imagine the emotion they were having after beating Texas.

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NCAAVB Semi-Finals

I am a huge Penn State fan so when they upset #4 ranked Wisconsin in the Elite 8 I was really excited. In the Final Four they faced #1 ranked Stanford. In my opinion Stanford vs. Penn State should have been the championship match, but they were on the same side of the bracket. I have seen both teams play multiple times and each team has different attributes which makes this semifinal match an interesting one.

            Stanford has an outstanding middle, Inky Ajanaku who has 3.5 kills per set and a .428 hitting efficiency. They also have an incredible outside, Jordan Burgess who has 3.1 kills per set. They also have an awesome setter, Madi Bugg who averages 12.01 assists per set. All of the players on Stanford are studs and I give them props for getting to the semi-finals of the NCAA Tournament, because that is a dream for so many players. Stanford Stats

            Penn State. 2013 National Champs. Graduated 6 seniors last year. Now holds the record (7) for the most National Championships won by any team. Penn State is stacked with talent. Micha Hancock, 5-11 senior setter and my idol. She averages 11.6 assists per set, 1.16 kills per set with a .401 hitting efficiency. She also hold the record for most aces in a season ever with 125 aces, 1.01 per set. She was named the 2014 AVCA D1 Player of the Year. You can see all of her awards and accolades at this link, there are way too many to type out lol. Besides Micha Penn State has a ton of other outstanding players including some freshman. Ali Frantti, freshman outside averages 3.24 kills per set. Megan Courtney, Junior outside averages 2.41 kills per set and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAAVB All-Tournament Team. I’m probably boring you with all of these stats but they are amazing. If you want to look at the rest of Penn States stats and player profiles follow these links.

            In the regular season Stanford beat Penn State in 5 sets, so Penn State was really looking for a rematch I’m guessing. On the other hand Stanford was probably excited when they found out they would play Penn State in the semis because they knew they had already beat them once this year. Penn State won the first set easily, 25-16 but Stanford came back and won the second 25-23. Penn State won the last 2 sets, and now had a shot at winning a National Championship for the second year in a row.

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CIA 17Black

2015 Schedule

January 10th and 11th	M1 Elite Scrimmage	Rochester, MN
January 17th and 18th	Winter Classic	Milwaukee, WI
January 30th-Feb 1st	January Thaw	Minneapolis, MN
February 8th	All Iowa Attack Qualifying	Ames, IA
February 14th-16th	NE Elite President’s Day	Omaha, NE
February 27th-March 1st	Colorado Crossroads Qualifier	Denver, CO
March 20th-22nd	Mid-East Qualifier	Indianapolis, IN
March 28th and 29th	Iowa Regionals	Cedar Falls, IA
April 3rd-5th	ShowMe Qualifier	Kansas City, MO
*June 24th-27th	USAV Junior National Volleyball Championships	New Orleans, LA
*June 16th-19th	AAU Junior National Championships	Orlando, FL
*will attend one of the two Championships

                                                                             

This is my club teams schedule for this season. As you can see we travel a lot and only have 2 tournaments in Iowa. We travel a lot in order to play different competition, to get us ready for nationals and to be seen by college coaches. If you play a bunch a tournaments in your state you will not be looked at as often. College coaches from outside of Iowa are not going to come just to watch a few Iowa teams play each other.

I am really excited to play in Colorado Crossroads because I have never been to that tournament. Overall I am pumped for this season and I can’t wait for our first tournament. My biggest goal this season is to win a qualifier and get a bid to nationals.

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2014 NCAA Volleyball Tournament

            This is definitely my favorite time of the year. It’s almost Christmas break, club just started and it’s time for the NCAA Final Four! This year Penn State, Stanford, Texas and BYU will battle for the championship title. Stanford is ranked 1^st, Texas is ranked 2^nd, Penn State is ranked 5^th, and BYU was not ranked in the tournament. So the final four this year was surprising to a lot of people. Stanford is predicted to win but I don’t agree.

            On Thursday Stanford will face Penn State and Texas will face BYU. I think it will end up being Penn State and Texas in the championship game. I watched Stanford play Oregon State Friday night at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Stanford won in 4 sets and it was an incredible game to watch. I also watched Penn State play earlier this season at the University of Iowa. I think these teams are pretty evenly matched but I think Penn State has the advantage. First of all Micha Hancock (senior setter for Penn State) is getting the opportunity to play in her home town, Oklahoma City, for the last time she gets to wear a PSU jersey. I don’t know about you but that would make me want to win more than I ever had before. Penn State also won the National Championship last year, so winning 2 in a row would be pretty sweet. Lastly Penn State is the underdog here so they want to prove themselves and win another National Title.

            The Texas vs. BYU match will be interesting I think. BYU has beat 3 ranked teams already in this tournament. They defeated Arizona (#11), Florida State (#6) and Nebraska (#14). They have definitely proved themselves and what they capable of. I’m assuming Texas did not think they were going to play BYU, so they are probably happy and a little nervous about it. I mean playing an unranked team in the Final Four? That is very unlikely.

            Overall I think Penn State is going to take the title home. Yes, I am obsessed with Micha Hancock and the whole Penn State team but I honestly think that they can do this. I know they can.

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15 Things a Volleyball Player Should Know

Always play your hardest, you never know who is watching.

You are going to lose 5^th sets and it sucks. Learn from it, remember what it feels like and move on.

Be thankful for your parents who pay for everything, are supportive and drive you all over the country so you can play.

NEVER give up.

Always thank your coaches, without them you wouldn’t be the player or person you are today.

If you want to play in college start the recruiting process early. Email and call coaches at schools you are interested in and fill out recruiting questionnaires.

Pressing the call button will be the hardest thing to do when you call a college coach but trust me it is not bad at all once you start talking to them.

Follow your dreams, no matter how big they are. If you work hard and have the confidence in yourself you can do it.

Enjoy the moment you are in right now. You can’t play volleyball forever so don’t the opportunity to play for granted.

 If you make it to state or nationals be proud. So many girls dream of getting a qualifying banner or a bid.

 If you get to watch your idol play (mine is Micha Hancock) ask for a pic with them… you will regret it if you don’t.

 You WILL have days where you feel like giving up or where nothing is going right. It WILL get better I promise.

 Your teammates will pretty much become your fam and it is awesome.

 Find a friend group that is supportive of you. You will be gone a lot for tournaments and finding people that care how your team is doing and come to your games is awesome. 

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Sponsored by NIKE

            This year my club will be sponsored by Nike. I am really excited because Nike is by far my favorite brand. We get Nike knee pads, spandex, volleyball shoes, and jerseys, warm up pants, warm up jacket, and a backpack. I can’t wait to get all of our sweet gear. In order to keep our sponsorship with Nike we can’t wear anything but Nike at practices or tournaments, because if someone was to post a picture on Instagram with let’s say an Underarmour headband on we could lose the sponsorship.

            I have Nike volleyball shoes and I love them, so I am glad we are wearing those. Nike spandex are definitely my favorite so that’s a plus too. Nike also makes some sweet socks that are CIA colors (Volt and Black). I have never worn Nike knee pads but some college teams wear them and they look comfortable.

            My team is also thinking about ordering our own customized Roshes that we can wear to tournaments. Plus they would match all of our gear.  I’m pretty excited for all of this Nike stuff we are going to get. I also ordered a Nike sweatshirt that says WE ARE CIA on the front. 

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First Club Practice

          What I have been looking forward to all year, our first club practice has finally come. We had our first practice tonight and it was a success. My team has so much potential and I can’t wait to get on the court and start competing with them. I can already tell it is going to be an awesome season. We play so well together already I can’t wait to see where this season takes us.

          Our team consists of 10 girls, 4 new and 6 returners from last year. Every single person on my team has the same passion that I do for volleyball and that is an awesome feeling, to be playing on the court with girls that have the same dreams and aspirations that you do. We are playing in 10 tournaments this year plus either New Orleans or Florida for nationals. I am really looking forward to going to Colorado Crossroads because I have never been there and I love Colorado.

          Tonight at practice we played against 18 black (they won nationals last year). It is an awesome experience playing against them, and it is so much fun at the same time. I learn so much from playing them it unbelievable. My team stuck with them and I think we had a great first practice to start our season.

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Out of Town Tournaments

        If you play club volleyball you will most likely travel out of town for tournaments. These can range from an hour to 10 hours in the car, or maybe even flying. Most teams will travel out of town for National Qualifiers or to play in tournaments with a higher level of competition. If you are going to play in a 2 or 3 day out of town tournament there are a few things you should remember to do; stay hydrated, bring snacks, make a list of what you need, and take ice baths.

          Make sure you are drinking plenty of water in advance and during your tournament. It helps if you bring a cooler of water or Gatorade to your hotel and then you can take some with you instead of buying expensive drinks at the convention center.  You should also bring some healthy snacks, something that gives you energy so in between games you have something you like instead of buying greasy concession stand food.

          Every time I go to a tournament out of town I always think I am going to forget something, to avoid this I make a list of everything I need and make sure I have everything before I leave. Examples of things you would not want to forget would be your jersey, spandex, or your volleyball bag.

          After the 1^st day of the tournament you will probably feel a little sore but even if you don’t, take an ice bath! Ice baths help so much and they make a difference the next day when you play for another full day. When you take an ice bath just fill your bath up with ice and cold water so that your legs are completely under water. It is really hard to get in the first time you take one, but just know your legs will feel so much better when you do.

          Most of all just have fun! Play the best you can and the results from your hard work will pay off. Be thankful for the opportunity because not everyone gets to play in these awesome tournaments. Good luck!

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My First College Visit

            On Friday I visited the University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota. The coaches had seen me play recently at a club tryout in Waterloo, Iowa. They took me aside after the tryout and told me how excited they were about me and wanted me to come visit some time. Nothing is more reassuring than having someone believe in your dreams, and they did and I wanted to see what their volleyball program was all about. I scheduled a visit and before I knew it the day had come for my first visit.

            It is a 5 hour drive from Cedar Rapids to the Sioux Falls campus, so it’s not that bad but still a pretty long drive. When I got there with my parents we met with admissions and then took a tour around campus with a tour guide and the assistant coach. The campus is pretty small so it didn’t take that long to see all of the buildings. I got to see the freshman dorms, upperclassman dorms, classrooms, the science department, the athletic center, the volleyball team room, and the best part was seeing the volleyball locker room. We walked into the locker room and hanging in one of the lockers was two #20 jerseys, a backpack, a volleyball bag, and all of the clothing items the players receive but with my number on them. When I saw that, it suddenly hit me that my dream of playing college volleyball could actually come true.

            After that we went out to eat with the coaches to a restaurant called Grille 26, and then to the women’s and men’s basketball games at Sioux Falls. I hung out with the team there and got to know them and what they like or don’t like about Sioux Falls. I know one of the player’s pretty well because we went to the same high school when I was a freshman and she was a senior. So after the game I spent the night in her dorm room with her and her roommates that also play volleyball. It was fun, they really made me realize that I could be a part of that soon. In the morning the coaches picked me up and we met my parents at a pancake place for breakfast. We talked and ate probably some of the best pancakes I’ve had in a long time. After that they took my parents and I to see the athletic complex where the team lifts weights and conditions. The football stadium, soccer field, and track are just behind the complex. It is really nice and they were talking about the future plans of having three volleyball courts put in so that they could practice there instead of where they play.

            The whole experience was awesome and I could really see myself playing and going to school there. It just scares me because college is coming so soon and it seems unreal. Best of luck on your college visits!

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           Club Decisions

           Last club season I was faced with the difficult decision of choosing between two different clubs to play for, Rockets 16R or CIA 16-1. I had tried out for Rockets a couple weeks before I got a call from the coach saying that I had made the top 16’s team, that was probably the best feeling ever, but there were a few setbacks. He told me that I would be sharing playing time with another setter that was on the team. I knew the other setter and to be playing with her would have been a huge privilege but I knew that I needed to be playing as much as I could, in order to get recruited by colleges and fulfill my biggest dream, which is to play D1 Volleyball. I didn’t know how much playing time I would have gotten on 16R, if any at all. I was ready to work hard and earn playing time but I couldn’t have been for sure that that was going to happen especially since the other setter had played on this team last year. Still, I had made 16R and that was a huge accomplishment. I wasn’t ready to give up the idea of being on that team just yet.

            About an hour after I got the call from the 16R coach I got a call from the CIA director asking if I wanted to try out for CIA 16-1 because they needed a setter and they had watched me play before. I didn’t really know what to think but I thought I might as well go to try out and meet the coaches. At first, I was kind of nervous because I didn’t know anyone but after a while I was having fun and I didn’t want to leave. Everyone at CIA was so kind and encouraging, I loved the atmosphere they created in the gym. After the tryout they offered me a spot on the top 16’s team, and told me I had a lot of potential and that they wanted to continue to work with me to help me reach my dream. Even though I had my mind set on playing for 16R and it was hard to turn that offer down, I knew CIA was the best option for me. I was going to get to play the whole time and be the captain of my team. I was also going to be coached by people who believe in me and there is really no better feeling than that.

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2^nd Round Regional Match Part 2

          Going in to the 3^rd set we knew we had to play at the top of our game, because this was do or die. We struggled some in the beginning but kept with them until the end, when the score was 22-18 and Linn-Mar was ahead. My coach took a time out and asked who thought we were going to win these next 4 points, and I said “I do”. After that we took the court and won the next four points along with that set. The final score of the 3^rd set was 25-23 Kennedy. In the 4^th set,  not much was different. The score was back and forth the whole time, they would get a side out then we would and it went on like that, until we came out on top with an ending score of 25-23. At that point we definitely had the momentum going into the 5^th set because we had just won 2 sets in a row.

          I went up for the captains deciding set flip, I chose the side we had just won on, and Linn-Mar picked receive. We went in to that set really confident because after coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the match I knew anything was possible. I don’t really remember much from the 5^th set but I remember the score being 13-11 and Linn-Mar calling a timeout. During that timeout I told my team that the next point is huge, because that would make us 1 point away from winning. We got the next point, but Linn-Mar was right back in it with a kill to make it 14-12. Now the next point I remember very clearly. They served the ball, I set right side, Linn-Mar dug it up and attacked it back over flying at our libero’s face, she used both hands to try to get it up and it went flying in my direction. I dove for it with one hand and saved it from hitting the floor. We got it back over and then they hit the ball out of bounds making the score 15-12, which meant we just won that set and the match. It was at that moment that I remembered why I play volleyball and why I love it so much. We came together as a team and we made the biggest come back of all season. When we won, I was so happy I started crying and hugged everyone on my team. After shaking hands with Linn-Mar, we got tackled by our student section and my best friend and sisters came running to hug me. That was probably one of the best moments I have ever had in my volleyball career. I am so incredibly proud of my team. I cant describe the feeling of winning that match.

         

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2^nd Round Regional Match Part 1

            On Thursday of last week we faced Linn-Mar in our 2^nd round of regionals. We had the same record (27-11) as them and were tied, 1-1 in overall matches this season. They beat us in our first conference match, in 5 sets so we were really seeking revenge from that particular game. We prepared all week by watching film, reviewing their rotations and lineups, and improving our skills. We knew it was going to be a tough battle and we were going to have to stay strong as a team to get that win. We went into that game feeling confident because we had each other’s backs and knew we could do it.

            6 p.m. Thursday night we walked in the Linn-Mar gym and mentally and physically prepared ourselves for the match ahead. We did our usual locker room warm up and jammed out to music to get pumped up. We warmed up and before we knew it it was 6:45 and time for the national anthem and starting lineups to be announced. When the national anthem was playing and I was surrounded by my teammates and I looked up and said in my head please let us win this game, my teammates deserve this win. From that point on I knew I had to play for my team and leave everything on the court.

          When 7 o’clock came it was time for first serve. We started off strong with a 3-0 start but Linn-Mar came right back to tie it at 3-3. The score was really close throughout the first set but we let them get a few runs in the middle, and could never close that gap until the last few points. We ended up losing by 2, with the score being 25-23. The second match was very similar to the first. We had to work for every point, and every point mattered. The score was 27-26 Linn-Mar and what was clearly a carry on their side, counted as a point for them and they then lead the match 2-0. What happened next? Read my next blog to find out if Kennedy had the capability to come back and win.

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Our Road to State

          STATE… Probably every athlete on a high school athletics team has a goal to make it to state. It is a huge accomplishment and something to be proud of if you make it. I have never played in the State Volleyball tournament in Iowa but that is definitely one of my dreams. I can’t imagine the feeling of holding the state qualifying banner in your hands, surrounded by your teammates, and everyone is just enjoying the moment. I hope to someday have that feeling.

          This season our first regional matchup is against Washington tomorrow night at Kennedy. We played Wash last Tuesday and we dominated and won in 3 straight sets so we should beat them pretty easily. Our second matchup is against Linn-Mar on Thursday at Linn-Mar. We lost to them in regular season in 5 games, but we beat them in 2 straight sets to advance to the championship game in the Mississippi Valley Conference Tournament. I think we can definitely beat them if we are playing at the top of our game. If we beat Linn-Mar we will advance to play Dowling Catholic in the third and final round of regionals. We played Dowling once in a tournament and lost in 2 sets but the scores were close, and we had already had a long day, defeating undefeated West Delaware in pool play. I think we can beat Dowling if everyone is playing at the top of their game and everyone fights for every point.

          I know we can do it we just have to believe in ourselves and our teammates. I am confident we can make it to state and I am so excited for the journey ahead. 

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Example of a Recruiting Profile to send to College Coaches

After you have sent an introduction letter to a college coach they might want to know a little bit more about you, and learn what experiences you have had with volleyball in your past and any cool awards you have been given. It is very helpful to make a "Profile" of yourself just to keep all of your successes organized and so you can get back to the coaches that are interested quickly. 

Anna Fluent

Height: 5’10

Approach: 9’6

Standing reach: 7’6

Setter

Kennedy High School class of 2016

Hudl Link: (Insert link to Hudl)

YouTube Link: (Insert link to YouTube)

Junior Year

Metro Sports Highlight Player of the Week

Summer before junior year

Selected to play in the High Performance Championships in Tulsa, Oklahoma with the Iowa Girls Youth National team

Selected through USAV HP to go to the A3 training camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Earned a bid in the Great Plains Open in Omaha to the USAV Junior Beach Tour Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Earned a silver medal in the High Performance in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Sophomore Year

Selected to play in the High Performance Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with the Iowa Girls Youth National team

5-1 setter for Club Iowa (CIA) 16 Black

5-1 setter on varsity for Kennedy high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

1^st team all Mississippi Valley conference

1^st team all-metro

Varsity lettered

High Honorable Mention - Soph 79

Anna Fluent, 5-10 S, Kennedy (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – Fluent finished the season with 773 assists, 167 digs, 126 kills, 48 blocks and 19 aces. She earned all-metro and All-Conference First Team honors. “Anna is a remarkable athlete and student of the game,” Coach Michelle Goodall said. “Anna has fine footwork/setting skills and defending abilities. She’s a heady and crafty attacker as well, wreaking havoc for defending teams. Anna is highly motivated to succeed and pairs this attitude perfectly with her strong whatever-it-takes work ethic.”

Freshman Year

Selected to play in the High performance Championships in Des Moines, Iowa with the Iowa Girls Select National team

Named offensive player of the year on Kennedy’s sophomore team

Competed in the GJNC in Dallas, Texas with Iowa Rockets 15-1

(Include here your contact info., your coaches contact info, and a current picture of yourself) 

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An Example of a Recruiting Letter That Could be sent to College Coaches

If you are looking to play volleyball in college and don't know where to start, an introduction letter is a good thing to begin with. You should introduce yourself as not only an athlete but a student as well. Another good thing to do is congratulate them on any recent successes they might have had, at recent games or tournaments they were competing in. You should also provide all of your contact information as well as your club and high school coach's names and contact info. Here is a sample of mine from this season that I used to send to schools I was interested in.

Dear Coach (Insert coaches last name),

               My name is Anna Fluent and I am interested in your volleyball program. I will be a 2016 graduate and I play volleyball for Club Iowa Juniors 16 Black. 16 Black is a national team who travels throughout the Midwest at various non-qualifying and qualifying tournaments. I run a 5-1 system on this team. My coach is (insert coaches name and any info you know about them and their past relations with the sport of volleyball, like where they have coached in the past and where they played if they played in college.) He/she can be reached at the information provided below.

               I play high school volleyball at John F. Kennedy High School, which is located in Cedar Rapids Iowa. This volleyball program has had great success in the past, by making 12 state appearances and developing many college athletes. I was selected for 1^st team all Mississippi Valley Conference and 1^st team all-Metro awards this past season which was my sophomore year. I have also had the privilege of competing on Iowa High Performance teams the last two summers. Education is also very important to me and currently I have a (insert cumulative GPA and the scale in which your school bases you grade point average off of) GPA. I am taking a college level Biology course because I am interested in but not limited to a health related field.

You can find updated volleyball information on me at universityathlete.com and video at www.hudl.com and on my YouTube page. Please include me on any camps and/or recruiting information about your volleyball program. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing more information about your outstanding volleyball program.

Best Regards,

Anna Fluent

(Include here any links to your film, your contact information, and your coaches' contact information.)

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My Favorite Volleyball Drills

          Coming up with drills to do in practices is sometimes hard because they have to involve all positions, be productive, and be fun at the same time. Some of my favorite drills are Pra-ja, Columbia, George, Baseball, WIN, and Split Court. All of these drills are fun, productive, and everyone gets a lot of touches.

          Pra-ja is a game I learned at HP this year. It is definitely my favorite drill because it involves a lot of quick thinking and communication between you and your partner. Pra-ja is a 2 on 2 game with 2 balls being played at the same time. You and your partner are allowed 3 touches on each ball like normal but you can let the ball bounce in between each contact. In order to get each ball in play one partner from each side will serve one ball to the player on the other side who is not serving. After each ball is in play you play normally but you can let the ball bounce once in between each contact. If one team wins both points they stay and the other team waves through, but if both teams win one point they are both off and two new teams come on. I like this drill because it tests how well you can communicate with your teammate and it trains you to look across the net to tell your partner where he/she should attack the ball to. A hint for this drill is to never tip short. Tipping in the drill is an easy pass for the other team because the short tip will bounce up directly to a player on the other side.

          Columbia is another awesome drill. Columbia is run with 4-6 players on each side of the net. The scoring and rules of a normal game apply, the only thing that is different is that every player rotates when your team attacks the ball over the net. I like this drill because you get to experience playing every position. George is similar to Columbia with 4-6 players and regular rules/scoring applies, but if you make a mistake you are out and the next person in line on your team replaces you. I like this drill because it puts pressure on you to not make a mistake. Volleyball is a game of mistakes, every point is caused by a mistake. So everyone is going to make mistakes at some point in a game but it is the team who makes the least mistakes that will come out on top. When you are playing the game George it really makes you focus on the position you are playing because if you want to stay on the court you can’t make a mistake.

          These are just some of my favorite drills I have played. I hope this helps if you are looking for fun drills for a practice :) 

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Favorite Volleyball Related Quotes

1.    “My attitude is that if you push me towards a weakness, I will turn that weakness into a strength” -Michael Jordan

2.    “All things are difficult before they are easy”

3.    “Courage is taking those first steps to your dream even if you can’t see the path ahead”

4.    “Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back... play for her.” –Mia Hamm

I like number 1 because in volleyball everyone has a skill that they can improve on and if an athlete can take the time and get the reps to improve their weakness it will eventually turn into a strength.

Number 2 I think really relates to volleyball in the sense that it takes thousands of reps to perfect a skill until it become easy. If you want to become great at a certain position you have to work hard every time you are in the gym and get as many reps as possible.

I love number 3 because I can relate to it. My biggest dream is to play D1 college volleyball and I have been working hard on improving my skills and contacting college coaches. Even though I don’t know where I am going yet and I can’t see the path ahead I know that if I keep working extra hard I can get there.

Number 4 is probably my favorite because it makes me realize that when I was younger I had the same dreams as I do now and I still love playing volleyball as much as I did when I was little.

Link to the quotes: http://www.fantasyhelp.com/offbeat/ultimate-collection-motivational-sports-quotes/

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