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.

Word Count: 428

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.

         

Word Count: 474

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.

Word Count: 367