Regionals Part 3

            The championship game. It all happened really fast, we won the semis and right away we were playing in the finals. That was our 3^rd game in a row and I think the game against CIS took a lot of energy away from us. In the finals we were playing IPVA, they came in ranked 5^th and they already had proved a lot of people wrong. They beat the #1 ranked team, Adrenaline in the semis. In the first set of our match against IPVA you could tell we were a little worn out. We let them get to many runs and put ourselves in a hole. We picked it up a lot at the end and fought back to tie it at 25. The score went back and forth until IPVA ended up winning 33-31. It sucked losing that game especially with the score being that close. In the second set we didn’t have our best game, and there were just a few big points for IPVA that I think took the momentum away from us. I don’t think we gave up but I think IPVA played consistently solid throughout the whole match. Not sure what the score was but we lost the second set. Props to them for going in ranked 5^th and winning it all. It was an awesome game, and overall awesome weekend.

            I think one thing I learned from that weekend was that if you truly believe that you can accomplish something, you will, but you can’t have the slightest doubt in your mind. I also think it is important for young players to know that making a goal and working hard everyday to achieve it and accomplishing that is the greatest feeling. But once you achieve 1 goal don’t just be satisfied with that. Make another one and go work for it.

Word Count: 315 

Regionals Part 2

            First set. Very tough battle, points were pretty much back and forth the whole time. In the middle of the set I remember thinking to myself we got this. The score was very close and I think we might have been losing, but we were playing so well and I could tell everyone wanted this so bad. Despite the pressure we were putting on ourselves we stayed calm and pushed for 1 point at a time, which I think was huge for us. I think CIS went into that game expecting to win and when we started to push ahead they played more uptight, afraid to make mistakes. We won the first set 26-24. I don’t really remember any certain plays or points I just remember feeling like we were playing the best we ever had.

            Second set. It was similar to the first game, in which the score was very close the whole time. The only things I remember in this set was when I stuff blocked probably their best hitter and just the atmosphere in the gym. I can’t even explain what it felt like. There were so many people watching us and it was such a fun and intense game to be apart of. I don’t even know what the final score was but I remember winning the last point and I immediately started crying. The next 5 minutes after that was so emotional for all of us because we had finally done it. We had accomplished our team goal of making it to nationals and it was the first time I had ever qualified. I was so excited, I will never forget that feeling. After that it was time for the championship game. At Iowa regionals there are 2 bids, 1^st place gets a USA bid and 2^nd place gets an American bid. After winning in the semis we had landed a spot in the finals at regionals with a chance to get a USA bid.

Word Count: 333

Regionals Part 1

            Regionals. A bid to nationals is on the line and you are playing close to home. A lot of tough competition and only 2 teams get their ticket to nationals. Playing in your home state means playing in front of family and friends, which might be added pressure for some girls. Regionals can be fun and stressful at the same time. My experience at regionals this year was awesome.

            This year regionals was in Cedar Falls, which is about an hour away from my house and it is also where my team practices. So it felt kind of weird waking up in my own bed on the day of a national qualifier. Usually we are 5-15 hours away. Driving to Cedar Falls on that Saturday morning I had all kinds of emotions running through me. I was more nervous than usual and I think was because I knew that that was our best bet at qualifying. In the back of my head I was thinking about last season and what went down at regionals then. Last year we were put in a tough pool the first day and ended up getting 3rd in our pool and playing in the bronze bracket on Sunday. It just wasn't a good weekend for my team, but we are a whole different team this year and I knew we could do it. I just had this feeling. I wanted that bid so bad for so long I was going to do whatever it took to get it.

            On Saturday we were put in a pretty easy pool and won all 3 of our games in 2 sets. Sunday was going to be the real test of what my team could accomplish. I was pumped and I couldn't wait to go get that bid. On Sunday our first game wasn't until 10:00 so we got to sleep in a little but and that is always good. We played Rockets 17 Black in the quarterfinals, which was our first game. In the first set we started off kind of shaky but we fought back and didn't look back from there. We won in 2 sets and now faced CIS (Central Iowa Select) in the semi-finals, and the game to get a bid. The time was finally here, playing for the bid. We were so close I could taste it. We knew this game was going to be a battle, but we were up for it and we wanted revenge because we lost to them in pool play last year. I knew a couple girls from their team from High Performance and playing them in school season and they were a very talented team. We were going to have to play our best and not let up if we wanted to beat them.

Word Count: 471