4/21/08

First and foremost, I wanted to commend Billy Allen's recap of The Dallas AVP tournament! I don't think I can top his brilliant observations, nor keep the positive poise his words never faltered from. Quite respectable Billy! Kudos! You can read his blog at KindaGood.com.

Maybe having a more underdog stance in this tournament has given me a slightly more skewed perspective. I'll preface by saying - I couldn't help but feel an opportunity was taken from me. Now let me explain.

Day 1 - The Qualifiers

This was quite possibly one of the most memorable days for me in my AVP career, with my partner, and as a team. Our first match was a wild reality check, seeing how both teams were competing more against the wind than each other. Our biggest challenge was ball control and not allowing nature to defeat the rhythm we've been working so hard on. We were down in the third game, but knew that the blustery weather could make or break any rally. All of the sudden Angie, my partner, literally changed in stature and complexion. It was clear that she was not losing this game. I couldn't help but just jump right on her back and let her lead me to victory! I was happy to see my partner come alive, because after Miami, I was a little worried that she may have lost a little of her natural internal fire for competing. Absolutely, not the case here!

On to game two. Our opponents: Alicia Zamparelli and Stacy Nicks. We had already played against them once this year in a Great American Volleyball tournament and lost 15-13 in the third. Needless to say, we had a little extra motivation coming into this game. We took care of business the first game. But, then they took care of their business in the second. Their momentum carried over into the third with them jumping ahead 12-7. OUCH! Angie and I called a time-out, discussed a few changes we could make and came back with a fresh intensity. We sided-out for 8-12. Switch sides, I'm serving. Alicia, unfortunately for her, was directly in the bad wind pocket. I did not ace her, no, her ball control is too good for that. But she wasn't able to crisply bring the ball forward enough for A) Stacy to hit an over-in-two ball and/or B) for Stacy to set a perfect set. We were able to dig the shots she was rattling off and transitioned for 3 points. This brought the spread closer for 11-12. After 3 points gained back, Alicia passes her perfect pass and Stacy hits her specialty over-in-two. 11-13. We're receiving now. Somehow a rally gets going and both Angie and I read the same hit and completely collide for the dig. She pops it up and screams, "where are you?!?" I got knocked to the ground behind her, look up to find the ball, and flail with full intent to get my behind off the ground and go get that dig of hers. Somehow I pop it up enough for Angie to take a full swing at it. KILL! I don't know how she did it! 12-13. Switch sides. Angie serves her jump float. I'm not gonna lie, it's a pretty nasty serve. Alicia gets a piece of it, Stacy tries to make a set out of it but throws Alicia a little too close to the net. Alicia tries real hard to take a swing without netting and hits the ball into the net. 13-13. Angie rattles off another jumpie. This time Alicia passes perfect. I get into crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon digging mode. I call it this, because I couldn't tell you why it happens, but all of the sudden everything becomes slow motion and the hitters look like they are telegraphing where they are hitting about a minute early. I dug the ball, Angie sets me perfect (as if to throw a middle finger to that wind), and my cut shot went down. 14-13. Angie back to serve again. Another rally gets going, the wind tossing that ball around. Stacey digs a ball, Alicia sets her perfect and somehow the ball goes directly to my platform. Angie, sets another beautiful set, the wind takes it a little out of my window, but I see Stacy pulling and I hear Angie giving me a call. Confirmation to swing away at Stacy. I do everything I can mid-air to get it to that spot. I completely spatch the ball, Stacy ducks thinking I hit that ball way out. I think I probably would have ducked too if I had been on defense. It wasn't a pretty hit, but it went where I meant to put it… and guess what… it landed about 5 feet IN. 15-13!!!! A sweet redemption.

In my naïveté, I didn't know that qualifying in a small draw meant taking a 17th! Woo Hoo! A career high for me. And better yet, we weren't done yet. Possibilities lingered at how well we could do this tournament. I certainly had full intent to push even further.

Here's where I finally tie into my initial point. That night it was decided, by those who will remain unnamed, that the sand was unsuitable for playing. I, personally, did not see a problem with the sand. We played in it all day and not a scratch, bruise or sore spot on me. Granted, I am only 26 and that is on the younger side of the average age of an AVP beach volleyball player. But I can say, we've most certainly played in worse!!! Hence, my extreme bafflement. I sat there and listened to the arguments as I realized my chance to compete for higher was being tugged out from underneath me. I realize sitting on a high seed allows you certain luxuries and your goals are set for bigger and better things, but you were once in my spot and I hope you can still remember how this feels.

In order to provide alternate sand, the AVP director postponed the tournament until Saturday. This created a time crunch in which the format of the tournament had to be changed. First round became single elimination and it began at 7am. The comedy in that is, the sunrise was scheduled for 7:05 that morning. We started warming up in the dark and instead of being blinded by the sun, the light from the Megatron TV in stadium court provided similar effects. Angie and I made a great attempt to defeat Ashley Ivy and Heather Lowe, but didn't quite make it happen. None-the-less, we were quite happy with our performance.

Other wonderful highlights - My roommate, Angela McHenry and partner Lisa Rutledge (both fellow VolleyChick's as well), actually did win that first round against Jen Pavley and Jen Fopma to lock in a thirteenth and went on to make a great showing against Tyra and Rachel!!! So Proud!!!

So that is my recap of Dallas as far as volleyball goes. Outside of that, Texas was awesome! There was a huge rain/thunder/lighting/ tornado thing going on Friday night of proportions I have never seen before!!! That was neat to see as a so-cal girl. And I also got to experience the Dusty Trail or Trail Dust. Can't remember the name, but it was a restaurant with a slide in the middle of it. Two words on that… FUN TIMES! Check out the pictures!

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