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As every sports website seems to be loaded with bloggers these days, the Virginia Elite Alumni Association figured we should jump onboard with the rest of the country. Throughout the remainder of the collegiate volleyball season, VEAA will be bringing to you three former players, blogging their experience as they conclude their regular season headed towards the NCAA Tournament. Keep checking back for blogs as they will be posted almost on a daily basis!
Amanda Friday
Amanda Friday, Virginia Elite Class of 2008, is a freshman for the Lady Volunteers of University of Tennessee. Currently, they sit in 3rd place in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) East Division behind Florida and Kentucky. Florida is currently ranked #12 and Kentucky is ranked #19 in the Nation according to American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll from Monday, November 3rd. The Lady Volunteers are 11-4 in SEC play and 18-8 overall. Amanda has volunteered to blog about her experience during her final two weeks of the season as the Lady Volunteers conclude their season and make a push for the NCAA Tournament.
Back again. We drove up today to Clemson. Today was the first of our study days before finals so there are no classes which allowed us to go up early to Clemson. Many of the players are missing there actual final days so they have to either have them proctored while on the road or take them when we get back early next week. Everyone is so pumped to play. For one it's just the NCAA's, then one of our coaches coached at Clemson a few years back so that helps us with scouting, then if we win Friday and Saturday we go to Seattle and two of our own come from way up there. They are especially excited to try and go up, they'd get to see all their families and friends so that's a definite boost. Tomorrow's somewhat of a slow day because our practice is late in the day so before then we have film twice and a free period where we could even possible go to the movies! I hope you guys are excited because I know I am. It's hard to absorb that we are really here, the NCAA. We've worked through so much to get here and we did it. I know my parents are going crazy, especially my mom. I called her the other day and she was going off the wall haha. She was also happy to report that many of you Elite fans have been consistent readers so I'd just like to say thank you and it's all because of you that I'm here now. Thanks everyone and I will keep updating!
Amanda
Last night was amazing! We played Kentucky and won in 5! Prior to the game we have film in the coaches' room and after we went over Kentucky rotations they had a little surprise for us. They had made us a highlight tape of the year with some memorable songs from the season. Then we had pregame at Ruby Tuesday's and headed over to the gym. We BLASTED music to get us hyped for the game. I still carry around that ol' boombox so we always have the jams. The game was nerve-racking. Talk about a nail biter when they win the first game, we take the second from them, they take the third, then in the fourth we felt it. We felt the power we had, we believed we could beat them and our game step up big time. We came out strong in the 5th with and 9-3 lead which gave us the edge we needed. We kept our composure when Kentucky battled back, but we were in no way going to give up and finished the match strong. I was screaming my lungs out and jumping up and down like crazy. I was sweating just has much as those playing, that's how intense it was. Guys, with this big win we have a good argument for the dance aka the NCAA tournament. I'll write you guys tomorrow night after the selection show. Wish us luck!
Okay so I'll catch you guys up on this past week. Tuesday, although we have off I had an agility/footwork workout with our strength trainer. Wednesday, we had a pretty easy going practice. Thursday was a little more challenging and Friday was a pretty awesome practice. The machine team on Friday did not lose a game and we weren't give any head start like some other times. We play two games to 15 and won both. The play was pretty decent play, no one gave up, everyone played to win which is all we can ask of each other. Oh and the reason we didn't have a game Friday was because we play Auburn this weekend and because Vanderbilt doesn't have a volleyball team there are an odd number of match ups so Auburn doesn't have a travel partner. So Kentucky, our travel partner, plays Friday against Auburn and we play Sunday. Thus we travel today, Saturday, for about five hours maybe longer as a result of traffic. Oh, I also wanted to mention that Allison from the 16s in 2007 is now a manager for Auburn so I will see her tomorrow! VA Elite: nationwide for sure :-)!!!!!! I will let you guys know how tomorrow goes. Oh and I get to see you guys soon, well about three weeks or so!
Lady Vol out,
Amanda
Sunday, 16-November.
Hey guys back again. So today we played South Carolina. It was senior night and a must win for us in order to get into the NCAA tournament. If we lost, we'd be kaput. Buuut, we pulled it out. It was not our finest moment of play but we won in our first five-set match of conference play. I did play a little again, and got my second ace of the season - the first being in match against Florida. It was pretty rough, but we all knew how important beating South Carolina was to the seniors and our shot at the tournament as well. The cool thing was the match was on TV - there were a ton a cameras and lights around. That really kind of threw me aback because I had never been apart of something like that. But when you play you forget about all that…I definitely did. I just knew I had a job to do. I still wish for another chance at beating Florida this year. That would be the greatest gift ever. Anyways, we have today AND tomorrow off which is a first and amazing. I kind of feel like a regular college student for a day...kind of :-). Well I'll get back to you guys soon. We have two more big matches coming up Auburn and Kentucky and we cannot over look Auburn. They just took LSU to five the other day so we better get ready and play our hearts out for both games.
Lady Vol out,
Amanda
Monday:
Hey guys, back again. Today was our off day. We have one off day every week so typically Mondays are our off day. Today is basically a catch-up day. We catch up on sleep, homework, groceries, cleaning and whatnot. For me I just catch up on sleep and homework - I'm not much of a cleaner. Today some of us freshmen also went to go buy gifts for senior night this weekend. We play two really big matches this weekend, FLORIDA and South Carolina. Florida is this Friday and we're trying to send out flyers for the big match. I'll let you guys know how practices and lifts go in the next couple of days. Today's just a really chill day.
Sunday:
Sorry this is late. We had an eight hour bus ride home so it was a little late when I got in to send you guys another blog. No worries though because I'm writing you guys now. Yesterday we played Ole Miss who had just beaten Kentucky, making our game versus Ole Miss really important. We actually got to sleep in some on Sunday, then woke up for film in the coaches room and then ate breakfast. We bused over to the volleyball building about 2 hours or so before we had to start play. I also forgot to tell you guys about our cheer before the start of the match! It's kind of hard to explain but it's basically similar to a basketball cheer and it gets us real pumped up. You guys might be able to see it on TV on Friday's match against Florida. Anyways, the Ole Miss game itself went pretty quick and we practically destroyed Ole Miss in three. I played some; it's still stressful going into the match. I'm beginning to get more used to the way we sub and the pace of the game too. After our victory we boarded the bus and were able to catch the last half of the SEC championship soccer game. Tennessee won 1-0 and we were going crazy on the bus because we know all of the soccer girls. Then came the eight hour bus ride. Bus rides are tight except when you have a ton of homework. We arrived really late and that's about it.
Saturday:
Hey guys, Amanda Friday here! We played the University of Arkansas last night and won! It was a little rough as we did not play the tight, Tennessee way but we still pulled it out. But get this - I got to go in for a few points and in the first game as I served for one of our middles and had a chance play a little. I had subbed in for Farren one of our middles. The score was 24-22, the set was back and forth, we run a 6-2, and we ran out of substitutions. Thus I, 5'6", Amanda Friday, had to play outside hitter for the rest of the set!! Our outside had to play middle, our setter had to block, and we ended up winning that game! It was amazing, I will never forget that night. Tomorrow we have a big game against Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) who just beat Kentucky, the number 2 in our conference, so we really have to be prepared for this one. We just have to make sure we are all prepared and we look out for each other. I can't wait and I'll let you guys know how it goes!
Lady Vol out,
Amanda Friday
Saturday, 15-Nov
Sorry it's been a while. Since my last blog, well our winning streak ended. We played Florida last night and believe me we were ready. We had it all we had to do was execute and we just weren't aggressive enough. We led in two out of the three games and made a big come back in the other and yet still Florida pulled it out. I think we were just too excited because we knew we could easily beat them, but we just didn't go after it. We changed it around today in practice though. The machine team (the B team) had so much energy and momentum that it was really difficult for the orange team (the starters) to take a game off of us. That's the machine team's job, we make it tough for starters so they get prepared for the next practice or game. Today, they got an extra dose of us, especially with our 6'4' red-shirt middle that just can't be blocked. We have South Carolina tomorrow and we're still burning for Florida so they better get ready! I'll catch in with you guys in a little.
Lauren Sears
Lauren Sears, Virginia Elite Class of 2008, is a freshman at for the Golden Eagles of the University of Southern Mississippi. Currently they sit in 8th place in Conference USA with a 6-9 conference record and are 16-12 overall. Lauren will be blogging her experience as the Golden Eagles conclude their season and make preparations for their trip to Memphis, Tennessee for the Conference USA Tournament.
-Lauren Sears
-Lauren Sears
Monday, 17-Nov:
-Lauren Sears
-Lauren Sears
Which team has the best chance of winning the AAA Virginia State Championship?
