Volleyball Returns
Twelve players went, five countries were visited: Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Slovakia, and The Czech Republic. Six volleyball matches were played, and most were lost by the Cards because that's kinda the point of these trips, to play teams better than you are to get better. In the realm of uncountable we have: bowls of gelato eaten, stores shopped in, selfies taken, "L"'s hoisted, and Instagram and Facebook pictures posted. And one ferry boat crewman rescued after falling into the water of a lake after sustaining serious injury by being hit by a car.
This trip has been an amazing opportunity for the participants, and you can definitely tell from the pictures and accounts being sent back via social media and the Volleyball blog on the GoCards website.
Traveling to Europe provides an awesome sense of perspective to your life, and to your understanding of history. The chance to play against several great teams in Europe as foils to improve the Cards play, and the extra practices that the team was allowed prior to the trip will certainly be a help come late August and September when the Volleyball regular season begins.
Volleyball is one of the most intricate team sports around, with players relying on each other to a greater degree than in most sports. Spending a week and a half seeing sights together, helping each other navigate in locations where you don't speak the native language, cheering each other as you push through the various challenges of international travel, supporting each other through the exhaustion of a week and a half of always being on the go and moving from place to place, and experiencing the fulfillment of the experiences that you all have together, no doubt has made this group of young women into a real team.
This was already a close-knit and mutually supportive team, but a trip like this can only enhance that. The extra practice and competition gives the team and coaching staff the chance to try out new lineups and rotations, to see how the different players react in different roles (Maggie DeJong as an outside hitter rather than a middle? It might happen. Gabbie Wiley in the front row swinging? You'll likely see that this year. A 6-2 offense? Your author has high hopes.)
Traveling to Europe provides an awesome sense of perspective to your life, and to your understanding of history. The chance to play against several great teams in Europe as foils to improve the Cards play, and the extra practices that the team was allowed prior to the trip will certainly be a help come late August and September when the Volleyball regular season begins.
Volleyball is one of the most intricate team sports around, with players relying on each other to a greater degree than in most sports. Spending a week and a half seeing sights together, helping each other navigate in locations where you don't speak the native language, cheering each other as you push through the various challenges of international travel, supporting each other through the exhaustion of a week and a half of always being on the go and moving from place to place, and experiencing the fulfillment of the experiences that you all have together, no doubt has made this group of young women into a real team.
Cardinal Volleyball has their first public event on August 20th, the annual Red and Black scrimmage at Cardinal Arena. This is a free event and is always enjoyable. This is a great opportunity to come and see the new players on the team (we have three freshmen, and a transfer that joined the team in January), get a chance to see some players that maybe don't see as much playing time normally out on the court, and start to familiarize yourself with the team for the year. The season starts the next week, on the 26th, on the road at Bowling Green, OH. The first home matches are September 2nd and 3rd at Cardinal arena for the Active Ankle challenge, with Santa Clara, Stony Brook, and Auburn making the visit. It looks to be a great year for the Volleyball team.
THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR
Our show from Saturday is available for listening on the Crescent Hill Radio SoundCloud or at the link below. As we wind into the months before the Fall seasons, we plan on taking you some great places with appearances and interviews with some of the people associated with UofL women's sports that you may be very familiar with but are essential to the operations and success of the programs.
LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-20160528
The Kellie Young Interview, Handicapping Heroes and the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. Another 60 minutes of radio as it ought to be.
THE CARDINAL COUPLE RADIO HOUR
Our show from Saturday is available for listening on the Crescent Hill Radio SoundCloud or at the link below. As we wind into the months before the Fall seasons, we plan on taking you some great places with appearances and interviews with some of the people associated with UofL women's sports that you may be very familiar with but are essential to the operations and success of the programs. LINK: https://soundcloud.com/chradio/cardinal-couple-20160528
The Kellie Young Interview, Handicapping Heroes and the joy and excitement of UofL women's sports. Another 60 minutes of radio as it ought to be.
-JMcA
Excellent comments on the many benefits of the volleyball trip. It goes far beyond the game itself.
ReplyDelete