Back to the boys

Well, the long, arduous boys volleyball season finally came to an end last night, with our third and fourth games of the season. Actually, the only arduous things about the season were the drives up to Gurnee. But we are thankful for the games that we were able to play.

Last night, the Patriots played the same two teams they played last week, the HRK Eagles of Gurnee, the host team, and the SWCHA Saints from the suburbs of Milwaukee. We began against the host team, the Eagles. We had lost to this team last week, but it was our first game and the guys were quite nervous. Well, we started pretty well this time. We opened up a lead and held it throughout, winning 25-22. It appeared in the second game that HRK got over there nerves or rust or whatever it was, and jumped out to a 19-11 lead. We regrouped and made a game of it, but couldn't get over the hump and lost by the same score, 25-22. We seemed to lose that momentum in the third game, with HRK getting the early lead and holding it to win 15-10.

After a break while HRK played SWCHA, we took on the Saints. We were told that the Saints were missing several players and had replaced them with JV players and a couple of girls. (The Saints are usually a co-rec team.) Unfortunately, none of their four big hitters were the absentees. We played pretty well in the first game, but lost 25-14. We couldn't generate much of an offense, and the Saints used all the free balls to set up some huge hits.The second game was more of the same and we lost 25-12. Highlights were some good blocking by Eric and some excellent saves. The guys really hustled, but the difference in experience was very apparent.

After this was a three-on-three tournament. We split our team into three teams, the first consisting of Jake, Eric and Josiah; the second of Luke, Justin V. and Jacob, and the third of Justin D., Craig, and Kelsey. HRK put together two teams and SWCHA has three, so we had a nice eight-team tournament. We started out playing double-elimination. The matches were one game to 15. Our C team started out against the HRK A team. Craig's serves, Justin's passing and Kelsey's all-around play enabled them to pull off the upset, 15-13. Our B team followed against SWCHA's B team. Some excellent hustle by Jacob, blocking by Luke and serving by Justin turned into another 15-13 win for the Patriots. After a game between SWCHA's A team and HRK's B, the Patriot's A took on SWCHA's C team. Our guys looked very good and won 15-5. So after the first round, the Patriots had three of the four winners! The semifinals then followed. The first game, which turned out to be the best played game of the tournament, was our A team versus SWCHA's A team. We played an excellent game, but so did they, and their hitting and experience were the deciding factors in a 15-10 loss for the Patriots. Our B and C teams then played in the second semifinal, with the B team winning, 15-10. The next two games were the loser bracket games, and when these were finished, it was decided to modify things, as it was going to take too long to complete a true double elimination tournament. So we decided to have a consolation championship, and third place game and a championship game. SWCHA wanted to start heading home, so the championship game was scheduled for after the completion of the consolation championship, rather than wait until the third place game was played. So the consolation championship was played, with HRK A beating HRK B. Then our B team played the SWCHA A team for the championship, and it was no contest, with SWCHA winning 15-4.

Then, after saying goodbye to the Saints, we decided to play one more regular six-on-six game, Patriots vs. Eagles, to 25 instead of playing a third place game. We began this game by playing well, and eventually held a 24-20 lead. Then we just couldn't get our act together and lost 26-24. After some chaotic hitting practice, we loaded up the vans and headed home.

All-in-all, it was a good experience for the guys, I think, and a lot of fun. I hope the guys saw how much enjoyable it is to play volleyball the right way. Guys, when you are playing in the backyard or at church this spring and summer, try to play it right - three hits, don't lift or double hit, even if everyone else is doing so. Hopefully we will do this again next spring and have a few more games.

Updates/Corrections re: Calumet/Calvary

Got an email from Coach Carr the other day with some additional information regarding items mentioned in the post of April 9:

• 28 girls are going to Maranatha, plus Coach Carr and Coach Boss. Five of these are junior high girls and the remainder are JV and varsity players. (I believe this is all but one of the likely JV and varsity players for the 2008 season.) So apparently people did get their registrations in. I guess you'll need more than one car :-)
• The camp in May is for players entering sixth through ninth grade only
• The May 15th meeting for parents is at the Griffith campus, not Highland.

I added the Calvary Christian School website link as well. The 2008 schedule is posted there.

Remember, only 118 days until the intersquad/alumni (parents? Hmmm?) games and 121 days until opening day.

Mushrooming volleyball

Volleyball, volleyball everywhere. As some of you know, Kristi and I put together a boys' volleyball team, the HSRC Patriots. We were invited to a tournament up in Gurnee by Home Run Kids, a homeschool group located up there. Things changed, and it ended up that we played a couple of games up there last night, one against the host team and another against SWCHA, a Christian home school group from the Milwaukee suburbs.

We ended up with nine guys who attended at least one of the four practices we held leading up to last night's games. Of these, only a couple had played more than backyard volleyball. One of our starting setters could not make the game, so we were at a further disadvantage. Despite this, the guys had showed improvement over the few weeks, and we were interested to see how we matched up against some competition.

Our first game was against the host team. The Patriots were quite nervous, and it showed in their play. It was quite a contrast from a bunch of guys trying to learn volleyball fundamentals in a gym with a fifteen foot ceiling in half of it to playing with refs, line judges, fans, scorekeepers, etc. Gradually, however, they began to fell comfortable and play better. They did end up losing, however, by the scores of 25-14 and 25-21. The host team played the Wisconsin team next. Wow. Some serious hitting by the Wisconsin team. Three guys on the team were 6'2" or taller and they could crush the ball. They wiped out the host team 25-11, 25-13.

I told the guys that they were improving, and if they blocked a couple or dug a couple of the big hits, it might take the wind out of their sails. We did play tough the first game, but lost 25-14. I think, though, the guys got over any intimidation they might have had when they saw they could play with the other team. The second game was much better played, and if a couple of blocks we made fell on the other side of the net, the story might have been different. However, the Patriots lost 25-17. We found out after the game that the Wisconsin team has been playing together for four years, and plays in an adult rec league so they have a lot of game experience. The fact that we were competitive with them bodes well for the team.

Afterwards, the teams played some against each other before the Wisconsin team headed out. All in all, it was a good experience for our guys and they know what to expect a little more now.
Highlights during the games included a huge block by Luke L. during our rally in the last game, solid and consistent defense played throughout the night by our libero, Justin D., great serves (after the first game) by Justin V. and good all-around play by the other guys.

It looks like we'll be playing these two teams again next Friday, along with the Wisconsin team's JV. There also may be some skill competitions, so it sounds like it could be fun.

Off-season activity

Time for a post. I talked to Coach Carr last night and asked her about what is going on in with the teams at this point in the off-season. She mentioned a few things:

• Maranatha camp registrations - at this date she has received TWO. Yes, two. So apparently everyone else is so good that they don't need the camp. OR, everyone is just waiting until the last minute. Coach Carr has enough stress in her life, so, you procrastinators, GET YOUR REGISTRATION IN. (This does make transportation a lot simpler, however - she can take everyone up in a car.) Deadline is April 15. Don't forget the $20.
• Calvary camp - This will take place at the Griffith campus on May 12, 13, 15, and 16 from 3:15 to 5:15. Coaches Carr and Boss will be conducting the camp. Registration forms and information will be coming soon.
• Parent meeting for all Calvary/Calumet parents will take place on May 15, 6:30 P.M. at the Calvary campus in Highland. Quoting from Coach Carr's earlier email: "I urge all of you to be there as we will present procedure and policy information for the 2008 season. Any forms that you are missing can be obtained then. If there is a schedule or form that you are missing you can request that be sent to you before the meeting."

Only 132 days until the intrasquad and alumni ( and parents? what about it, Coach?) games. 135 to opening day. Yes, I am counting.