Scrimmage recap

Well, I know it's a little late, but it's summertime, when things are laid back, a little slow...

Enough with the excuses.

I got to Munster High's enormous (and very hot) round fieldhouse just as the scrimmage was beginning. There were six teams at the scrimmage: Bishop Noll, Andrean, Munster, Lake Central, Chicago Christian and Calumet Christian. Munster was one of the best teams in northwest Indiana last year and Chicago Christian finished second in the Illinois in Class 2A last year. Each team was scheduled for three matches of two games each. Three courts were set up so all the teams were playing all the time. The girls' first opponent was Andrean High. Many of the girls know the coach of Andrean, as he has coached many of them in club ball. Andrean was about a .500 team last year, but they played mostly large public and Catholic schools. 

If the first game against Andrean is an indication of how this year is going to go, it's going to be a very good year. The girls were crisp, very quick to their spots and were clean on their touches. Coach had them double blocking, which was new, but the girls were up to it and were blocking and covering well. Taylor was hitting balls well off the net with authority. It was great to watch. I don't remember the scores, but I believe both games were won by at least ten.

Next up was Munster with the 6'1" reigning NWI Times Player of the Year. They had at least one other very tall player. They finished 26-11 and were in the top sixteen in the state tournament in class 4A, the biggest schools in the state. Munster had played Chicago Christian first, and had beaten them by six in their first game. The second game was won by Chicago Christian, but Munster was playing their bench in that game. Our girls were not intimidated. They continued their high level of play from the Andrean match. The girls held a 23-21 lead when things started going against them. Munster ended up winning the first game 26-24. Munster played their subs in the second game, but our girls seemed to be spent. Munster ended up winning that one too, 25-22.

The effects of the heat and playing six straight games without much of a break took their toll in the last match, against Lake Central. Lake Central is a very scrappy team, but we should have done better (and would have if we had played them earlier). As it was, the girls pulled out one of the two games.

In summary, the girls held their own against some of the better (and certainly bigger) schools in the area, finishing 3-3. The evening should be a confidence-booster for the girls, showing that they can play with almost anyone.

It was great to see all the parents, Coach Carr and the girls. The kick-off event of intrasquad and parent game is August 13. Coach asked Kristi and I to play in the parent game, but we will be on vacation that week. She still wanted me to get commitments from the parents to play. So far I have Dan Obinger. Still waiting to hear from Eizengas and Lindblooms. I think Kelsey might fill the last spot, but if there are other parents willing to play, let me know.

Three weeks til opening night, against Kankakee Valley on August 17 at Lake Hills. Looking forward to it - maybe not quite as much as last year (and the year before that and the year before that and...).