Alright everyone, we are playing our last two games this week. Tomorrow we have CVC and then on Thursday we have Senior Night against Brethren.
For CVC's game, we are definitely going to need to play more consistently then we did last time. Their one outside hitter is no longer injured and will be playing tomorrow. Without him, we may have one in three straight games but only by small margins. As long as we keep the ball away from their libero, the back row specialist and best passer, then most of our hits should go down. Plenty of spots will be open, particularly short middle, down the lines, and most of all the setter's side.
This game is mainly for pride. If we win, we will solidify our second to last place, which is always better than last place. But regardless, I still want to beat Brethren. Their best outside is now injured and the rest of the team is not super strong(An interesting note, the head coach for Brethren is stepping down and Coach Allen thinks its because he won't have a decent team next year at all).
I'll report more on Brethren after the CVC game tomorrow. Wish us luck and I hope to see everyone at the game on Thursday!
-Seth
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Hmm...
Alright, well it has been a while since my last post. Sorry, I was away for the weekend at a debate tournament.
At any rate, we have lost our last two games. Last Friday, the team went up against Whitney missing four of its players, myself included, and lost 3-1. It was rather disappointing because Whitney was very beatable and it always sucks to lose to our rivals. Its the same story as its always been. We don't talk and even a not so good team can beat us. Well, we can only look to our next few games.
The Sage Hill game was far different than our last encounter in the home gym. We lost by at least ten points in every single game and dropped all three. We just did not talk and worse yet did not have fun. They are good, in fact Sage is the best team in our league. We did not play well at all though. We should have played better.
But all that is behind us now. We have the St. Margaret's game coming up at home on Friday and we just need to get ready for that game. I hope we can just enjoy the rest of the season. We may not be able to make playoffs but Coach Allen is right, we can at least enjoy the rest of the games and finish strong.
-Seth
At any rate, we have lost our last two games. Last Friday, the team went up against Whitney missing four of its players, myself included, and lost 3-1. It was rather disappointing because Whitney was very beatable and it always sucks to lose to our rivals. Its the same story as its always been. We don't talk and even a not so good team can beat us. Well, we can only look to our next few games.
The Sage Hill game was far different than our last encounter in the home gym. We lost by at least ten points in every single game and dropped all three. We just did not talk and worse yet did not have fun. They are good, in fact Sage is the best team in our league. We did not play well at all though. We should have played better.
But all that is behind us now. We have the St. Margaret's game coming up at home on Friday and we just need to get ready for that game. I hope we can just enjoy the rest of the season. We may not be able to make playoffs but Coach Allen is right, we can at least enjoy the rest of the games and finish strong.
-Seth
Friday, April 11, 2008
A League Win Finally
Hey, so we won today 3-0 over Capo Valley Christian. The only team we have yet to face now is Brethren and we will have the same basic strategy against them, hitting to the setter's side and tough serving.
The first game was closer than it should have been. We began slow, like we usually do, but then got the talking going and started playing better. Unfortunately, at one point in the game, we let our mistakes get the best of us and were down for a while. But then we stepped it up and won the game 25-19 with a long streak of winning points at the end to close them out.
The second game also started rather slow. It was characterized with many trading points and even at the end we only barely managed to pull out the win, 27-25. It was tough and we made our fair of mistakes. Luckily, we stepped it up at the end and forced the mistakes on CVC to pull out with another game victory.
In the third game, we started strong and took a big lead. Coach Allen had different people in different positions and made sure everyone had their time in the game. We dominated until it was 20-11. Then we let them get a sideout and CVC started to come back. It was a while before we got the ball back but even then, we kept trading points and allowed them to get far too close with 25-20. But the important fact remains, we kept them down and still managed to pull out with a victory in the match.
The next game will be away against Brethren. I'll report more on it later.
-Seth
The first game was closer than it should have been. We began slow, like we usually do, but then got the talking going and started playing better. Unfortunately, at one point in the game, we let our mistakes get the best of us and were down for a while. But then we stepped it up and won the game 25-19 with a long streak of winning points at the end to close them out.
The second game also started rather slow. It was characterized with many trading points and even at the end we only barely managed to pull out the win, 27-25. It was tough and we made our fair of mistakes. Luckily, we stepped it up at the end and forced the mistakes on CVC to pull out with another game victory.
In the third game, we started strong and took a big lead. Coach Allen had different people in different positions and made sure everyone had their time in the game. We dominated until it was 20-11. Then we let them get a sideout and CVC started to come back. It was a while before we got the ball back but even then, we kept trading points and allowed them to get far too close with 25-20. But the important fact remains, we kept them down and still managed to pull out with a victory in the match.
The next game will be away against Brethren. I'll report more on it later.
-Seth
Game vs. CVC
Alright, we have our CVC game today and it is going to be a must win for us. Allen said CVC is going to be beatable but we will need to play our game.
In the St. Margaret's game, we played well but then let a couple games get out of hand. We cannot afford to that in this game. We cannot get quiet once they manage to string together a few points. St. Margaret's probably didn't expect us to come out and beat them in the first game 25-18 but they stepped it up afterward. They were beatable we just let ourselves get too far down, something we will need to avoid today.
As long as we talk and keep the ball in play, both when serving and hitting, then we should be fine. Our defense is good, we just need to be making the points after we get a good up.
Well, I hope to see you all at the game. If all goes well, we will win.
-Seth
In the St. Margaret's game, we played well but then let a couple games get out of hand. We cannot afford to that in this game. We cannot get quiet once they manage to string together a few points. St. Margaret's probably didn't expect us to come out and beat them in the first game 25-18 but they stepped it up afterward. They were beatable we just let ourselves get too far down, something we will need to avoid today.
As long as we talk and keep the ball in play, both when serving and hitting, then we should be fine. Our defense is good, we just need to be making the points after we get a good up.
Well, I hope to see you all at the game. If all goes well, we will win.
-Seth
Friday, April 4, 2008
Amazing game!
Alright, so we played Sage Hill today. Yes, we lost but who cares. It was the best game we have played all season. We lost in three but this figure is misleading considering the game scores were 25-20, 25-22, and 25-20.
Our team went out and finally did what we were supposed to. We were loud and proud, frankly with nothing to lose. It was intense but fun. Everyone was into it, even the bench was shouting the entire game.
In the first game, we took the early lead and then they caught up. We were neck and neck the entire match until we made a couple mistakes and then Sage gained some momentum and got ahead. But we put a few balls down and the defense was phenomonal, picking up a few hard hit balls. We were never out of the game, merely slightly edged out in the end.
The second game was more of the same. But this time, we took advantage of their missed served and some easy hits. The plays were run and we powertipped and hit balls down, either getting the point or getting a free ball out of it. Oh, and we were jump serving pretty well too. Justin Ryoo and Tim Hwangbo did very well today, getting us back into the match even if we were down by a couple.
In the third game, we started a little slower and then came right back. We traded points and Sage Hill was frustrated. Here they are, this really good team and they are having trouble with little old Oxford. But they slammed a few balls just straight down, nothing we could really do.
But still, we played really well. It was our best outing. We need to play like this everygame.
-Seth
Our team went out and finally did what we were supposed to. We were loud and proud, frankly with nothing to lose. It was intense but fun. Everyone was into it, even the bench was shouting the entire game.
In the first game, we took the early lead and then they caught up. We were neck and neck the entire match until we made a couple mistakes and then Sage gained some momentum and got ahead. But we put a few balls down and the defense was phenomonal, picking up a few hard hit balls. We were never out of the game, merely slightly edged out in the end.
The second game was more of the same. But this time, we took advantage of their missed served and some easy hits. The plays were run and we powertipped and hit balls down, either getting the point or getting a free ball out of it. Oh, and we were jump serving pretty well too. Justin Ryoo and Tim Hwangbo did very well today, getting us back into the match even if we were down by a couple.
In the third game, we started a little slower and then came right back. We traded points and Sage Hill was frustrated. Here they are, this really good team and they are having trouble with little old Oxford. But they slammed a few balls just straight down, nothing we could really do.
But still, we played really well. It was our best outing. We need to play like this everygame.
-Seth
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Sage Tomorrow
Alright, so we have Sage Hill tomorrow in the gym for volleyball. They are going to be a tough match up. The team had a good practice with a lot of talk and really it needs to be kept up for tomorrow.
Allen had us work on picking on the tiny little setter Sage Hill has. He does not block and they run a five-one(offense with only one setter all the way around, our team runs a six-two with two setters, the one in the back row setting). If we can pick on him the entire game, we should have a chance to win.
So how will we do this exactly? Well, we can hit it at him. Or we can hit it around him. Or we can power tip the ball into his face. Or we can hit completely over him and get a free swing.
But I do not think just because Sage Hill has one short guy they are any less dangerous. They have two very good outside hitters (including the illustrious and dangerous number nine) and have managed to beat some good teams. Also, the float serve has been a problem in the past but I think we may be able to pass it better this year. Generally, most people on our team are also jump floating so it gives a new serving weapon and also a chance to be ready should it be used against us.
No matter what though, we will definitely have to playing up to our best. We have some good players and now we just need to put it all together.
Who knows, maybe we can pull off an upset. No one outside of our school is expecting us to win anyway so there is absolutely no pressure. Honestly, I do not think we have anything to lose. It would be a big lift to everyone on the team as well if we pulled it off.
Lets go out and show Sage just whose house they are in. Everyone else try and come too! Its always nice to have spectators!
-Seth
Allen had us work on picking on the tiny little setter Sage Hill has. He does not block and they run a five-one(offense with only one setter all the way around, our team runs a six-two with two setters, the one in the back row setting). If we can pick on him the entire game, we should have a chance to win.
So how will we do this exactly? Well, we can hit it at him. Or we can hit it around him. Or we can power tip the ball into his face. Or we can hit completely over him and get a free swing.
But I do not think just because Sage Hill has one short guy they are any less dangerous. They have two very good outside hitters (including the illustrious and dangerous number nine) and have managed to beat some good teams. Also, the float serve has been a problem in the past but I think we may be able to pass it better this year. Generally, most people on our team are also jump floating so it gives a new serving weapon and also a chance to be ready should it be used against us.
No matter what though, we will definitely have to playing up to our best. We have some good players and now we just need to put it all together.
Who knows, maybe we can pull off an upset. No one outside of our school is expecting us to win anyway so there is absolutely no pressure. Honestly, I do not think we have anything to lose. It would be a big lift to everyone on the team as well if we pulled it off.
Lets go out and show Sage just whose house they are in. Everyone else try and come too! Its always nice to have spectators!
-Seth
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Whitney...
So apparently my blog is too random for some who shall remain nameless on the GameDay staff. It was spring break, either cut me some slack or post yourself(I am talking to you Jake!).
At any rate, volleyball has left me frustrated after today's game. Not only did we lose to Whitney at home in a drawn out five game match, but we also severely curtailed our chances of making it to the playoffs.
During the game, we started off rather slow, as we always do, but then started to come back. Though we lost the first game, we were in the game the entire time and had some good plays. We were only slightly edged out by a few points.
The second and third games, we picked it up. We kept the ball in and ran the plays well. The block kept Whitney from hitting and the defense was picking up almost every ball. Also, we missed only one or two serves. In the second game, we beat them straight up and it was still a somewhat close game. In the third game, we had the momentum and managed to beat Whitney by eleven points. Not only that, but our team was finally loud and having fun, some of the keys to getting momentum and being able to win.
So we went into the fourth game with some momentum but then fell flat. We kept getting into single rotations and letting Whitney get five or six points in a row before getting a side out. We also struggled to keep the ball in play and hitting too many balls either out or straight into the block. Worse yet, we stopped talking and let our heads go down, only making every person more frustrated.
It was more of the same in the last game. We managed to get within a couple of points but then the game got out of hand again.
Well, no time to be mad about the last game. We just need to work harder for the next game and then keep up the intensity for the entire match and not get down on ourselves. If we stay consistent, then we can hang with anyone, even Sage Hill. I just hope we do.
Its going to take a couple extra wins now to get into the playoffs but we have to try. The season just started and we can't give up for a second until the off season.
-Seth
At any rate, volleyball has left me frustrated after today's game. Not only did we lose to Whitney at home in a drawn out five game match, but we also severely curtailed our chances of making it to the playoffs.
During the game, we started off rather slow, as we always do, but then started to come back. Though we lost the first game, we were in the game the entire time and had some good plays. We were only slightly edged out by a few points.
The second and third games, we picked it up. We kept the ball in and ran the plays well. The block kept Whitney from hitting and the defense was picking up almost every ball. Also, we missed only one or two serves. In the second game, we beat them straight up and it was still a somewhat close game. In the third game, we had the momentum and managed to beat Whitney by eleven points. Not only that, but our team was finally loud and having fun, some of the keys to getting momentum and being able to win.
So we went into the fourth game with some momentum but then fell flat. We kept getting into single rotations and letting Whitney get five or six points in a row before getting a side out. We also struggled to keep the ball in play and hitting too many balls either out or straight into the block. Worse yet, we stopped talking and let our heads go down, only making every person more frustrated.
It was more of the same in the last game. We managed to get within a couple of points but then the game got out of hand again.
Well, no time to be mad about the last game. We just need to work harder for the next game and then keep up the intensity for the entire match and not get down on ourselves. If we stay consistent, then we can hang with anyone, even Sage Hill. I just hope we do.
Its going to take a couple extra wins now to get into the playoffs but we have to try. The season just started and we can't give up for a second until the off season.
-Seth
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