All good things must come to an end…even the Minnesota winters.  It’s time to bid farewell to a great opportunity as Volunteer Coach at the University of Minnesota.  “The opportunity was priceless”.

The coaching staff was incredible Continue Reading

After settling in to my new abode in Charlotte (my cousin’s house), another stroke of good fortune came my way learning that there is satellite TV here!  Awesome!  So not only did I have the great opportunity to watch Chicago Cubs’ Alfonso Soriano smack a game winning grand slam in the 13th inning last night, but I also watched the USA play the Continue Reading

Last night, the annual Torchlight 5K Run kicked off Minneapolis’ Aquatennial Celebration.  I’m not exactly sure what Minneapolisians are celebrating with Aquatennial, but its basically a 10 day party.  I think they are celebrating the one week a year when the weather is actually warm Continue Reading

If anyone would like to rub in how great this past weekend was in Manhattan Beach with the AVP and the 6 Man Tournament, please do…I unfortunately wasn’t there!

Logan Tom in the July 2009 issue of Volleyball Monthly:

“In the end it’s not the talent that it comes down to; it’s about will and character.   The physical part has little to do with being successful.  Of course you have to be athletic.  For myself, I’m average physically.  There are girls who jump higher and hit harder.  But it’s mentally how you react in different situations.”

Marv Dunphy wrote a great article in the January 2009 Coaching Volleyball Magazine on how the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team won the Gold Medal.  Much overall praise goes Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon’s vision and system.

Following are coaching points of interest by Marv Dunphy: Continue Reading

When Cynthia Barboza graduated from Stanford University, she had one full additional season of practice and playing experience than most college volleyball players.  The NCAA Final Four is about one month after the end of the regular season.  Add one month per year Cynthia played (4 years) and that equates to 4 extra months.  The typical collegiate season lasts 3 months (September through November).  This extra experience at a high level of play, helps the best to get better.

In South Carolina, the USAV Palmetto Region for juniors, typically starts after the high school season, sometime mid-November.  The Palmetto Region Championship usually takes place just after the Big South Tournament in Atlanta, about mid-April.  After the Region Championship, indoor volleyball seems to fade away in the region until summer camps.  There are a few elite teams that practice and play through USAV Nationals in July, but those elite teams are not playing in tournaments at the same intensity as those from larger, more successful regions.  Local competition and tournaments are just not available in those spring time months. Continue Reading

Volleyball Monthly’s July 2009 issue states:

• Volleyball has become the second-most-played sport in the world.  On average, nearly one out of eight people on the planet play volleyball at least once a week.
• Volleyball boasts the world’s largest sports federation.
• 47.2 million viewers tuned in to watch the U.S. win gold in the last Olympic beach final.

Even the Pope knows volleyball – sweet hands!

Check out the article on Volleyball Magazine.

In almost 25 years of coaching in the Big Ten, Coach Mike Hebert finds ways to keep life on the road interesting by asking his rookie volunteer coach (me) their favorite Big Ten Volleyball Arenas.  So here is my rank of the Big Ten Volleyball Arenas:

#1 The University of Minnesota Sports Pavilion

Maybe I’m a little biased, but the Minnesota Sports Pavilion is at the top of my list.  This a great arena for a spectator and a great place to play/coach a match.  Even though the ceiling is a thousand feet high, there is still an intimate and personal feel.  Even the seats in the upper deck have a great view. Continue Reading

I purchased a last minute ticket for $350 from Minneapolis to Miami, quite a deal, but I can only imagine the additional expense for those teams traveling from the west coast, especially in today’s economy.

I had a great time watching my little club that could, Low Country Volleyball Club that has a total of 3 teams in the entire club (not three teams per age group like many of the teams they faced).  The team won its region for the second straight season in the 18s age group and played in the National division (the middle division) at the USA Volleyball National Championships.  From the win/loss column, you might think the team did not play well, but overall, Low Country had their best ever showing at Nationals in the 18s age group.  I’m proud of their accomplishments

As always, it was a joy to watch the teams from larger clubs and larger metropolitan areas, especially the Minnesota teams, as I have some familiarity with the players that will be moving on to the University of Minnesota.  The Northern Lights 17s team with Tori Dixon and Ashley Whittman had a nice tournament as well as Minnesota Select’s 18s team with Katherine Harms.  I never did get a chance to watch Briana Haugen, as our schedule always seemed to conflict.  All I can say is the University of Minnesota will be stacked with great talent over the coming years.  I look forward to watching them!

As for the tournament overall, I felt as if many of the players in the upper age groups (17s and 18s) played emotionless.  It seemed as if the players are just going through the motions, as if they have to be there to play.  Many of the players looked burned out.  These girls play all year long.  They don’t have a break from volleyball.  I remember when I played indoor, I would get bored with it, but just as the indoor season ended, outdoor would come around and I could play on North Avenue Beach in Chicago.  The mix from indoor to outdoor really kept my interest.  Players today don’t have time to switch from indoor to outdoor or have time to miss the game.

Many of these players just played at AAUs in Orlando a couple weeks ago, followed-up by USAV Nationals or JVDA Championships.  Next these players will visit camps to “try-out” for their respective colleges of choice.   After camps, high school practices begin followed by the high school season.  The never ending volleyball cycle then turns over again, as the high school season is immediately followed-up by club tryouts, then the club season…all the way until July.  Its too much.  Players are coming into college with over-use injuries and need surgery after their first season.  Many players play in pain or are simply burned out.

I was under the impression that part of the reason for the inception of the JVDA was to help limit playing time.  The JVDA could make a great impact into the schedule of these players if they moved their championship to May, but unfortunately, that has yet to happen.

Anyway, I always enjoy watching the Hawaii teams play.  They prove that height doesn’t matter.  And the 12 year old teams are always fun.  Some of the players on those teams are so advanced already.  The really good 12 year old teams look like they could step out onto the court with some of the 16 year old teams and hold their own.

Even though Miami must have been quite an expense for some, it was a great venue to host a tournament.  I was able to get down to South Beach between matches and catch a few outdoor games with some old friends.  As much as the game changes, it still seems to be the same.