It just so happens that my new pad is about 4 blocks from the Minneapolis Convention Center. And it just so happens that USAV Open Nationals, Adult Volleyball Tournament are at the Minneapolis Convention Center. As most of America spent their Memorial Day Weekend soaking up some sun on a lake, at the beach, or at a park, I spent a good portion of mine, willingly, in a convention center. As I’ve posted before in my becoming a volleyball coach blog, being a part of volleyball is my lifestyle 
The courts were set-up well with four of the open courts (top level teams) adjacent to bleachers. Two of the courts were women’s teams, two were men. So I was able to watch 3 courts at one time. It was a great mix to watch the men alongside the women. The men’s points were often short and sweet, with very simple offenses. The women’s rally’s lasted much longer and they utilize the 31 and slide a lot more often.
I watched both A2 USA Olympic Women’s teams play against top women’s teams that have a mix of ex-collegiate players and professional players (from overseas). The A2 USA Olympic Women’s teams are comprised of current collegiate players from around the country (click here for a photo gallery of the A2 USA Women’s team at the USAV Nationals). The University of Minnesota has their libero, Christine Tan, who I was fortunate to coach, on the Blue Team. There was also a team of former University of Minnesota players consisting of Jen and Kelly Bowman, Jessy Jones, Rachel Hartman, Katie Vatterodt, and some others which I did not recognize The University of Minnesota’s Associate Head Coach, Scott Swanson, is the Assistant Coach of USA’s Red Team. Lots of Minnesota volleyball, imagine that…
Sunday was pool play. The matches were good. But today was the beginning of double elimination, lose two matches and your tournament is over. Today’s matches were much better. USA Women’s Blue Team won their two matches today and the Red team split (I believe). I watched a great Men’s match of Creole out of New York City and Team Paul Mitchell out of Southern Cal. Creole was up 2 -0 and Team Paul Mitchell came back to win in five sets 20 – 18. Great match.
Tomorrow is the final day and I hope to get out of work a bit early to catch the finals. Volleyball is such a great and exciting sport. Its a shame it hasn’t caught on here in America as it has the rest of the world.
