November
1st ,
2004
IN THE LOOP UPDATE - GEE-GEES WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL
Waking
up on November 1st our GGvball squad is 2-1 in league play and
still feeling pretty good about its early season success.
We
went into the road weekend knowing that the last time we headed
to a double header at Waterloo & Laurier (2003-04 season)
we came away with no wins and a disappointing start to our season.
This
weekend ended in a split decision with a loss against Laurier
(3-1) but a win against Waterloo the next day in a hard faught
3-1 decision.
Although
the weekend started with a loss to Laurier there was no sign of
obvious disappointment this time around, just a new level of determination
in the minds and on the faces of the players and staff. Laurier
did our young squad a favour by playing some seriously good defense
to remind us that what worked two minutes ago may have to have
a little something extra this time around if you are going to
come away with a win.
Our
Gees didn't back down all night - throwing everything at the Hawks
in terms of power and velocity. What we did need to learn, though,
was that you can't always take ONLY what a team gives you beacuse
maybe that's what they really want. The Hawks didn't block much,
in fact, we hit seem after
seem all night - but they dug everything and we failed to notice
that we needed to keep mixing it up if we were to keep them off
balance. The more we hammered the more they fed off of digging
in the holes and then good things would happen to give them a
clean kill at the end of almost every
long rally.
Point
being - conratulations Laurier for a great match played - see
you in the playoffs !
So
it was on to Waterloo with the knowledge that a split for the
weekend was crutial even this early in the season. Playing in
the Waterloo gym is always an adventure with an off center court
that has a basketball circle that throws all your perspective
off because it is not in the centre of the vball court. Add in
the fact the gym that has a roof that never ends and you definitiely
have a home court advantage for at least game one.
Not
so on Sunday - our Gees not only bounced back from the night before
with a consistent performance but they also seemed to learn the
lessons of the previous night and showed some real maturity in
the variety of attack with tipping, wiping off blocks and off
speed shots to keep the defence
guessing. Add to that some great short serving that kept changing
the flow of the game and we left Kitchener - Waterloo with a 2-1
league record and our sights set on a double header next weekend
in Thunder Bay, against Lakehead.
This
team is showing signs of maturity that was unproven at the beginning
of this year. They are gaining confidence with every passing weekend.
At this point I believe we have secured our place as one of the
top 4 teams in the OUA early in the season. The fun part now....what
can we accomplish ? and much excitment can we create along the
way ?
Hope to see many of you at our next home game set for November
13th (6:30 pm) against #1 ranked in the OUA, University of Toronto
- it will be a GREAT match.
Until
the next "IN THE LOOP UPDATE"
Bye
for now - Lionel & The Gees
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