Volleyball…Beijing 2008

From Andrea Zorzi

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And we all say AMEN! USA has qualified. What a fun match against Japan. We played great against the home team Japan, in front of all of their fans, with only the Berg’s and a select few others cheering for us in the gym. Thanks to all of you who stayed up and watched the live score, or cheered during your dreams… But it isn’t over. New goal since we can no longer finish first is to at least blemish Italy’s 10-0 record. This should be an enjoyable match.

Blessings,

Go USA,

Danielle

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Well, Yall,

Rough day at the office on yesterday. We went down 1-3. I believe it would have been a different outcome had we won the first set. We had SOOOOOO many unforced errors. I know a lot of people think, Serbia came out of nowhere. However they are FIVB world ranked ninth behind USA. They played exceptional defense behind the blocking clinic they put on.

But today is a new day, PRAISE GOD. Now it is time to refocus and take it out on the Japanese team.

Go USA!

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Hello All,

Well, we are about 18 hours til game time…WOOHOO! Today’s preparation consisted of training, two video sessions, therapy and rounded off with Hagen Daas Caramel Crisp umm um (Thanks Nicole and Stacy). We play Serbia, Japan, and Italy, respectively. No easy matches during the World Cup competition!

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We are definitely on a roll. 8-0! Wow it really felt good to take care of business against Korea. Especially since they decided to rest three of their main players for the match verses Brazil because they thought they would have a better chance to beat USA. NOT! Not this time… They still played incredible defense and served tough against us. But our attack, block, and just overall game was stronger. I am really proud of my teammates. Some players were limping after the game. For us these days, that phrase “no pain no gain is very literal.”

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Today we are 7-0! We beat Thailand in four. Thailand was the first Asian team we have played against. They played well too. It seemed we would take off to a big lead as we opened up 4-0. They quickly caught up with strong serving. I tell you, I think that most teams strategy against USA is to serve tough. We wanted to serve them tough as well to slow down their offense, but we made a lot of errors. Playing against a shorter team is tricky. Usually they have very good defense, and very skilled attackers to try to irritate the block, by tooling it. In the end, our strength over powered them. Tay was unstoppable. Today’s match was good preparation for tomorrow’s match against Korea! And no all Asian teams are not short. They have several 6?2 players and one who is a bit taller than me!

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SIX and ZERO! That’s us… Granted our last match verses Dominican Republic was not pretty but I will take an ugly win any day. The tournament is starting to take it’s toll on our team. I am sure other teams are dealing with injuries too. Last tournament this plague hit our outsides. This time around there is no bias. Tay’s foot is hurting her, Cassie’s knee, Robyn’s knee and ankle, Berg’s knee, Heather’s calf, Jen’s knee…so all you praying folks lift these players up specifically for healing and pray God’s protection over the rest of us with our lesser aches and colds. You might think, “Wow, but Tay scored 20+ verses Brazil and the setter’s are still playing, so on…” that is the nature of the game, our work. We don’t have sick days, or personal days. We just play right through it. Which makes me thank God for giving us the strength to keep pressing on. When one absolutely cannot go any further or not performing one’s best or the coach just need a change the rhythm, one has always got what? TEAMMATES. What a great team sport! GO VOLLEYBALL

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Still UNDEFEATED! WOOHOO! All Praise be to God. What an awesome win coming back from down 0-2. It was a great team win. I only played a bit in the first set, getting 1 kill of a couple of attempts, and some touches on the block, then coach decided to make some changes. We still went on to lose that set and the second. But what a turn around in the final three sets. The passing steadied out, our offense was great especially Tay and Kim off the great defensive plays of Logan and Nicole. Everyone who entered in the match did a great job. I got a headache from cheering my teammates on from the sideline. I think Berg will be hoarse tomorrow.

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OK win number FOUR… Let’s keep going USA! We did exactly what we wanted to today. And that is to use this match against Kenya to work on specifics of team USA. Except for the second game we really steadied our passing, served tough and just had a lot of fun keeping our energy up. I played only the first set, but in the box we find a way to be as vocal and excited as if we were on the court. Jen came in and did a great job. And was named Best Player of the match. Other substitutions were made as well. So look out Brazil, it will be a team effort tomorrow’s fight! As Tara used to say GLOVES OFF!
No McDonald’s yet this leg yet but the girls have found what? Starbucks! There is also a Mister Donut near by so anyone to serves a ball that doesn’t touch the net or pole or the strings pulling the net tight, will have to pay up. That would mean number 6 from Cuba, Ramirez. Hehehehehe.

Check out the USA team diary here. Full match report, point by point!

Playing the first match of the day at 12:35 p.m., the team had breakfast at 9 a.m., a team meeting at 9:30 a.m. and departure for the arena at 10:50 a.m. We will stay to see the match following ours – Poland vs. Peru - then return to the hotel for dinner.

The pre-match entertainment was a kindergarten drum and bugle marching band – without the bugles. There were grids taped on the courts and the children not only played their drums but did close-order marching formations. It wasn’t quite the Ohio State “script” arrangement but it was quite impressive.