2.) We have been winning, and if you saw the scores, you thought we were winning easily. "That [our competition] is a whopping 9-15. And we have not really dominated against these teams. Hmmm. No wonder I worry!" I was growing concerned about our ability to control weak teams for a whole set let alone match. Well, N. White is not a weak team.
3.) I communicate with our club kids a lot to follow up on how they are doing. I was hearing through the grapevine that a couple of our kids were feeling their oats and talking the smack on social media during the last week or so. Girls, might I suggest you let your play on the court do your talking. Oh, you just got beat 10-25. 10-25!! Please, shut it up and stay humble. North White certainly humbled us as a team.
4.) This Carroll team is a good team. We do not block well, but do lots of other things well. The girls usually play hard, can serve, pass, set the ball, and hit it, but of all these skills, the most likely to break down is our hitting. For different reasons, each of our hitters is capable of struggling. We hit .085 against N. White. Only the 2nd time this season we hit below .100. The other occasion? Just a few hours before in that 3 set struggle we had with Frontier. No wonder it went three. We hit .079.
5.) A couple of kids that we need to hit the ball are not in volleyball shape. Fatigue becomes an issue as play drags on. In one case, I sort of get it. The kid works so darn hard in her approach and just as often in her transition. And is aggressive about attacking the ball! Until she gets tired. Then, lots of problems start to appear. Playing nine sets took its toll.
6.) A yellow card! Last one I received was 15 years ago or more. It was an accident. I apologized the moment it happened. R1 said he understood but felt like a card had to be issued. I also understood. I did not know the R1's name prior to yesterday, but I have never felt totally at ease with him. Any way, his card curtailed my ability to get up and move around. According to Coach Eurit it impacted our body team's body language. Anyway, another card is an automatic ejection and I am also not permitted to coach the next match. I did not want anything to get R1's attention. I stayed seated and as calm as possible. He already carded me once for nothing more than questioning his desire to do something I have never seen. Not just overrule, but make a call an adult line judge did not. By the way, R2 apologized for the match officiating.
1+2+3+4+5 (+6 sort of, maybe) = our 1st defeat of the season.