Day 2, Match 1: Jokes, Injuries and Confidence
Just before heading to the arena to play match 1, I stopped by freshman Eli Medina's room. I've been told she's an interesting character by a few sources.
"I love to pull pranks," she told me while lying on the bed in her room. That's not that strange. I like pulling pranks too. Just ask Conor Nicholl.
"I have this doll and he looks like an old man," she started to explain. "[The team] thinks he makes us lose, I don't know why. My friend gave him to me right before we played CMSU and we lost three times during that week, so they don't let Gary - his name's Gary; I treat him like a real person - they don't let him come to the games anymore."
Most people might find this a little weird, but I was loving it ... Gary. Ha.
"We like to prank our football friends in Dobson with him," she continued. "We'll just leave him on random people's doorsteps with notes on him and stuff."
So that's why the football team hasn't won in a while!
I know, that was a low blow. But can you blame me. Making jokes is the best way to accept losing.
Hoever, Sophomore Amanda Holliday doesn't need to lose to make jokes.
I asked her "When someone hears the name 'Amanda Holliday,' what do they think of? What makes you unique?"
"I have really pretty hair" she responded. "I'm really funny. I got 'jokes.'"
Something Holliday does not joke about is family. Even though she is the youngest of her siblings, Holliday's family has three foster kids.
"They come to all of our games and sit with our family," she said. "They're like my real brothers and sisters."
It was not time for jokes at 5 p.m. It was the perfect time to get focused. The mood with the team was serious. No one was goofing off. Each and every member of the squad was focused on the task ahead.
Skoch, even though he was listening to Holliday's iPod, had a stern look of concentration. He, just like his players, was trying to keep a relaxed yet determined state. He didn't really do as much coaching as he did observing during pregame.
The game got underway at about 7:15, and the Bulldogs came out firing. They quickly built a 7-2 lead and didn't look back the entire game, winning 30-24.
The second game started the same way, with Truman jumping out to a 6-2 lead.
Then, a screech erupted over all other noise.
Senior Micaela Walter, Truman's leader in kills at the time, came down funny on her ankle. Skoch lunged off the bench immediately to make sure one of his best hitters was OK.
She kept saying she was, but you could tell she wasn't. She couldn't put any pressure on it and Skoch told Dana Hanselmann to get warmed up.
With Micaela out, the University of Alabama-Huntsville caught up as the teams changed leads 7 times. The Bulldogs were still able to pull away because of a fabulous offensive attack by senior Tiffany Graham Micaela Walter and junior Sarah Shearman. The 'Dogs eventually won the set 30-22.
The third game had a grim beginning. The Chargers charged (excuse the pun) out and inked six of the first seven points. Skoch let the girls play through it. Though it took some time, the decision proved to be a good move. The 'Dogs caught up and, thanks to nine UAH errors, won 30-27, sweeping the match 3-0.
Another jab of bad news hit the 'Dogs in the face though. Junior Kelsey Wackerman, who leads the team with 11 triple-doubles this season, was sick.
It appears as if someone's trying to make tomorrow's game against the University of North Alabama as tough as possible for the Dogs.
Still, Skoch is confident and after talking with him, so am I. He told me about a plan they have to shut down UNA's Vanessa Ferretti, who pretty much IS the Lions' offense. If it works, which in all sense should, and the players cut down on service errors, which plagued them the last meeting against UNA, the 'Dogs should be able to come away with a win.
Where will the 'Dogs be playing come regionals? Tomorrow holds the answer.
"I love to pull pranks," she told me while lying on the bed in her room. That's not that strange. I like pulling pranks too. Just ask Conor Nicholl.
"I have this doll and he looks like an old man," she started to explain. "[The team] thinks he makes us lose, I don't know why. My friend gave him to me right before we played CMSU and we lost three times during that week, so they don't let Gary - his name's Gary; I treat him like a real person - they don't let him come to the games anymore."
Most people might find this a little weird, but I was loving it ... Gary. Ha.
"We like to prank our football friends in Dobson with him," she continued. "We'll just leave him on random people's doorsteps with notes on him and stuff."
So that's why the football team hasn't won in a while!
I know, that was a low blow. But can you blame me. Making jokes is the best way to accept losing.
Hoever, Sophomore Amanda Holliday doesn't need to lose to make jokes.
I asked her "When someone hears the name 'Amanda Holliday,' what do they think of? What makes you unique?"
"I have really pretty hair" she responded. "I'm really funny. I got 'jokes.'"
Something Holliday does not joke about is family. Even though she is the youngest of her siblings, Holliday's family has three foster kids.
"They come to all of our games and sit with our family," she said. "They're like my real brothers and sisters."
It was not time for jokes at 5 p.m. It was the perfect time to get focused. The mood with the team was serious. No one was goofing off. Each and every member of the squad was focused on the task ahead.
Skoch, even though he was listening to Holliday's iPod, had a stern look of concentration. He, just like his players, was trying to keep a relaxed yet determined state. He didn't really do as much coaching as he did observing during pregame.
The game got underway at about 7:15, and the Bulldogs came out firing. They quickly built a 7-2 lead and didn't look back the entire game, winning 30-24.
The second game started the same way, with Truman jumping out to a 6-2 lead.
Then, a screech erupted over all other noise.
Senior Micaela Walter, Truman's leader in kills at the time, came down funny on her ankle. Skoch lunged off the bench immediately to make sure one of his best hitters was OK.
She kept saying she was, but you could tell she wasn't. She couldn't put any pressure on it and Skoch told Dana Hanselmann to get warmed up.
With Micaela out, the University of Alabama-Huntsville caught up as the teams changed leads 7 times. The Bulldogs were still able to pull away because of a fabulous offensive attack by senior Tiffany Graham Micaela Walter and junior Sarah Shearman. The 'Dogs eventually won the set 30-22.
The third game had a grim beginning. The Chargers charged (excuse the pun) out and inked six of the first seven points. Skoch let the girls play through it. Though it took some time, the decision proved to be a good move. The 'Dogs caught up and, thanks to nine UAH errors, won 30-27, sweeping the match 3-0.
Another jab of bad news hit the 'Dogs in the face though. Junior Kelsey Wackerman, who leads the team with 11 triple-doubles this season, was sick.
It appears as if someone's trying to make tomorrow's game against the University of North Alabama as tough as possible for the Dogs.
Still, Skoch is confident and after talking with him, so am I. He told me about a plan they have to shut down UNA's Vanessa Ferretti, who pretty much IS the Lions' offense. If it works, which in all sense should, and the players cut down on service errors, which plagued them the last meeting against UNA, the 'Dogs should be able to come away with a win.
Where will the 'Dogs be playing come regionals? Tomorrow holds the answer.
posted by Anonymous at Saturday, November 05, 2005
5 Comments:
Ross -- I'd first like to say that you're doing a great job so far on this trip.
Second, I had no idea about Micaela or Kelsey from just the boxscore and game story on the Bulldog website. I think tomorrow will show what kind of adversity this team can *hopefully* overcome on their route to a successful tournament run.
Keep up the great work Tex - Tyler
I like what I read. Pull them thru the next two matches!!
Patty
Ross, this is pretty impressive.
I am really digging it - it's a good "when I'm bored" read. Keep up the good coverage - and it would be SWEET to get pics up with the posts if that's possible
- Bolto
Ross, what are the thoughts going through the players' heads after the UNA match? They carried out the game plan quite well after the first set (keeping Ferretti in check), but seemed to lose some concentration later in the game. Was Wackerman sick? did having walter out have a big effect on the lack of offense?
You're doing great! When are we seeing pictures?
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