Thursday, March 31, 2016
Dear Team,
I don’t know about you, but I had a very fitful night’s sleep. I replayed last night’s match over and over again in my mind. While I am emotionally and mentally tired today, I suspect you are all physically tired as well. I don’t like the idea of not getting closure as a team on last night’s match, yet I want to be able to focus on upcoming matches when we get back together again after Spring Break. So, I decided to use my blog to write you a letter.
Last Saturday, we played two matches and lost them both. At the conclusion of our day, I shared with you the things I want others to notice and remember about “my boys”:
1. They show respect for officials, fans, coaches, managers, opponents and teammates
2. They are good kids who are fun to watch play the game
3. They know, love and understand the game
And I let you know how disappointed I was in your performance on Saturday, not because you lost, but because you didn’t exhibit any of those traits.
Fast forward to last night. We played a long and intense 5-set match. The official record indicates a loss (18-25, 25-21, 25-23, 23-25, 10-15), but we are so much more than that. According to Butler University’s head volleyball coach, we are an incredible 2nd year program. She went on to say that we played a great match and we were so much fun to watch. Our new favorite official said she hopes that she has the opportunity to work more of our games, because you are a great group of boys. And the opposing coach just smiled and said, “What a difference a year makes”.
I see many 5 game sets in our future this season – some we will win, some we will lose – but in all of them we will learn, grow and improve. We coined a new phrase last night during a time-out…We are One. Meaning we are no longer 11 players, 2 managers and 2 coaches in a program, or even 6 players on a court. Rather, we are one cohesive group, with the same objectives, playing for the growth and benefit of our program. Along the way, there will be individual accomplishments and we will celebrate those, together. Along the way, there will be momentary lapses in what others notice about us, it will not match what is outlined above, but we will re-group and fix it, together. We will win together, we will lose together, we will be together.
I am sorry that I did not make a point to tell you how proud I was of you last night. Last night you delivered on all of the things I want people to notice and remember about “my boys and my girls“.
Yours in volleyball,
Coach Angie
