Golden State Classic....well I can hardly remember what happened, being so sick and all! Thank you everyone for your patience and support! Playing 17's was fun and I really think it helped improve their play and forced them to think about being smarter! We totally held our own for 16's! Started out strong with a win against the #1 seed but the winning streak ended there. We fell short by just a few points in our second match to North Valley who finished 2nd overall in the tournament. 

Day 2 we lost both games, but took them to 3. I only had to stand up a few times to yell at them to TALK. I felt like my low energy was affecting them and that is an important lesson for them to learn. The team, on the court and off, needs to maintain the energy and not rely on coaches, parents, fans or anyone else to maintain the energy level on the court. Talking is start of it all!

All in all, it was a good experience and helped the players improved their speed of the game and make smart choices!

• Blocking: We are moving and setting the block better and getting more touches as a result of keeping our hands high and being in the right place. Outsides did a good job of blocking the middle. Haley blocked the middle!
• Hitting: We are running the middle more effectively, tipping and hitting the corners and being smart hitters is what I like to see! For first year middles Kate and Chloe and Meera are killing it in the middle!
• Defense: We are moving a lot better and the reading is improving. We are picking up the tips in the middle way better.
• Setting: Sets location is improving, sets are getting higher and to the outside and not off the net and we are utilizing the pipe as needed.

• Number one has got to be talking! Our most talkative team seams to stop talking when the whistle is blown! I think this was the only time I stood up and yelled as loud as I could (which wasn't very loud!) It's the little things that make the biggest difference!
• Hitting: We made a lot of unforced errors due to not being ready, poor form, or not the best choices. I know errors are part of the game, but they should be aggressive errors not lazy errors. Maturity and effort to be more cognizant in the moment will help us improve or lessen our hitting errors. We hit .083 as a team with 2 players in the negative.  I know we played 17's but...I think we could do better.
• Receive: Talking is a big part of this and really knowing what ball is yours so we can react quicker. Our first step to the ball is late and too slow. We also need to maintain discipline on our technique, not standing as we pass, not turning our bodies or stepping at the ball, keeping our platform behind the ball-practice, practice, practice

Little things make a big difference!

• Team film review of the Eclipse game on 3/4

• Stats