Dog Blog 9/30/10

This season so far has been very successful for the Bulldogs! Our record is 12-2 and we are ranked number 12 in the AVCA poll! This season has had its ups and downs so far, but with the hard work of every single player, we know we can continue to keep on winning. Last weekend we played at Missouri Southern and Pitt State. On the way to Southern there was a hazmat spill on the highway, so we had to move the game back an hour, which also made for a VERY long bus ride. We started off a little slow against Southern, but once we picked it up we beat them in four. We were off to the hotel to get ready  for Pitt the next day. During the game against Pitt we definitely started off slow. We lose the first two games, and we knew we had some work to do to come back. We ended up picking up our game and winning the next three to win the match, making it the first time to win at Pitt since 2007!

We didn’t have a game during the week this week so we had a full week of practice. We worked on many things to prepare for this coming weekend. We did a lot of passing, serve receive, blocking, and scrimmaging. After a full week of practice I know we are ready for the Washburn tournament this weekend. We will be playing Angelo State, Tarleton State, Saint Edwards, and Abilene Christian. Then next week we are going away to play rival Central. This next coming week/weekend is very important for us!  I can’t wait for another great weekend!

Go dogs!

Deanna

Dog Blog 9/19/10

Well this was pretty much an amazing weekend for the Bulldogs! We had our first two home matches of the season versus #3 Washburn and Fort Hays. Throughout the previous week, we worked on blocking, serve receive, serving, and hitting spots. We prepared ourselves for both teams and were ready for the weekend. We first started the weekend off, on Friday, playing Washburn. We started the game off a little slow but with the help of our amazing fans and players, we put it hard on Washburn and finished them off in 4. Our fans were absolutely amazing, it was one of the largest crowds I have ever seen at a Truman Volleyball game! It was great to have the support! (And great uniforms wrestlers...glad the spandex and jerseys fit..almost).

After the game on Friday we knew we had to keep the same mindset in order to play Fort Hayes. Though Fort Hays' game plan is different than Washburn, the team was able to maintain focus and play hard on Saturday. We came onto the court with victory in our eyes and were ready to come out of this weekend with a 2-0 winning streak. With that said, we had a steady match against Fort Hayes and won in 3. Our offense was great and we were able to put it down on the Tigers! Great weekend girls and can't wait for another great match against SBU on Wednesday!!!

 

Go Bulldogs!! 

ONE LOVE TRUMAN VOLLEY!

Tassia #1 :)

Dog Blog #10 9/4/10

This weekend was a huge step for Truman Volleyball. Trust, laughter, intensity, perseverance, fight, pride; our team has always known the ingredients it takes to make a championship team, but the last few days were tangible proof that our entire team now knows what it really tastes like. 4 and 0, the goal we’ve worked for all week (and during preseason), was reached. The four matches we played, and especially our final match against the University of Indianapolis, contained some of the most exhilarating moments this team has ever experienced together. Hard work DOES pay off. To be on the way home with the knowledge that our team fought with everything we had and succeeded, as a team, is worth every minute of practice, every rep in the weight room, every late night spent studying to make up for missed class. I guess the biggest thing I realized this weekend was what being a Bulldog really means. Wearing that Truman jersey is something special, a symbol of a never-give-up mindset, confidence, and pride in your surrounding teammates who wear the same color.
Coming back from a ten point deficit against Nova South Eastern to win the match (led by Kylie’s incredible 8 point service run), and winning our five game fight against the University of Indianapolis with an amazing amount of effort and hustle by our back row players and the same determination in our front row are things that really stick out in my mind about this weekend. But, to list every great dig and block and serve and play made would be impossible; that’s what live stats are for anyway  The bottom line is I could not be more proud of my teammates, or love them any more as both respected volleyball players and sisters. This is the beginning of a new chapter for Truman Volleyball, and it feels awesome to be part of the group that gets to write the rest of it.

GO DOGS 
-Lauren Radix

Dog Blog #9 8/28/10

Saturday began with an early 7 o’clock bus ride to Columbia where we played 3 matches. We played for 50 minute blocks. The first game was against Missouri S&T, the second against Rockhurst, and the third against Quincy University. Overall it was a successful day, we improved from last weekend being more consistent with our faster offense and utilizing our aggressive serves to keep the other teams scrambling. Everyone rotated throughout the day. Today showed a lot of positives and also things that we need to continue working on. We ended the day refereeing, which is a bit of a bummer, but that’s what you get when you’re one of the closest teams. But at least we played well enough so Ben didn’t say, “Lunch has been cancelled due to lack of hustle”. So we went to Chipotle for a delicious after game meal.


Allyson “Stella” Stellmach #5

Dog Blog #8 Final Day of Preseason 8/25/10

All I have to say is…. TWO-A-DAYS ARE OVER!!! As much as we love sweating through three shirts each practice and taking multiple showers every day… or not… I think we’ll all be pretty happy to get back into the regular school practice schedule.


Practices were pretty good today. This morning, outsides and liberos came in early to work on passing, which I feel is getting better and better every day. When the rest of us came into the gym at 9:30, we worked on defense and hitting specific shots. It was basically a practice to work on skills, which always helps.

This afternoon we started off with setters and right sides coming in early to work on connections with middles. We did a little blocking, then went straight into scrimmaging which usually gets pretty intense. We’re all extremely competitive so people are always yelling about touches, balls landing in/out… like I said, it gets intense. Anywho, all in all I felt like it was a very good and energetic practice, and we’re getting better and better every day. After practice, we went up in the weightroom and got jacked as always. No wonder our team is ridiculously strong… we’re even competitive up in the weightroom. You win some you lose some.

Time to go watch movies with the roommates and get ready for the first day of school tomorrow!

Peace & Love,

Kiki (Kylie Easlon) #2

Dog Blog #7 8/24/10

Today, in honor of Megan Sharpe's Birthday, Ben decided to cancel one of our practices! Okay, not really in honor of her birthday.... but we did have only one practice today in order to go out and do some fun team bonding this afternoon. In the morning, we came in bright and early at 8:30 and went straight to work on hitting, blocking, and some defense. We played a game called Nev's pepper, which really brought the competition between the hitters and our defenders. We ended the practice with a few scrimmage games, and although it was a really tough morning we were finished early so it was nice to be out of the gym before it really started getting hot!


At 1:30, we met back up at the ROTC repelling tower to do some teamwork exercises with Colonel R. He split us up into two groups and sent us through a variety of obstacles where we were required to work together, come up with a strategy, and complete the challenge in under the specified time limit. Except for a few time penalties, a close mishap with a bridge crumbling over a river (sorry again Casey!), and a tough break on the last obstacle we did a pretty good job all working together.

We ended the day by watching some film and talking about the games from the weekend. All in all it was a pretty fun day and I know everyone is excited to bring the energy and go in tomorrow for our last set of two-a-days plus lifting!

ONELOVETRUMANVOLLEY♥

Molly Sinclair #19

Dog Blog #6 8/23/10

Mondays: usually the day most people dread. Naturally there’s never a dull moment here with Truman Volleyball and this Monday was definitely no exception.


First and foremost: HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY PETEY! This week is full of birthdays as I celebrated my 21st yesterday as well and Megan Sharpe’s brings in her 19th year tomorrow! If you get the chance, send Ashley and Megan a happy birthday.

Another big announcement today…CONGRATULATIONS MISS MEGAN AND COACH KEARNEY ON YOUR ENGAGEMENT!!!!!! Once our second practice was started, Ben randomly called a team meeting to the locker room. Of course we all thought we were getting spanked for something but it was Miss Megan who did the talking. She pulled her hand out of her pocket and there it was. Imagine telling 16 girls about a new engagement. It took .5 seconds for all of us to stand up and SCREAM. It was great. Again, congrats Miss Megan!

Amidst all of the celebrations and excitement, on the court we spent a lot of time focusing on offense today. A slight change of pace but we’re getting better every play, every day. And since the construction in Pershing is still going on, we had to put the tarps down to avoid the dust – oh hello hot box. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I can’t wait for some cold fronts to come through.

Hope to see you this weekend in Columbia!

Arrivederci,

Casey Bruno #14