	Long weekend in Long Beach
Long weekend in Long beach So for the 20th weekend in a row, I entered my next AVP tournament in Long Beach, CA. I am wondering what life will be like after the last AVP tourney, which is in San Diego this weekend. I won't know what to do with a free weekend. I might go a little crazy and if you see me playing volleyball with myself or not getting off the couch, please slap me. The best part about this last weekend, was NOT flying, no taxis, no D-F-B subways, and NO hotels! Yeah! I was actually in my own bed and in my own car and ate an actual breakfast. This was the best thing, however, the toughest thing was having to play in the "qualifier" for the 1st time all season. This is a scary situation to be in. There are 54 teams all fighting for 4 spots for the "main draw" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The qualifier is all single elimination and if you lose at any point, you don't get a dime and are eliminated from the tournament. The pressure is thick and everyone there is fighting for their chance to be in the main event. All season I have been lucky to be in the main event and haven't had to deal with this extra day, and I forgot how tough and hard it is to play in it. Due to the numerous partner changes and since my new partner Brooke didn't have many points, we were knocked into the qualifier and it was a battle. Thursday morning I woke up in my own bed, ate an actual breakfast and headed down to the event site to play our first match around 10:00am. It's so hard to describe the difference in the "qualifier" days vs. the "main draw" days. One has to really be there to understand it, but here are a few major differences. On the qualifier day, there is no water, no food, no shade, no scoreboards up, no ball shaggers and no towels. You have to bring everything. BUT if you make it to the "main draw" where I have luckily been all year, we have a "players' tent" with food, water, Gatorade, sunscreen, towels, and the coolest thing, we have a scoreboard on the courts with our names on it We actually know the score. It is such a different feel and I realized why I love playing the main events so so much more! Even though these were the material differences, it is also hard on you mentally. This was my biggest battle, to remember how much I had improved since last year, despite having to play the qualifier again. That takes a toll on your confidence, but I knew I wasn't going to find yet another partner to avoid it (because of points) and hoped that knowing I wanted to play with Brooke would help us get better and if we made it through it, we would be a better team. I also thought, this will give us double the number of games to play than we have played all season together. Ha ha. Our first match was against Michelle Morse / Andrea Peterson. The beginning of the game was tight. Both teams battling and we were tied at 16-16, before Brooke and I made some great plays to win the first game 21-18. The second game wasn't so smooth, and we actually were down 16-19. They only needed 2 more points to win, but we locked down and fought back point by point and eventually won 22-20. It was a battle and mentally tough to know if we lost it, we would be done. So we were both able to walk away with a little relief and get ready for our next match against Hilary Pavels / Cindie Valeriano . In this game, I told Brooke if she ever got 5 blocks I would buy her ice cream, well she definitely earned her ice cream, dominating the net with 7 blocks and we won the match 21-15, 21-12. Since this was the hardest qualifier all year, we had to play one more game to make it to Friday and the "main draw." Not only was it really hot out, but we were playing back to back and our last match would be against, Gabriela Roney / Lenka Urbanova, a team that has done really well this year. We were #3 team and they were #6, and we knew they would be ready for a battle. But so were we. Game one was incredibly close and even though we were ahead 19-18, they won game one 24-22. Yikes! Brooke and I gathered together, tried some new things are luckily it worked to help us win game two 21-12 to set up game three. In this final deciding match at 10-10, Brooke had a great block which catapulted us to win it 15-11. Wow!! We were so happy we made it though this tough day! It was a long and hot one, and it was just the beginning. After the match, I looked at my watch and knew at 5:00pm the traffic on our freeway would be a parking lot and found out that a couple of players on the AVP are starting back up an "AVP Christian fellowship." This was awesome, so I stuck around and about 8 players all gathered together to discuss struggles, and talk about our journey on the AVP. It was amazing and to be able to share your frustrations with fellow athletes and having them pray for you is super encouraging. I was very thankful for this and wished it had been held all year long. The next morning, I headed down for the "main draw" day and found out we would play the Lindquist sisters. They have beaten some of the top teams many times this year with a couple of 3rd and 5th places finishes. Everyone loves to watch them, since they never block and play the most amazing defense you can imagine. They are so fun to play. The only down side was they didn't have to play the day before and we played 3 tough matches and weren't as fresh. However, it didn't affect us.....at first. Game one we came out on fire. Brooke and I were hitting some amazing balls and they couldn't dig us. We were really happy and walked away winning game one 21-16. Game two started the same way until we were ahead 19-16, when they turned the switch on and dug everything imaginable and came back to beat us 23-21 and then won game three 15-10. Bummer!! I have been on the "come-back" side more times in my life and always love that thrill, but being on the other side sure is tough and rocks you a little mentally. We only needed 2 points!! Arg!!!! This was really hard to take, but they are the #11 team on the tour for that reason. They are a really good and experienced team. Unfortunately with this loss we had to play the #12 team now, instead of playing the #21. Bummer!!! Just wish I could have gotten those 2 points!!!! I had to play Stacy Rouwenhorst and Whitney Pavlik for the 3rd time this season, all with different partners! Yikes. They are playing really well and Stacy is one of my former partners and I didn't want to lose to her again. Game one didn't go to well and they won 21-17. Game two we fought harder and it was neck and neck 17-17, 18-18, 20-20, 21-21 before they won the game 24-22. Doh! This placed us in 17th place but overall I was really happy about the way we are still improving and fighting so hard especially after playing all day the day before. They were all fresh and we were still recovering. But the best part of the day was when I got there Friday morning and saw my wonderful and supportive friends Carol, Rachel, and Randy Forseth from San Diego and Lauren ( a kid I tutor) and her mom Susan. They all came to root us on and each cheer was heard and so appreciated. It's great to play when you know people there are in it with you. So they did their best to cheer us to victory, but I was thankful for the hugs instead. This weekend is my last AVP tournament of the season and you all reading are probably more thrilled about it than I am. No more crazy stories of partners or crazy rides through the subways. You'll find other things to fill your day in besides reading my letters for the hours it takes! J In realizing this, this week was one of the hardest weeks yet emotionally. It's crazy in life when you feel like you can't do anymore, and don't have anything to give anymore. Even us athletes reach rock bottom after 20 weeks of pressure and traveling. It took me most of this Monday to gain a new perspective on my life and season. Then last night I watched the "Last lecture" on Dateline about a guy Randy Pausch, who knew we was dying of cancer but still lived his life happily and joyfully. I realized that although I am really hard on myself, I need to try to find moments of joy everyday and let go of the things I can't control or change. For a control freak like myself, it is really hard, but it holds my negative thoughts hostage, and there is so much freedom in letting go. Unfortunately, I can't predict the future nor can I control it. What to do??? I still don't know and it will be a long process for me! But with lots of prayer, support from my parents, Joe and Gary, I am able to gain a new perspective on this weekend's last event. Even though this season had it's up and downs, partners and more partners, it is all in the past and it is what it is. Do I wish things this season would have been different?? Yes! But God has placed me in these situations for a reason. My mom says that God is molding me like clay to which I respond, I am done, put me in the fire! Lol! But I realize that as hard as this season has been, I pray it was worth it and my character and strength will be something that carries me through the next years of my life. So with that, and my last AVP, my goal is to play. I can't learn anymore, can't practice anymore, just show up and play my heart out. Brooke and I will be playing this Friday afternoon at Mission Beach in San Diego for our last adventure. The tournament is ALL single elimination and we play against the #10 team. It will be a battle, so please keep us in your prayers for our last fight of the season.

Long weekend in Long Beach

Long weekend in Long beach

So for the 20th weekend in a row, I entered my next AVP tournament in Long Beach, CA. I am wondering what life will be like after the last AVP tourney, which is in San Diego this weekend. I won't know what to do with a free weekend. I might go a little crazy and if you see me playing volleyball with myself or not getting off the couch, please slap me.

The best part about this last weekend, was NOT flying, no taxis, no D-F-B subways, and NO hotels! Yeah! I was actually in my own bed and in my own car and ate an actual breakfast. This was the best thing, however, the toughest thing was having to play in the "qualifier" for the 1st time all season. This is a scary situation to be in. There are 54 teams all fighting for 4 spots for the "main draw" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The qualifier is all single elimination and if you lose at any point, you don't get a dime and are eliminated from the tournament. The pressure is thick and everyone there is fighting for their chance to be in the main event. All season I have been lucky to be in the main event and haven't had to deal with this extra day, and I forgot how tough and hard it is to play in it. Due to the numerous partner changes and since my new partner Brooke didn't have many points, we were knocked into the qualifier and it was a battle.

Thursday morning I woke up in my own bed, ate an actual breakfast and headed down to the event site to play our first match around 10:00am. It's so hard to describe the difference in the "qualifier" days vs. the "main draw" days. One has to really be there to understand it, but here are a few major differences. On the qualifier day, there is no water, no food, no shade, no scoreboards up, no ball shaggers and no towels. You have to bring everything. BUT if you make it to the "main draw" where I have luckily been all year, we have a "players' tent" with food, water, Gatorade, sunscreen, towels, and the coolest thing, we have a scoreboard on the courts with our names on it We actually know the score. It is such a different feel and I realized why I love playing the main events so so much more! Even though these were the material differences, it is also hard on you mentally. This was my biggest battle, to remember how much I had improved since last year, despite having to play the qualifier again. That takes a toll on your confidence, but I knew I wasn't going to find yet another partner to avoid it (because of points) and hoped that knowing I wanted to play with Brooke would help us get better and if we made it through it, we would be a better team. I also thought, this will give us double the number of games to play than we have played all season together. Ha ha.

Our first match was against Michelle Morse / Andrea Peterson. The beginning of the game was tight. Both teams battling and we were tied at 16-16, before Brooke and I made some great plays to win the first game 21-18. The second game wasn't so smooth, and we actually were down 16-19. They only needed 2 more points to win, but we locked down and fought back point by point and eventually won 22-20. It was a battle and mentally tough to know if we lost it, we would be done. So we were both able to walk away with a little relief and get ready for our next match against Hilary Pavels / Cindie Valeriano . In this game, I told Brooke if she ever got 5 blocks I would buy her ice cream, well she definitely earned her ice cream, dominating the net with 7 blocks and we won the match 21-15, 21-12.

Since this was the hardest qualifier all year, we had to play one more game to make it to Friday and the "main draw." Not only was it really hot out, but we were playing back to back and our last match would be against, Gabriela Roney / Lenka Urbanova, a team that has done really well this year. We were #3 team and they were #6, and we knew they would be ready for a battle. But so were we. Game one was incredibly close and even though we were ahead 19-18, they won game one 24-22. Yikes! Brooke and I gathered together, tried some new things are luckily it worked to help us win game two 21-12 to set up game three. In this final deciding match at 10-10, Brooke had a great block which catapulted us to win it 15-11. Wow!! We were so happy we made it though this tough day! It was a long and hot one, and it was just the beginning.

After the match, I looked at my watch and knew at 5:00pm the traffic on our freeway would be a parking lot and found out that a couple of players on the AVP are starting back up an "AVP Christian fellowship." This was awesome, so I stuck around and about 8 players all gathered together to discuss struggles, and talk about our journey on the AVP. It was amazing and to be able to share your frustrations with fellow athletes and having them pray for you is super encouraging. I was very thankful for this and wished it had been held all year long.

The next morning, I headed down for the "main draw" day and found out we would play the Lindquist sisters. They have beaten some of the top teams many times this year with a couple of 3rd and 5th places finishes. Everyone loves to watch them, since they never block and play the most amazing defense you can imagine. They are so fun to play. The only down side was they didn't have to play the day before and we played 3 tough matches and weren't as fresh. However, it didn't affect us.....at first. Game one we came out on fire. Brooke and I were hitting some amazing balls and they couldn't dig us. We were really happy and walked away winning game one 21-16. Game two started the same way until we were ahead 19-16, when they turned the switch on and dug everything imaginable and came back to beat us 23-21 and then won game three 15-10. Bummer!! I have been on the "come-back" side more times in my life and always love that thrill, but being on the other side sure is tough and rocks you a little mentally. We only needed 2 points!! Arg!!!! This was really hard to take, but they are the #11 team on the tour for that reason. They are a really good and experienced team.

Unfortunately with this loss we had to play the #12 team now, instead of playing the #21. Bummer!!! Just wish I could have gotten those 2 points!!!! I had to play Stacy Rouwenhorst and Whitney Pavlik for the 3rd time this season, all with different partners! Yikes. They are playing really well and Stacy is one of my former partners and I didn't want to lose to her again. Game one didn't go to well and they won 21-17. Game two we fought harder and it was neck and neck 17-17, 18-18, 20-20, 21-21 before they won the game 24-22. Doh! This placed us in 17th place but overall I was really happy about the way we are still improving and fighting so hard especially after playing all day the day before. They were all fresh and we were still recovering.

But the best part of the day was when I got there Friday morning and saw my wonderful and supportive friends Carol, Rachel, and Randy Forseth from San Diego and Lauren ( a kid I tutor) and her mom Susan. They all came to root us on and each cheer was heard and so appreciated. It's great to play when you know people there are in it with you. So they did their best to cheer us to victory, but I was thankful for the hugs instead.

This weekend is my last AVP tournament of the season and you all reading are probably more thrilled about it than I am. No more crazy stories of partners or crazy rides through the subways. You'll find other things to fill your day in besides reading my letters for the hours it takes! J In realizing this, this week was one of the hardest weeks yet emotionally. It's crazy in life when you feel like you can't do anymore, and don't have anything to give anymore. Even us athletes reach rock bottom after 20 weeks of pressure and traveling. It took me most of this Monday to gain a new perspective on my life and season. Then last night I watched the "Last lecture" on Dateline about a guy Randy Pausch, who knew we was dying of cancer but still lived his life happily and joyfully. I realized that although I am really hard on myself, I need to try to find moments of joy everyday and let go of the things I can't control or change. For a control freak like myself, it is really hard, but it holds my negative thoughts hostage, and there is so much freedom in letting go. Unfortunately, I can't predict the future nor can I control it. What to do??? I still don't know and it will be a long process for me! But with lots of prayer, support from my parents, Joe and Gary, I am able to gain a new perspective on this weekend's last event.

Even though this season had it's up and downs, partners and more partners, it is all in the past and it is what it is. Do I wish things this season would have been different?? Yes! But God has placed me in these situations for a reason. My mom says that God is molding me like clay to which I respond, I am done, put me in the fire! Lol! But I realize that as hard as this season has been, I pray it was worth it and my character and strength will be something that carries me through the next years of my life. So with that, and my last AVP, my goal is to play. I can't learn anymore, can't practice anymore, just show up and play my heart out.

Brooke and I will be playing this Friday afternoon at Mission Beach in San Diego for our last adventure. The tournament is ALL single elimination and we play against the #10 team. It will be a battle, so please keep us in your prayers for our last fight of the season.