[Vadim]

Kim and I will be at the UVA sessions on Saturday. If any of you west coast people want reports, let me know.

[Sly Fox]

I'm more of a Gulf Coaster but I'd be interested in reports nonetheless.

[ATrain]

I'll be in Florida with another set of netters (tennis)...keep us on FF.com updated.

[matshark]

Vadim,

I think I will be in F-ville possibly the week of the 26th.

[Gymtalk]

Please give me a call when you can! Would very much appreciate an update on how the team looks with Nic on the left side. Kallie said several members of the team are sick - that should give playing time to many.

Talk to you soon.

[Vadim]

Watched practice on Friday afternoon. Webber was unable to practice due to the flu. Jess was back for the first time in about a week. She was still coughing quite a bit and looked like she was still feeling the remnants of the flu she had earlier in the week. The girls looked good in practice. It was a light workout because of today's matches. I'll see if I can update you during the games on the forum, if not , I'll give you a recap after they're over. Gymtalk, I'll call you during the games. Matshark, if you come to Fayetteville, look us up. Call me at 910-47-8965 to link up.

[Vadim]

We won the first match against UVA 3-1. Jess was libero, Nicki and Karyl were outside, Brittany and Carmen shared duty on the right side, and Chelaine and Kirsten played the middle. We won game 1 handily and had a chance to win game 2, but let it slip away. In game 3 we were down 12-20 and came back to win 26-24. Games are to 25 this year. We won game 4 going away. The main problem area seemed to be passing, especially on serve receive. Timing was a little off. Nicki took a little while to get adjusted to playing outside. Karyl was putting the ball down with authority. UVA could not handle Chelaine when she had a good set. Kallie was all over the court as usual and making the most of almost every ball that came her way. When our passing comes around, it's going to be a thing of beauty to watch. Nicki came into her own about midway thru the match and put down some pounders. Kirsten looked really good out there. She is quick to the ball. Brittany played well on the right side, and Kirsten and Carmen put up some nice blocks. Next year is going to be fun folks. The Big South better get ready, because if they thought they saw a good LU team last year, they haven't seen anything yet!

[matshark]

SWEET! Can't wait.

Ty Vadim. I'll give ya a call the next time I'm down.

[Gymtalk]

Loved reading your post... I could hear your excitement in every word you typed.

I agree with you, LU is going to be better in 2008.

I'm not surprised to hear that Brittany, Kirsten, and Carmen are coming on strong... they have talent and experience. Note: One of the benefits of coach Pinder's tough practices is game-situation scrimmages... every player gains experience in his system.

Thanks for the phone calls!!!

GO LIBERTY!!!

[Vadim]

I wish I could say the afternoon went as well as the morining, but it didn't. Our ladies looked tired and lethargic, especially in game 1 8-25 -- ouch. The next 2 were closer, but we just couldn't pull out the wins, even though we led significant portions of those games. Passing was not very good overall, and play in general wasn't nearly the caliber of the morning. They played a 4th game in the afternoon which we won 25-21. Interesting note -- Nicki played libero for the first time ever in that game.

[ATrain]

What happened to Rebekah Waneka? I thought she was supposed to take over at the Libero position?

[matshark]

I think their being tired had something to do with the fact that everyone has been sick. Even when you get over it and start feeling better, you still don't have quite the endurance. It really shows up in sports because sometimes you can do great for a little while, but then you just feel like you got a brick wall dumped on you. Kinda sucks for Sat. esp after their great performance in the AM, but im sure they will be good for all of the matches later this year.

[Hold My Own]

LOVE having Jess in the back...she could play for any team in the country in that position...but we've needed her in other positions...I really like that though!

[Vadim]

Becca left the team and the school to return home to Colorado. Being RC in a Baptist school is tough I think, and I think she was homesick, too.

[Sly Fox]

Thanks for the update. We wish her nothing but the best.

[chopertony]

There I was skiing down a slope in Mammoth and Vadim calls me with an update. Vadim, thanks for keeping me in the update loop! Yes, my girl had the flu and had to sit out the action, she was bummed out about not playing.

Anyway, I will fly out of San Diego on the 27th for the next tourny. Hope to see some of you there!

[jjbeaty]

The match at UVA was fun. My buddy and I decided to go up there for the day before we went to spring break. It was fun to watch the ladies play. They're our favorite team to watch on campus! We're definitely going to have to do something about promoting volleyball more next fall when the team is going to dominate-!!

Next year's mottle:

"Liberty Volleyball: WahhhhBAMMMM!!!" (haha- we should get a tshirt made saying that lol!!)

[matshark]

The match at UVA was fun. My buddy and I decided to go up there for the day before we went to spring break. It was fun to watch the ladies play. They're our favorite team to watch on campus! We're definitely going to have to do something about promoting volleyball more next fall when the team is going to dominate-!!

Next year's mottle:

"Liberty Volleyball: WahhhhBAMMMM!!!" (haha- we should get a tshirt made saying that lol!!)

or Liberty Volleyball: ...she said "WHAM!"