Cal junior libero and team captain Maddy Kerr is back for another season to take Cal Volleyball fans inside the program with her blog, "Kerr's Korner."

 

November 20, 2015

It's pretty crazy that tomorrow is our last home game. Even though this season hasn't gone the way we would have liked it to, it's still a little sad to almost be done because it symbolizes a lot of things. First of all, college is flying by. It amazes me that I only have one more season of volleyball ever. I feel like I was just a freshman sometimes. We are getting closer and closer to becoming citizens of the REAL world, and that's pretty scary, especially considering we act like complete children most of the time. God help us all. This realization has made me feel really grateful that I get to spend my time in college playing volleyball. It is a game, and it is supposed to be fun. So, with all the stress that comes along with it, especially considering we haven't been very successful in my experience here, it is important to take a step back and appreciate it.

Now for the important stuff. Tomorrow is SENIOR NIGHT! I can't believe I have to say goodbye to these girls who have been such a huge part of my experience at Cal. I don't think you guys realize how much time we all spend together. It feels weird to go more than a couple days without seeing each other sometimes! It is definitely going to be weird playing without Lillian, Mary, Nikki and Lara next year. I'm going to miss them all so much — even if they all annoy me sometimes.

Even though they don't read my blog, I just want to say a few words about each of the four seniors.

Lillian, what am I gonna do without you?! For the last two years we have been captains together, and it has been up to us to keep everyone in line! How am I supposed to do this job on my own??? Don't leave! Try and stay for your eighth year or whatever it is now. In all honesty, I have loved getting to know you. Getting through all the rough times volleyball-wise these last three years has brought us closer, and I couldn't ask for a better captain and friend to share my experience with. We will miss your pretty face and your slides.

Mary. What can I say, you are a total pain in the butt! And I mean that in the most loving way possible. We didn't necessarily start off on the right foot (we hated each other's guts), but then we realized that our differences were largely due to the fact that we are the same, stubborn, annoying person! I can't wait to visit you in New York, and I can't wait till you are the CEO of some major company and you can give me a job. ILY ALWAYS.

Nikki, I can't even express how sorry I am that you injured your knee. It's not a fun way to go out, but you have made such an impact on everyone, and we will definitely remember everything you have brought to this team, on the court and off.  I didn't really know you freshman season because you were injured then, too (bad luck always), but then in the spring we played sand together and really got to know each other. Even though I HATED sand volleyball, I loved playing and dominating with you. You made it super easy to be your partner cause you're a STUD. Also remember that time in Europe…

Finally, Lara Vukasovic, it has been a pleasure getting to know you, you Croatian supermodel.  You were one of the most welcoming teammates I could have asked for when I came in freshman year and didn't know anybody, and you have been that way with every freshman class since. You make everybody feel like a part of the team from the beginning, and it really leaves a powerful impact. I'm gonna miss your Euro dance moves and rave music.

That's all! I love my seniors. Come watch them in their last home game ever tomorrow as we take on Colorado at 7 p.m.!  Go Bears!

 

November 12, 2015

I am writing this piece of literary brilliance as we sit on the bus on the way to the Oakland airport. We leave for Washington today, as we play Washington State and Washington this weekend! We are very excited to compete with both teams. For those of you who aren't real fans, the first time around we beat Washington State and lost to Washington. Yes, I just took a stab at my readers. Don't take it personally. It's because I care. It's like when kindergarten boys have crushes on girls and they pull their hair. I am utilizing a slightly more mature and eloquent version of their tactic. I just want you guys to love me!!!

Anyway, this past week was a short one. We got back from playing at the Oregon schools at 11 pm Sunday, and are already leaving again on this fine Thursday morning. Regardless, we definitely improved in practice this week, and this morning especially I felt that we were playing more to our potential than we have in the past two weeks or so. Even though the season is drawing to a close, we have six more matches. That is a lot! Despite the fact that this season definitely has not gone the way we had hoped, there is still time to improve. We want to feel as if we have accomplished some things and reached milestones in some ways, because we will not have a trip to the NCAA Tournament to represent our success. It's a bummer, because making the tournament is something we strive for, but at the end of the day it's not everything. Just because we can no longer make it this year doesn't mean our work is done and we given up. For most of our team, we can even use these last few weeks to start preparing for next season and the rest of our volleyball careers. It never stops. So we are staying positive and continuing to work hard.

Rich reminded us today at practice of how lucky we are to be in the positions we are in. He explained that over 460,000 girls play high school volleyball, and there are less than 200 girls playing in the Pac 12. Not only does this remind us to be grateful for the opportunity to play at Cal, which so many other girls can only dream of, but it also gives us something to be proud of. Pac 12 volleyball is an absolute grind. Traditionally strong programs like ours clearly can't afford to have slightly down years or injuries, because the rest of the competition is so good. It's a bummer for us, but it's the truth. Nobody can rely on the logo on their jerseys to win games in the Pac 12, because literally everyone can beat everyone. We should be proud that we have made it this far, and proud that we are competing with the best players and the best teams in the country every weekend. Though it's not necessarily anything to hang our hats on or be satisfied with, it definitely puts things in perspective and makes us grateful and proud of what we have been able to accomplish. So, ya know, it's better than being sad or angry all the time. My friends would find me so unbearable if that was the case, because I can be a just the slightest bit sassy.  My parents would probably even pretend they had other plans if I asked them to hang out. So, it's better that way. Let us be positive for the sake of our friends and family. 

Wish us luck and send positive vibes this weekend!

Go Bears!!!

 

November 5, 2015

Hi, Cal fans!

I have decided to switch gears this week because I have lost all capacity to be creative or tell delightful stories that make you all think I'm sweet and quirky (or rather, immature and annoying?). Anyway, I am doing a Q and A with a few of my teammates so you guys can get to know their beautiful souls.

We will start with Sabrina Blackwell, junior defensive specialist from San Jose.

Q: What is your spirit animal and why?

A: A groundhog, because someone in 8^th grade told me I look like one.

Q: Describe your high school experience.

A: Another time.

Next, we have Lillian Schonewise. She's been here for like eight years and is a middle blocker from Nebraska. She's really good and really pretty and you probably all know her.

Q: If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you bring and why?

A: If I were stranded on a desert island, first and foremost, I would bring a Costco-sized bag of Flaming Hot Cheetos, because they are hot and delicious. Next, I would bring a smoking hot bathing suit, so I could get my tan on and make lemonade out of the lemons that life handed me. Finally, I would bring some glow sticks so that when it gets dark at night, I could see, but also, I could party — with my bikini and my Cheetos.

Q: What is your favorite cat breed and why?

A: Hairless sphynx, because they are wrinkly and beautiful.

Thank you, Lillian. Now we have Christine Alftin, a sophomore outside hitter from Woodside.

Q: What is your best quality?

A: My eyebrows, because without them, I don't exist.

               *editor's note (Maddy's note): I have no idea what this means or how it

makes any sense, but that's just Christine.

Laura Leap is next.  She is a redshirt freshman middle blocker from Thousand Oaks. 

Q: If you could be anybody else for a day, who would you be and why?

A: Miley Cyrus, because she is a great role model and she always has a bangin' time. She has great style, a great dating record (Liam Hemsworth <3), and she got to play Hannah Montana, the coolest teenager to ever live.

Here comes the beautiful Alyssa Jensen, a junior setter from St. Louis.

Q: What makes you like the Midwest better than California and why?

A: There is actually space to park and drive a car. Also, I like seasons.

               *Editor's note: Alyssa has only really seen Berkeley, and fails to understand

that there are other places in California with the luxuries she speaks of.

Q: What is your biggest fear and why?

A: Chia pets. They gave me nightmares when I was little.

Here's the chipper Antzela Dempi, sophomore outside hitter from Greece.

Q: Who would you let punch you directly in the face?

A: Can we just do this later?

Finally, we have Gaby DeGuzman from Redondo Beach, the most adorable defensive specialist you ever did see.

Q: Can you fit your whole fist in your mouth?

A: (She tries). Uh huh, up until my knuckles. 

Q: Did you know you could do that before?

A: No.

Q: Are you glad you found out?

A: Yeah, it's a new party trick!

That's it for now, Cal fans! We are on the bus riding from the Portland airport to Eugene, as we play against Oregon State and Oregon this weekend (tomorrow and Sunday).  I've started to annoy my teammates with my pestering. Most of them would rather watch the weird Robin Hood movie that's on in the bus right now. I am not even kidding. That's how low I am on the totem pole.

Wish us luck this weekend! Go Bears!

 

October 28, 2015

Hey Cal fans,

Cheers to another successful weekend! After losing on Friday night to Washington, we bounced back and swept Washington State on Sunday. It was our first home Pac-12 win since 2013 — my freshman year. Although this obviously means we have had a lot of disappointing matches and overall frustrations since then, it feels really good to break such an unfortunate streak. It feels a bit like a fresh start, which makes sense because this week marks the beginning of the second half of the Pac-12 season. Although the first half definitely did not go as we had hoped, we are confident that we will have a much more successful second half. We lost a lot of close games, and also a lot where we just didn't play very well across the board. It is good to know that a lot of the reasons why we lost certain games were our own mistakes, and thus are completely in our control. If we take responsibility and play to our potential, we can win a lot of our upcoming matches.

Because I cannot think of anything of substance to write about today, I will ramble about random things. You can stop reading if you want, but my guess is that anybody reading this blog probably doesn't have anything that important or necessary to be doing at this exact moment, so just keep reading to make me feel loved. We are in the middle of a two-week homestead, and it is SO AWESOME.  I feel like I have so much time. I FINALLY finished Game of Thrones. If anybody out there wants to discuss some cliff-hangers with me, I would really appreciate it. I am one of those people — it's ALL I want to talk about!  HOW does it not come on until April? I need to know some things pronto.

Anyway, now that Game of Thrones is done, I needed something else to fill up the time I spend every day procrastinating the things I should be doing.  So I started listening to this podcast called Serial. It's totally creepy and about murder. Naturally, I LOVE it.  However, I have had to stop listening to it before bed because it gave me really awful nightmares. Anyway, you all should give into my peer pressure and consume the media that I suggest each week.

Second point of rambling: for those of you who don't know our schedule, during the Pac-12 season we get most Mondays off because we play Friday and Sunday, and the NCAA requires that we get one day off per week (thank you, NCAA!). A lot of us use that day off to sleep and recover or catch up on homework. This Monday, I went “golfing” with my boyfriend. I use quotation marks because I'm not sure if you could call what I did “golf.”  I am incapable of making contact with the ball on my drive, so instead of working on it, I have given up. I now walk close enough to throw my ball on the green, and then I putt a few times and (of course) only count my score from those putts. It is a great system. A recipe for success, if you will. I thought volleyball was a frustrating sport, but compared to golf it feels like a relaxing day at the spa.  Why is it so hard???

OK, have I rambled enough? Does this blog suffice? Do you guys still think I am smart/funny/entertaining in any way? If so, YOU'RE WELCOME. If not, let me know and I'll bribe you with something to get you to continue reading next week.

GO BEARS!

 

October 22, 2015

We WON! I honestly can not even tell you how good it feels to be on the board in the Pac-12. I know it seems trivial to be this excited about winning one match, but losing games takes its toll!  Nobody is happy with losing! It is refreshing to have won a match, and we really feel like we can build on it. We really have gotten better and more competitive each week, and are continuing to work hard every day in practice to keep it up. 

Last weekend, we asked Rich if we could attend the Cal football game at Oregon in November since we will be in Eugene that same weekend. Rich said, "Beat Utah." So, I am putting it in writing to make it official (so that Rich can't back out!!!). We have been annoying him about it pretty much since the schedule originally came out, so he is probably just happy that he doesn't have to listen to our whining anymore. Rich has been a women's volleyball coach for a LONG time. He must know by now that we don't stop until we get what we want. I think that kind of persistence is in the fine print of the female contract. And being a man, Rich knew the safest decision to make in this decision.

Even though we got our first win against Utah, our most exciting moment last weekend came in the second set against Colorado, which we lost 36-34. It was an absolute battle, and we fought every step of the way. It was that set that made me realize just how much luck really is involved in competition, on top of hard work and talent, of course. We have to remember that even in the most evenly matched games, one team comes out on top and the others feel like they got punched in the gut (OK, that was a little dramatic). You get the picture. A lot goes into it. I am definitely not making excuses because we have a ton to work on, but I'm sick of feeling so bad about myself when we lose after playing a great game. It is no secret, this really hasn't been our year so far. But if we don't recognize the things we do well, it's really hard to build on them. So yeah, sorry for preaching. I am totally not trying to be one of those inspirational speakers who uses all the clichés and hand motions and fake smiles and what not. That's not me at all. I'm not even good at faking it when my friends ask me if I like their outfits and I don't. Sorry, friends.  Anyway, my main takeaway from last weekend was to hold on to the good, even if it only comes in short bursts and not big successes.

This weekend, we play Washington and Washington State. Both games are going to be a battle. Washington is ranked first in the country in hitting percentage and opponent hitting percentage.  This essentially means they have the highest-ranked offense and defense in the country.  However, anybody is beatable and every team has their weak spots. We are excited to be back home and to play in Haas.

Go Bears!

October 15, 2015

First order of business: everyone needs to watch Narcos.  If you like to be creeped out and horrified, it is the show for you!

Now, on to volleyball. It is no secret that things have not been going very well for us. Last weekend, we got swept by Oregon and Oregon State, and we are still looking for our first Pac-12 win. It obviously is very frustrating. I'm not going to lie and say we are all happy and having lots of fun, because you would all see right through that. And then I would not be a credible source for any information from here on out.  For example, when I recommend a TV show, you might all think I'm a total liar and go watch the 47^th season of Grey's Anatomy instead. So, I won't lie. We are angry and frustrated, but we are also really, really, freaking motivated to get better. I hate losing. It keeps me up at night and distracts me from anything productive I might do with my day other than watch amazing Netflix shows (homework?). I want to succeed so badly. So, we will keep putting in the effort, and eventually, it is going to pay off.

This week in practice, the coaches have been kicking our butts!  Practice has been a grind, and we've been running lots of sprints and doing many mentally taxing drills as well. The only way to get better for games is in practice. If we are having to make games a learning process, that is when we get into trouble. The work has to be put in prior. Not to beat a dead horse, but John Wooden once said, “failure to prepare is preparing to fail.” I have always loved that quote. My dad is a big John Wooden fan (what sports fanatic isn't?), and he instilled a lot of Wooden's lessons in me at a pretty young age. That's the kind of family in which I grew up. My parents also administered daily fitness tests to my brothers and I and drew our blood regularly for tests to make sure we were in peak physical condition. ... OK, just kidding. But in all seriousness, when I pull out a John Wooden quote you KNOW I am speaking from a place of determination. It is JOHN WOODEN. Pay attention to his knowledge.

This week, we travel to Colorado and Utah, and I really do believe (once again) that we can win these games. They are both great Pac-12 teams, but we are too, regardless of our record. Every game in this conference is a toss-up because the level of talent is so high on every team. So, we are determined to succeed. We will continue to prepare for these games, and work hard every day in practice to ensure that we are ready to win!

Go Bears!

 

October 9, 2015

Last weekend we played against Arizona and Arizona State. We lost both matches but it is clear that we are getting better and better. It is really hard to stay positive in a conference like the Pac 12, where nearly every team is ranked and there are no easy wins, however it is clear by the way we are competing in every game and every practice that we are getting better as a team and will continue to grow. It is hard to emphasize the progress we make when we lose games, so it is really important for us right now to compartmentalize and consider small victories each day. There is a lot of season left, and anything can happen! We are trying to employ a positive outlook in the mean time…

Now let me be negative for a minute. The season is an absolute grind. Each year I have been here, I have had a perpetual cold throughout the fall volleyball season.You may think I am exaggerating, but I am not (is this what they call a first world problem?). Yesterday I fell asleep outside…laying on a concrete bench in the middle of campus. Half of my face got a little sunburned because of the angle I was laying, and I woke up in a minor panic attack that my backpack could have easily been broken into. Thankfully, nobody bothered to try, probably because they took one look at me and knew I was a tough cookie with major self-defense skills. I'm kidding, by the way (I know you're all shocked). I once took a self-defense class and was by far the least capable of everybody there. I should probably invest in some pepper spray. 

Anyway, the season is long and I always feel half crazy for the entire duration. Then when it ends I am so upset and ready to do it all over again because I miss it immediately and realize we have more than eight months until our next competition. It is kind of a weird complex.

Now that I've complained and annoyed all my readers, let me just say: every day is worth it. It really is! Playing college volleyball is something I have always dreamed about, and I cannot imagine doing anything else with my time. Personally I think I would be bored, unproductive, and unhealthy if I didn't have practice every morning. On the plus side though, I definitely would be done with Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad by now, but it is a trade-off I'll live with for the time being.

In all seriousness, I am so thankful I get to play volleyball at Cal. The experiences I have had and the opportunities that have come and are yet to come as a direct result of playing volleyball here are truly amazing. We have a lot to be grateful for. So despite losing a few games and being exhausted and sick and falling asleep on concrete, it is so important to consider the experience holistically. Student-athletes at the best public university in the world have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to look forward to. 

So, please be patient with my team! We are working hard and getting better, and doing our best to strive for success.  You just can't win 'em all. This weekend we play against Oregon and Oregon State. We are fully capable of winning if we play the way I know we can play. Wish us luck.

Go Bears!

 

September 30, 2015

Sorry, my blog is late again. I don't have an excuse this time, so don't ask for one. I mean it. Don't. Regardless, I am here to give you guys the low down (or is it the down low?) on what has been going on this week. Pope Francis is in Washington D.C., China has devalued its currency, and Obama and Putin have finally agreed to have a sit down meeting. ... oh, wait. This isn't one of those blogs. I'm supposed to talk about volleyball.

We played Stanford on Tuesday night, and it was one of the most fun games I have ever been a part of. We lost in four, but we played them hard! Personally, I feel like we could have won the game, and I am a very honest person (unless I need to lie). We played better than we have all year as a team, and we pushed Stanford to their limits. I am never satisfied with a loss, but it is fun to see that our team can play at such a high level. It makes me firmly believe that we are going to win games this year, and that we belong in the Pac-12, the best conference in the country (I believe they say it is “where champions are made”).

It was so fun playing in a rivalry match at home on a Tuesday night, because we actually had a large number of student fans! To be frank, when we play on the weekends, we do not get as many students at our games because their priorities lie elsewhere. But when we play during the week and everyone wants to procrastinate doing their homework, a volleyball game is the perfect distraction! It was so fun to feel all the school spirit filling up Haas. I'm not sure if it comes more from a love for Cal or a hatred for Stanford, but regardless, the energy was high! Hopefully students won't be too “tired” to come to our game on Sunday against UCLA, because that is going to be another exciting one!

There is a lot riding on this game against UCLA. They are literally the baby bears. They copied our mascot AND our colors AND our fight song. Like, be original, UCLA. Similarly, we have to do it for the Bay Area. The Bay Area is HELLA sick (I don't know if that was a correct use of the term.  I'm from San Diego). ALSO, approximately 97% of the UCLA team are girls I played with in high school. Need I say more? I want to WIN this one!!!

UCLA is currently ranked #13 in the country, and for good reason. They are a very good team and will be extremely difficult to beat. However, I have so much faith in my team and our ability to win this game. We have been extremely focused in practice this week, with the end goal of winning on Sunday in the back of our heads at all times.

Today was probably the best practice we have had all year! I feel that we are a lot better than the majority of people think we are (jerks), and if we can bring a lot of energy, confidence, and competitiveness, we can beat UCLA and a lot of other teams as well. I am very confident in my team's ability, and wouldn't trade my girls for any other teammates in the world. Oh, besides Lillian. She's a brat. Just kidding (but not really).

Hopefully, this weekend we can showcase all the hard work we have been putting in all week!  See you all at Haas!!! Go Bears!

 

September 17, 2015

I know most of you have probably been worried sick, considering I usually submit my blog on Wednesdays. I'm sure thoughts like, “where is she?,” and “I hope she's not hurt,” were running through all your heads. In reality, I didn't fall ill or get kidnapped or anything, but I am simply a college student who enjoys Netflix and sleep (and is prone to forgetfulness occasionally).

Anywho, here we are. It is Thursday, and we have a game tomorrow! At home! In Haas Pavilion! We've almost forgotten what it's like to play at home. Never mind, that was dramatic. It's only been two weeks.  Regardless, we are excited! We play against St. Mary's tomorrow night. They are a good team that plays in a tough conference (the WCC), so it will be a fun challenge. One of my best friends from club volleyball in high school plays for St. Mary's, so I am very excited to play against her (and kick her butt). On Saturday, we play against Pacific, another WCC team. We are facing two tough teams this weekend, but we have been working hard and are definitely seeing positive changes in our play as time progresses. We have already gotten infinitely better this year, and we will continue to get more and more comfortable playing with each other.

Last weekend was full of positives. Even though we lost a close one to Air Force, we are playing SO much better as a whole. The vibes on the court are better, and we have had some people really step it up! I know I can rely on my girls to do whatever it takes to win, and that is the most important thing. So, we are stoked to play again and see what we can do!

Our trip to D.C. was awesome. Aside from all our games, we got to tour the Capitol building and the Pentagon, which was just so cool to experience with teammates and friends. We are incredibly lucky to have been able to make such a trip. My favorite part of the trip was our banquet with all the teams in the tournament, where we sat with the girls from the other schools who are in our grade. It was so interesting and enlightening to hear the girls from Army and Air Force describe their daily lives. Every aspect of their lives is based on a strict schedule with full school workouts and military training, and all sorts of things I wouldn't be able to do justice to in my own writing. I cannot imagine having such a regimented daily life like they do, but it made me feel incredibly grateful to attend Cal and to play for this team. 

Wish us luck this weekend! Go Bears!

 

September 9, 2015

Hey, Cal fans.

The Bears have traveled to Washington D.C., to meet George Washington himself! Just kidding! He is way too busy for us!  Anywho, we left Berkeley at 5:30 this morning to arrive overly early for our flight.  Luckily, we flew out of SFO and spent all that extra time (thanks Dave) in the coolest airport terminal on the face of this earth. The terminal has a million different food options and has a high tech ambiance similar to that of Ironman's home  It is insane. Also, there is an Express spa.  I considered spending my entire per diem for the weekend on a neck massage before realizing how bratty and high maintenance that seemed (and it was closed).

The flight was five hours long, but we made it five hours of FUN! I sat next to Christine and Laura. Christine was particularly thrilled. Did you know that on Virgin America, you can instant message with anybody on the plane using a personal computer screen? It is way too much fun.  And totally unnecessary.It is like they are just encouraging gossip. Or maybe I see it that way because I am a 20 year old girl. Craziness.

Anyway, we are so excited to be in D.C.! We have big plans for our trip!  Tonight, the seniors and Rich got to take a private tour of the West Wing of the White House!  Lucky ducks.  I was slightly jealous that I wasn't invited, but when I become the President of the United States I won't care anymore. Tomorrow, we have the whole day to explore, because we do not play until Friday. We are going to the Capitol and other monuments on a walking tour of the city, and then we are touring the Pentagon. It is so awesome that volleyball can take us to such amazing places. This is by far the most exciting trip that I have been on to date with Cal Volleyball. Even though traveling all the time is exhausting, we do not forget how lucky we are to get to see different parts of the country and do things that we otherwise might not be able to do.

After the day of touring we are going to have practice. For those of you who do not know the ins and outs of our trip, we are literally playing in the Pentagon.  I'm not quite sure how it is going to work, but it is obviously extremely exciting. We are incredibly lucky to have this experience. 

Tomorrow night, we are getting all dolled up for a banquet dinner for all the teams invited to this tournament.  It is actually kind of exciting to get to dress up and wear makeup and act like normal girls! This doesn't happen often. Not that we make much of an effort. Regardless, it should be fun to meet the girls from the other schools and get more insight into what this tournament is all about.

On Friday, we play Harvard and Army, and on Saturday we play against Air Force. They are all going to be tough teams to beat and we are looking forward to the challenge. We do not leave until Sunday, and we have the entire afternoon off on Saturday, which many of us will spend with family members who came in for the event. My aunt and uncle and two little cousins live in the area, so I am hoping to spend some time with them!  We are looking forward to an awesome trip!

Check back in next week for details.  I'm sure I'll have some funny stories (and if not I will make some up).  I'm off to do facial masks with some girls on the team because that's how lame we are! Until next time, Go Bears!!!

 

September 2, 2015

Last weekend we went 2-1 at our Molten Classic, beating Nevada and Eastern Washington and falling flat against Seattle University. To be honest, we could not have played worse against Seattle! Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong, and nobody performed to their potential. We are looking at that as a positive! We know that we can be so much better, and we are confident that we will play better this weekend. Thus, we are moving forward.

A wise man once advised us not to dwell on the past… that seemed like the right thing to say in this context. How did I do? Anyway, we are working hard to improve and prepare for this weekend, where we will play in Manhattan, Kansas against UNLV, Green Bay, and Kansas State.

We are looking forward to traveling for the first time this season as a team. Traveling is super fun, unless you have a fear of flying or hotels or you're allergic to the pollen in another state. Remember that. Anyway, traveling to away games with a party of over 20 people is quite something. We always cause a scene at the airport because of our supermodel-like beauty and shampoo-commercial hair. Just kidding. We wear baggy men's sweats and ponytails.

Anyway, trips are still kind of a conundrum. Our trusty Director of Operations, Dave, pretty much organizes everything, and deserves a lot of credit. We get to the airport approximately 19 hours early to ensure we don't miss our flight. It is a great system. In all seriousness, though, such a big travel group requires precise organization. I mean, running these trips must be even more demanding than running a major corporation.

For instance, all of our meals on these trips must be pre-ordered because our group is so large. Dave puts up with a lot in regards to organizing such feats. For instance, today we were supposed to send him our food orders for the weekend by 3 o' clock, and a certain blonde-haired libero completely spaced. What a moron, right? Dave was so nice and did not hold that against her. This is just one example of the resounding love and support that defines our entire program.

Anyway, sorry for the sarcasm. I am in quite a mood today. It must be this El Niño that's set to hit in December, or whatever.

Wish us luck this weekend! Go Bears!!!

 

August 26, 2015

Hey, Cal fans!

Have ya missed me?! I am so excited to be writing the Cal Volleyball blog again. We have some exciting things in store for this season, and I cannot wait to share our experiences with all our readers for the second year in a row!

We are stoked for the upcoming season. It has been so long since any of us were involved in formal competition, and as athletes, we really thrive on it! College athletes and competition go together like peanut butter and jelly, like peas and carrots, like Forrest and Jenny. ... you get the picture.  We are EXCITED! And we are ready, focused, and one with the universe. You could literally throw any sports cliché out at us right now and we would embody it.

The beginning of the season comes with a lot of hard work in order to establish who we are and where we are going. We just finished our two weeks of two-a-days on Tuesday, and during that time we learned a lot about each other and our team. We are a very competitive group and we are determined to succeed this year. We have put in a lot of work and have already made great strides toward getting where we want to be volleyball-wise.

 Even though two-a-days are mentally and physically taxing, I really enjoy those two weeks every year - each day, we get to play volleyball for six hours! We get to see ourselves improve a lot in a short period of time. We get to see what the freshmen are made of. Two-a-days really set the tone for the season, and that time shows us flashes of brilliance that we hope to turn into constants for our team. I LOVE two-a-days.

This preseason, we have a lot of exciting stuff coming up. First, this weekend we play at home in our tournament, the Molten Classic, where we will face Nevada, Eastern Washington, and Seattle U. Next, we go to Kansas, where we will play against UNLV, Kansas State, and Wisconsin-Green Bay in the Kansas State Invitational.  Our most anticipated trip this preseason, however, is to the Pentagon! We will be playing in a tournament versus Harvard, Army, and Air Force.

For now, we will prepare for this weekend against our first opponents. We are excited to showcase what we have been working on! Go Bears! See you all at Haas!

 

Hey Cal fans!
The Bears have traveled to Washington D.C., to meet George Washington 
himself! Just kidding! He is way too busy for us!  Anywho, we left Berkeley at 5:30 
this morning to arrive overly early for our flight.  Luckily, we flew out of SFO and 
spent all that extra time (thanks Dave) in the coolest airport terminal on the face of 
this earth.  The terminal has a million different food options and has a high tech 
ambiance similar to that of Ironman's home.  It is insane.  Also, there is an Express 
spa.  I considered spending my entire per diem for the weekend on a neck massage 
before realizing how bratty and high maintenance that seemed (and it was closed).  
The flight was 5 hours long, but we made it 5 hours of FUN! I sat next to Christine 
and Laura.  Christine was particularly thrilled.  Did you guys know that on Virgin 
airlines, you can instant message with anybody on the plane using a personal 
computer screen? It is way too much fun.  And totally unnecessary.  It is like they are 
just encouraging gossip.  Or maybe I see it that way because I am a 20 year old girl.  
Craziness. Anyways, we are so excited to be in D.C.!
We have big plans for our trip!  Tonight the seniors and Rich got to take a 
private tour of the West Wing of the White House!  Lucky ducks.  I was slightly 
jealous that I wasn't invited, but when I become the President of the United States I 
won't care anymore.   Tomorrow, we have the whole day to explore, because we do 
not play until Friday.  We are going to the Capitol and other monuments on a 
walking tour of the city, and then we are touring the Pentagon.  It is so awesome that 
volleyball can take us to such awesome places.  This is by far the most exciting trip 
that I have been on to date with Cal Volleyball. Even though traveling all the time is 
exhausting, we do not forget how lucky we are to get to see different parts of the 
country and do things that we otherwise might not be able to do.  After the day of 
touring we are going to have practice.  For those of you who do not know the ins and 
outs of our trip, we are literally playing in the Pentagon.  I'm not quite sure how it is 
going to work, but it is obviously extremely exciting.  We are incredibly lucky to 
have this experience.  Tomorrow night, we are getting all dolled up for a banquet 
dinner for all the teams invited to this tournament.  It is actually kind of exciting to 
get to dress up and wear makeup and act like normal girls! This doesn't happen 
often.  Not that we make much of an effort.  Regardless, it should be fun to meet the 
girls from the other schools and get more insight into what this tournament is all 
about. 
On Friday, we play Harvard and Army, and on Saturday we play against Air 
Force.  They are all going to be tough teams to beat and we are looking forward to 
the challenge.  We do not leave till Sunday, and we have the entire afternoon off on 
Saturday, which many of us will spend with family members who came in for the 
event.  My aunt and uncle and two little cousins live in the area, so I am hoping to 
spend some time with them!  We are looking forward to an awesome trip!  Check 
back in next week for details.  I'm sure I'll have some funny stories (and if not I will 
make some up).  I'm off to do facial masks with some girls on the team because 
that's how lame we are! Until next time! Go Bears!!!