All coaches must turn in all equipment (uniforms, balls, carts, first aid kits) at SHS at 6:45 0n Sunday, May 16th. If for some reason you are unable to attend please make alternate arrangements with Mike Zeno.

Thanks for [...]]]> All players must have their uniforms turned in to their coaches no later then Saturday, May 15th.

All coaches must turn in all equipment (uniforms, balls, carts, first aid kits) at SHS at 6:45 0n Sunday, May 16th. If for some reason you are unable to attend please make alternate arrangements with Mike Zeno.

Thanks for a great season!

The girls traveled to Rochester with their families and stayed with many of the SAJO teams at a hotel getting a chance for fun and relaxation before [...]]]> The 14-2’s team took 1st place in the silver division in the final tournament of the year in Rochester, MN. What a great way to end a great season!

The girls traveled to Rochester with their families and stayed with many of the SAJO teams at a hotel getting a chance for fun and relaxation before the big tournament. Pizza, swimming and text-tag were part of the festivities.

The girls started off on a positive note getting to sleep in a little extra as they did not have to play or ref the first game of the day. After arriving at the Rochester volleyball center via bus the girls found a corner to “camp” out in and prepared for the first match. Having taken 2nd place in Blaine the prior week the girls were feeling very good about their chances.

The first match pitted the feisty SAJO team against a team from Goodhue. Game 1 started well as both teams were trying to get their serves in an keep the ball in play but as the game wore on it became evident that the much taller Goodhue team was going to be a problem. As the Goodhue team kept spiking away the girls from SAJO had little answers as blocking became an issue. They hung in there but lost game one. Game two was not much different than game one except the score was much farther apart. The SAJO team could not counter the exceptional setting and spiking by the Goodhue team. Slightly dejected they didn’t have to wait to see who they would play next as they were scheduled for back to back matches.

Match two saw the girls play against a team from Southern Minnesota Volleyball and watching them warm up the girls knew they were in for another challenge. The SMV team was similar in height as the Goodhue team and once again the inability to block would become the nemesis of the SAJO six-some. Although the girls played more soundly and kept plugging away at their SMV foes the task was too much and the 14-2’s fell 2 games to none.

After the second match was over the girls took a much needed break and refueled both physically and mentally. The coaches tried to reassure the team that they had just finished played two very good teams and not that they played great but that they were just over-matched.

After the hour break next up was a team from Byron. The sloppy play continued for the first half of game one before the SAJO team started finding it’s groove and started executing like they did the previous week in Blaine. After beating the team from Byron in a closer game then it should have been the girls kicked it in gear and dispatched the Byron team rather quickly in game two. Serving was once again the strong point for the SAJO girls with several of them serving in the 90% range with Ashley Green leading the way at 100%. Strong net play by Chandler Stormo and Kayla Novak led the rejuvenated girls to victory.

Having posted a 1-2 pool play record this put the girls in the Silver bracket for the playoffs. With confidence running high the team got a well deserved rest as they watched the SAJO 14-3’s play and eyed up their next opponent.

First up in playoff play was a team from kasson/mantorville Minnesota Volleyball. The girls came out flying and took a big lead led by serving once again. After settling in the KMVB team started their slow and methodical come back making the first game closer then it should have been. Game two started much like the first with the 14-2’s jumping out to a good lead. This time the girls held off the charging KMVB team and  finished them off.

Up next was the SMV-2 team which made the girls a bit nervous as they had not faired so well against the SMV-1 team earlier in pool play. The 14-3 team played them fairly well and came down to the wire before the SMV team prevailed so this allowed a bit of confidence to creep forward for the 14-2’s. After a sluggish start and some much needed words of wisdom from the coaches (only 4 games left to medal, etc.) the girls settled in to their comfort zone led again by stellar serving and exceptional positioning. The girls found their groove and beat the SMV team 2 games to none.

To show off there swagger and extra energy the SAJO 14-2’s played a lively 5 on 5 match while waiting for their next opponent who was playing on the court next door. This couldn’t have been too good to see for the next opponent as they must have been thinking what in the world is going on? Shouldn’t they be resting?

With all the confidence in the world and even though the next opponent had some height advantages the girls plugged along with the mantra , “only 2 more games to medal”. After overcoming some early serving miscues the SAJO team squeaked out a game one victory and then took care of business in game two easily earning their second medal in two weeks.

The 14-2’s had their most successful showing this year at the Blaine tournament on Saturday, April 17th taking 2nd place. It was a long day starting at 8AM and finishing at 7PM. The day featured 6 matches and 17 games with many of them going down to the deciding points for the victories.

The day started [...]]]>

The 14-2’s had their most successful showing this year at the Blaine tournament on Saturday, April 17th taking 2nd place. It was a long day starting at 8AM and finishing at 7PM. The day featured 6 matches and 17 games with many of them going down to the deciding points for the victories.

The day started against a weaker opponent from Mound View which the team handled rather easily 3 games to none. Serving was a key to the success of the girls throughout the day and their serving proved to be too much for the MV team to overcome.

The second match pitted the girls against an even weaker team from the East Ridge Athletic Association. Again serving was the key as the girls even hit 100% during the second game. The SAJO girls beat the ERAA team 3-0.

Next up was a team from White bear Lake. This was a much more evenly matched set of games and the girls recovered from a sluggish start to take the first game. Maybe the sluggish start was the result of playing weaker opponents in the first two matches. The WBL team was up to the challenge in the second game and eeked out a victory making the rubber game important if the 14-2’s were going to pull a number one seed in the tournament play. The girls started out a bit slow in the final game which was played to 15 points but came roaring back with strong serving and awesome position play. With hearts pounding they played a spirited final point to come away with the match 2-1. This victory gave the 14-2’s one of the 1 seeds in the gold division tournament.

First up in the gold division tournament was a team from the Anoka-Ramsey Junior Olympic club. After the spirited match with WBL the girls were fired up and easily dispatched of the ARJO team 2-0. Again serving was the key and proved to be too much for the ARJO team. Fine net play throughout the day was also key as the girls were really aggressive at the net.

Next up was a tough team from Alexandria. The girls started out slow going down 8-1 before starting a long climb back in the game only to lose 25-23. This comeback must have been on the minds of both teams as the SAJO girls came out firing in the second game and started 8-0 and never looked back. The girls from Alex looked a bit shocked and came out sloppy in the third and final game with serving once again a key factor in the decision. While the SAJO girls served 100% the team from Alex missed their final four serves in what must have been a disappointing end to their tournament but was another heart pounding victory for the SAJO team.

With no time to rest next up was the evil SAJO 14-1’s (just kidding! don’t hate! just adding drama). The 14-1’s played like a well oiled machine and the lifeless 14-2’s easily succumbed to the taller team making uncharacteristic mistakes throughout the match. Unlike the spirited scrimmages at practice this match seemed very subdued. Maybe it was the exhaustion. Maybe there was no gas left in the tank. Maybe there will be a next time. Who Knows. Hopefully…

Congratulations to the 14-2’s for a great showing and taking second place.

Oh Yeah. Congrats to the 14-1’s for their awesome 1st place finish as well.

Congratulations to the 14-1’s team on first place in the gold division!

Congratulations to the 14-2’s team on second place in the gold division!

Congratulations to the 13’s team on second place in the [...]]]> The three 14’s teams and the 13’s team participated in the Blaine tournament on Saturday, April 17th and 3 of them took home medals.

Congratulations to the 14-1’s team on first place in the gold division!

Congratulations to the 14-2’s team on second place in the gold division!

Congratulations to the 13’s team on second place in the silver division!

To find out more check out the team pages for individual stories. Way to go girls!

Also, remember to get a hotel reservation for Rochester.

Where: Blaine High School, 12555 University Avenue Northeast, Blaine, MN 55434-2199

Details: We are the D seed in the pool again, which means out schedule is: Sit, Play, Play, Sit, Play, Ref

Here [http://www.stillwaterjovolleyball.org/wp-content/uploads/BJO-Tourney-Schedule-4-17-101.doc ] you will find the schedule for pool play and playoffs.

Reminder: [...]]]> When: Be there at 8 a.m. – Please don’t be late!!

Where: Blaine High School, 12555 University Avenue Northeast, Blaine, MN 55434-2199

Details: We are the D seed in the pool again, which means out schedule is: Sit, Play, Play, Sit, Play, Ref

Here [http://www.stillwaterjovolleyball.org/wp-content/uploads/BJO-Tourney-Schedule-4-17-101.doc ] you will find the schedule for pool play and playoffs.

Reminder: Tailgating was a lot of fun last Sunday. However, as a reminder we are going to be on school property (which is substance free by law) so please remember that when packing your coolers.

Please gets lots of rest, drink lots of water, and make sure you are stretching and loose! Again, this is a tournament so it will be a long day.

Thanks,

Brenda brenda@welsch.org