The 14s Black team came into this tournament as the 7th seed and they walked out keeping that seed and taking home a well deserved CHAMPIONSHIP!!!
 
Our first pool of the tournament we had the 6th, 18th and 19th seed.  We started off with 18th seed YMCA Blaze 13 and took the win 25-13/25-13.  It was a great way to start off the tournament.  The girls looked ready and excited to play.  Our second match was against the 19th seed WVBA Mizuna 13.  The first match we were not as sharp and barely came away with the win 25-22.  The second game the girls came to play and finished the match with another 25-13 25-13 win.  The last match of the day was against the #6 seed Synergy.  From the very beginning we controlled the match with on target passes to run the offense and added a few new plays along the way.  We won the first 25-10 and the second 25-11.  We ended up 6-0 for the day and taking over the #6 seed. What a way to come out on the first day. To add to that we were only one of two teams that day to finish 6-0...and to add to THAT!!! We actually ended up being the #1 14s team overall for the day!!  The other team that had the other 6-0 record was the #1 seed in the tournament. But our points percentage was better at .183% compared to theirs .153%.  I am pretty proud about this stat. I have never had a team be #1 overall after the first day....or any day for that matter!! What a terrific first day accomplishment for this team.
 
Sunday, we were placed in a very well even pool.  We had the #1, #8 and #11 seed to play.  Like I said it was very even...the #1 team, Strike Force lost their first two matches which automatically took the #1 seed away and we ended up with a two way tie for 3rd.  We missed out on 3rd place by .04 percentage points. (but, it never mattered!!)  Our first match was an hour and 45 minutes long!! We played NW Jr.s and we won the first game 29-27....it was that close throughout the entire game.  We lost the second game 24-26, again no team leading more than two at any time and then we fought but just wasn't able to finish it out and we lost the third 11-15.  To watch this was an incredible match, both teams playing hard for each point.  Our second match was against Capital Valley Ice 13s and for a 13a team they were pretty good.....hmmm...reminds me of another team I used to coach?????    We snuck away the first game 25-20, didn't play to win each point the second game and lost 19-25 but turned it around completely the third game and won 15-8.  Our last match of the day was Strike Force and they had not played well all day so I was hoping to capitalize on that......well, it seems they realized who they were playing against and they upped their game and we were not ready for it.  They were scrappy and kept the ball alive and served tough against us. We lost 16-25.  So after a little pep talk.....the girls came out to play and made Strike Force earn their points. This was a great game and well fought on both sides. Sadly, we were unable to come away with the win and lost 25-27.  So as I said before we finished the day as #4 in the pool which gave us a 4pm start on Monday and the chance to win the Silver Division and finish 7th.
 
Well this was it....the last day this team would play together as a team. 2 years coming down to this.  Bittersweet to say the least. I wanted this so badly for this team.
 
Our first match we played Lake Tapps and we started off strong. We had a pretty good lead and then we relaxed and let them right back into the game. Lake Tapp never gave up and made us really have to work together to have a chance of taking this game. We pulled throught barely and won 26-24...waaay too close for comfort!!  The second game we definitely took and kept the control of the game on our side and won 25-12.  Round 1...accomplished....now round 2.....
 
We played a team ITVC 13 Asics. Who ever wins this match is in the Championship game.  This was it. How bad did we want to get to that game.  The girls wanted it....but may have put a little too much pressure on themselves and again made it waaay too close for comfort.  We took the first 26-24 (man, we had allot of close one like this!! Its too much stress!! )  After some gentle reminding on what we are playing for and the kind of team we can be the girls came out with determination and desire and won convincingly taking ITVC out of their game 25-12.  WE ARE IN!!!!!
 
What do you know.....guess who are playing for the Championship.....Strike Force and the girls want redemption!!
 
All I can say about this match is it is easily in my top 3 best matches ever coached and being a part of in my 25 years of coaching.  Both teams came out knowing exactly how they had to play....and it was all that a championship match should be and more!!!  We played with total confidence, belief and a never die attitude.  To watch these girls in this game was so rewarding.  This was their best match this season by far.  It had exciting plays, incredible saves and long rallies.  The girls really came together as team and brought everything they have ever learned in practice and experienced in matches previously and gave 150% EFFORT!  It was SOOO much fun to watch.  We won the first game 25-21.  Feeling very excited we knew we had to calm down and keep the control of the game on our side and now more than any other time make each point mean something to each of them.  We had control of this game especially after the halfway point.  Nikki came in and with her serving the ball in and her team backing her up we pushed 8 straight points to take a commanding lead.  They never looked back and we took the second game and the Silver Championship 25-16!!
 
Each girl played at a the highest level you could ever want.  We were smart, we communicated like never before and we served tough.  I do want to say awesome job to CC because she must have been set 10 times at least in the back row in our last two matches and she never missed!!  That is impressive and what a time to be "ON!"  The girls know though this was a complete team effort. Without each of them doing their job they would not have had the end result.
 
Thank you girls for making this year and the last two years the best two years of club I have had in a very long time. You are a special group and I could not be any prouder of you or have asked for our team to end any better than it did.  Parents, you are one of a kind and I cant thank you enough for all your support you have given me this year and the last two years.  I look forward in watching and hearing about your high school careers.
 
Remember girls.....TEAM - Together Everyone Achieves More!!   A SILVER CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
 
Love, Kirt