League Champions

So this post is a little late but I figured better late than never!! Our season has been done in Villingen for a month now and I am just waiting to hear back for next year and what is going to happen. Hopefully I will know before I leave to come home on May 16th!

As for the season we were very lucky to finish it up at home! And even better was that we were able to get a win at home for the 1000+ fans that we had! Playing infront of a crowd so large is amazing and I got to do it all year. I don't think that there was a game this season that we had less than 800 people watching at home. On the road was a different story.....but that was everywhere in the league.

For our final game we played Wiesloch, a team who we went to 4 with in November when my uncle and my mom were here. This time we didn't have such a shaky start and we were able to win in 3. This team had one player we needed to worry about, and we were able to contain her for the whole match so it made our job much easier this time. I think the first time we played them she had 8 kills in the first 10 or so points of the game. This time our block and defense was much better.

The final scores were 25:17, 25:16, 26:24. In the third game it was a little too close for comfort as we were down throughout the whole set but there was never any doubt in my mind that we were going to win. The other nice thing about the third game was that they put in the original players from the beginning of the season meaning that I got to move back out to power. Although it wasn't my best attacking performance it was great to play defense in 6 again and pass! I definitely missed it but I was getting accustomed to right side so who knows for next year!

After the game it was time to thank the fans for all there support this season! The club made two huge sheets that read "Vielen Dank" meaning many thanks! We were fourtunate enough to get a standing ovation from the crowd for a couple minutes. It was nice to show them our appreciation for all their support this season.



After the usual press conference we recieved gifts from the club. They were photo boards with pictures from the newspaper and the season. It was such a great gift as half of the picture I hadn't even seen yet! I am super greatful for the present but not quite sure how I'm going to get it home since it rather large and is glass.

They also made us a cake with our team photo on it....by far the coolest thing that I had ever seen and it tasted pretty amazing too! Overall it was pretty sad that the season was over and we wouldn't be playing anymore this season. But it didn't mean that we didn't get to party hard for the championship.

We decided to make the most amazing tshirts ever. It was a great bonding experience for the team, even if it was the end of the season and a lot of fun too! We had everyone sign the shirts as a momento for the season. Then we got the managers and the coaching staff into it and even some of the fans too! Another bonous with winning was the ridiculous amount of alcohol that they gave us. We ended up with 2 cases of beer at our house and 14 or so bottles of perseco give or take a few! It was obnoxious and clearly we didn't drink it all that night but it did make for a very fun after party at our house. We left Saki's at 3am when it closed and then headed up to our flat with the managers and some of our friends for a party that continued until 5 am or so before daylight savings kicked in.

All in all it was a great way to finish off the season

Wins 15 and 16

So shortly after Kurz came to visit I was privileged enough to have Shelley Chalmers come up for the weekend from Bern! It couldn't have worked out any better as we were playing in Freiburg and she was able to take the train there to watch the game and then come back with me to Villingen for a quick visit!! We had a very busy weekend as we arrived back in Villingen and decided to make the most amazing tacos ever created! The only sad part was how pathetic our guacamole was. Note to everyone, don't try to make it with unriped avacodos! Then that evening I took her to the Kraftwerk party at an abandoned power plant in Rotweil. It is the craziest thing....there is over 1000 people in these 2 giant rooms with DJ's at one end and stages all throughout the dance floor! We definitely had a bit of fun since it was our first TBird reunion in Europe!! The next day we went to the spa baths for some relaxation time and recovery from the previous night. Then she unfortunately had to hop right back on the train to Bern as she had her own training on Monday morning. Although it was a short visit it was still so great to see her!! The best part is we are meeting in Venice on May 1st for some travels and I can't wait for that to come!

But onto the game. We played in Freiburg and we looking for our 15th win of the season and getting one match closer to clinching the league title! Because the game was on the road we didn't have many fans but it was okay as the few that did come with our team were loud and rowdy the whole game!!

As for the specifics of the game we didn't start the match so well as they aced us to start the game but after that it was smooth sailing for the remainder of the match. It was our best blocking match of the season as I had 3 blocks to start game 2 and Michele and Jana had a couple in Game 3. We were able to easily dispose of them in 3 with the scores being 25-19, 25-14 and 25-21. It was nice to get another win and be one step closer to winning the league and heading up for the next season!

Next week were were on the road in Offenburg. This game was supposed to be our last of the season however they had to move it up because Barack Oboma was staying at the army base in Offenburg and the whole city would be shut down. I believe there was NATO meetings in Strasbourg that week. Kinda bizarre but we were all happy to have the game earlier as it meant we were done a week earlier and we got to finish the season off at home!

Again the game was not very eventful as they were the last place team in our league and it is sometimes hard to motivate yourself for those matches. But the main motivation for everyone was that we could clinch the league this week! And that is exactly what we did!! Although we didn't play very well we were able to win the match fairly easily in 3 with the scores being 25-23, 25-18, and 25-12. I actually got a break for half of the match as the coaches decided to make a few subs towards the end of the second and third game. It was a change but everyone knows I am super competitive and would have much rather been out there than watching!



Now we have one game left at home! It is a relief that we have clinched the league and can relax and enjoy the last game of the season but it definietly needs to be a win as no one likes to finish the season on a loss!