Thank goodness, it's volleyball season again.  Good scrimmage today and good turnout by the Bobcat faithful including AD Schaus. 

To use the vernacular of corporate America, takeaways were, in no particular order - Sue Jacoby lighting it up from the service line as well as the outside.  Her jump serve is right up there with the best the Bobcats have seen in years.  If she learns to cut it in addition to the snap curve, we're looking at lots of service aces.  She very well could be MAC player of the year if she leads this group to another MAC ring.  Michelle Jantsch dumps the ball better than anyone I've seen in the Convo.  Period.  She's got a new crew to set to in several positions but the timing will come.  Katie Post was a major factor in the middle and as she enjoys a year of health and strength, she could very well be a dominant factor in the MAC.  And then Meryl is Meryl.  Rarely do DS get the credit they deserve much less any credit.  Imagine a catcher who never gets to bat.  We'll there's your DS and there's Meryl.  Glue, anchor, rock whatever you want to call her.  If I'm picking in a pick up game of basketball, she's my second pick (number one is a scorer because I can't shoot any longer) because she'll always get it done.

Now the challenges.  How do you replace the MAC's all time kill leader and a middle who's now going to play in Europe?   You don't today but you build by committee and hard work from solid players.  Walking around the Convo and observing from almost as many angles as the cameras of John and Bill, the Spiketown brothers, i saw some things that were most encouraging.  Leah Petrovich is the future at qb (setter for you non-vb folks).  What an offensive attitude.  She reminds me of a kid I coached years ago and had to physically put on the bench when she showed up at practice in a cast the day after she broke her arm and wanted to know why she couldn't play that day.  I hope my grand daughter is that tough.  Ashley Jordan has developed into the type of college player that Laura Smith at Adena has groomed for over 25 years.  She flat out gets after it.  And Kelly Colyar is the real deal as a DS.  Time and experience working with and watching Meryl will pay big dividends.

I haven't neglected Mandy or Faith.  Quite honestly, I was too busy watching the new kids to see where they were and the seniors to see what kind of leadership they were bringing to the game to objectively watch the others.  The one thing that I did notice was their approach to the game and the way that each celebrated success and brushed off defeat.  So much of this game is momentum and how you react to what's going on.  Both of them could play on my team any day of the week.  They keep going at it on every point and in volleyball, that's exactly what you need to do.  

Can't wait till the tournament with TN, Pitt and Northwestern.  Talk about putting your money where you mouth is and taking on the best.  8 NCAA appearances in a row is certainly within this group's reach.

Now the question is - is it within your reach to support them?

See you in the Convo this fall.

great comprehensive report...thanks!

Wish I could be there Friday morning.....There is a bright side.....Will be on my way to Louisville!!!

it is a new year, new chapter. It will be an aggregate group effort to earn the MAC most successful team. Go Cats!

Borna, any idea if posters will show up at any point for Volley/Foot/Basket?  I have my bedroom walls here nearly covered, and was hoping to finish up with this year's set.

Last year's was 24x18.

What a shame after producing one of the most badass posters ever for basketball, a really cool one for volleyball and some nice ones for other sports  they went and cut all posters. EEEEESHHHHH>>>>>>letter jackets, posters, the list goes on.... maybe game day programs will be replaced by mimeographed sheets.......may have to go back to collecting all my Cats gear  in  Lexington.

What is the vaalue of the posters? I dunno, I was reminded by PM today that one of a little kid in Illinois greatly cherishes his poster. I handed about 200 of them out last year at road games as I walked through the crowds in Delaware, Illinois, Indiana and most road games I attended. People loved the poster and I think appreciated having the schedule on their wall to remind them of games upcoming even though they lived in far away places. Gotta think things like that keep people in touch with the current roster and give kids a collectible that stays with them.

EDIT...Nice to see that the local community sees the worth of catching the casual fanz attention.  Looks like that may be the only thing of interest in the community though. Good thing the car still knows the way to Athens.