Cal senior libero and team captain Maddy Kerr is back for her last season taking Cal Volleyball fans inside the program.
Nov. 17, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Sorry for skipping the blog post last week. I was pretty distracted by the election results. The whole Berkeley community was, actually. There were protests everywhere, including walkouts by local high schools, and Sproul Plaza was full of people peacefully standing up for what they believe in. I'm so proud to go to a school like Cal, where students are unafraid and unapologetic to make their voices heard, and where everybody is free to be who they are. I love being a part of a diverse community of intelligent, talented, and hard-working students. I hope that in the coming months and years, we can see the country follow in our community's footsteps, and that more people can come together and unify, despite our differences. That's about all I can say about the election. You can follow me on Twitter for more!
So, this weekend we play at Arizona and Arizona State. Yes, I'm talking about volleyball now. Though the season has been relatively disappointing in terms of our record, to say the least, we are going to do our best to finish out on a positive note.
This is my very last road trip as a college athlete. It is definitely a weird feeling. Every senior class that I've had as my teammates has tried to describe this feeling in the past, and nobody can really do it justice. For me, it is less about ending my Cal volleyball career, and more about ending my volleyball career. I've played this sport since I was 10years old. I've worked harder at it, put in more time and energy, than anything else in my life, period. Hands down. It is sad and exciting at the same time. It's sad because I'm going to miss playing the sport, and the adrenaline rush that comes with competing. But, it's exciting because I'm ready to move on to something new.
When you're totally consumed in athletics, it's difficult to find a passion outside of your sport. However, that's what I need to do, because I don't plan on working in volleyball later on. I look forward to exploring new things and finding a career path that I'm excited about, one that is fulfilling. I don't know exactly what I'm going to do, but I'm excited to find something that makes me want to put in the same kind of work that I've put into volleyball for the last 12 years. Hopefully, it all works out!
I guess that's it for today! I got nothing else for ya. Hopefully I'll be funnier and more entertaining next week, in my last blog post ever! Thanks for reading! Go Bears!
Nov. 3, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Last weekend was super exciting. Although we lost to Washington on Friday, we rallied and SWEPT No. 18 Washington State on Saturday. It was a quick turnaround having to play two matches in less than 24 hours, as we are used to having a day off in between. But we played lights out and worked harder than ever to get the W. It was dope. #Dope. Yes, I'm a millennial.
Speaking of Ws, this week was also an exciting one for the Chicago Cubs, who got the [W] in the World Series for the first time in 108 years! I saw a tweet that read, "the last time the Cubs won the World Series, the most popular children's toys were mercury and chimney soot." So, if you aren't a baseball fan and miraculously don't understand the significance of their win, hopefully that puts things in perspective.
I'll be honest, it's not like I am a die-hard baseball fan myself, because I care a lot more about pop culture, television, and politics than I do about professional sports (besides the Warriors, DAD). However, I do LOVE my brother Nick, who has been the world's biggest Cubs fan since he was born, so I always root for the Cubs for his sake. He has experienced tremendous heartbreak over the years, particularly in 2003 - need I say more? He has stuck it out though, and has never faltered in his love for the Cubs. You should see his wardrobe - he is 24 but his closet is primarily made up of Cubs gear because he is a 12-year old at heart. Anyway, that game was INSANE. I usually get bored with baseball because they play like 500 regular season games and it can be pretty slow-moving, but that was the most exciting and nerve-wracking sporting event I have ever witnessed - and I was at Game 7 of the NBA finals this year. I mean, extra innings and a rain delay?!! That was straight out of a cheesy sports movie! It was so cool to see them win though and to see lifelong fans like my brother and Bill Murray final see their team succeed. It really is awesome how happy sports can make people. I think Nick is going to be celebrating this one until the 2017 MLB playoffs.
Hopefully we can use some Cubbies inspiration this weekend, when we take on No. 19 Utah and Colorado (I'm talking about volleyball now). I love that we have some momentum after next weekend. We are playing much better and I'm so proud of my team for competing so hard each day despite all the adversity we have faced. We have had a bunch of opportunities to roll over and give up, but everybody is still fighting. I love these girls.
Wish us luck! Go Bears!
Oct. 27, 2016
Hey Cal Fans!
Last weekend was a rough one, to say the least. We lost to USC and UCLA in L.A., and our record has dropped to 2-8 in the Pac 12. I am definitely bummed because the first half of Pac 12 play has not gone as well as planned. I definitely thought we would be more successful.
The good news is, now we get to start over and play everybody again. We know more about each team and have much more information about how to approach each game. I definitely think we will do better this time around and I look forward to competing.
I'm starting to realize how weird it is to be a senior. I only have a few more weeks to play volleyball competitively in my entire life. I do not plan to play overseas after college. I'm going to enter the real world and try to get a job and be an adult and what not - if anybody is hiring, hit me up! But in all seriousness, I'm going to miss it. Although my time at Cal has not been nearly as successful volleyball-wise as I expected when I committed to play here (the team had just lost in the National Championship), it has still been awesome getting to play Pac 12 volleyball. I love competing and being able to push myself and notice improvements in my play. I love working my butt off and watching my teammates grow.
Speaking of teammates, I love having them! I have a built-in group of sisters. There is no way anything in the real world is going to compare to the family that is a college sports team. I'm often relatively cynical and do not outwardly express my appreciation for these fluffy parts of sports, but I'm doing it now. I really love my team, no matter what our record is. I have made lifelong friends and I'll be forever grateful for them (besides Christine).
Aside from all that sappy stuff, it is just so cool to be a Bear!!! Being able to represent the best public university in the world is pretty incredible. Not only is Cal full of smart people, but they are SO DOPE. The population of this campus is incredibly diverse, with people from all different backgrounds and all different interests - and it seems like everybody who goes here appreciates that diversity. I have learned so much since coming to Cal that I wouldn't have learned at any other university, and I don't just mean that in terms of academics. I grew up in such a comfortable environment. I'm from a really nice neighborhood and went to a really nice high school and most of my friends growing up were exactly like me. I appreciate my parents for providing me with those things, but I am so happy that I chose something different for my college experience.
Berkeley is absolutely beautiful, but there is definitely some grit to it. Being a student here is a grind - there is no hand-holding, and when kids get here, they either grow up fast and get on top of their responsibilities or they fail. It really is no joke. I'm seriously proud of all of the students who succeed at Cal. I used to think that I had so much less free time than all the non-athletes in my classes, and then after talking to a bunch of my peers, I realized it is not the case. Cal students work so incredibly hard. I met a girl in class last year who worked two jobs and participated in student government on top of being a full-time student. Others are involved in important campus organizations and clubs, and many have internships on top of a full course load. I am so privileged to get to go to school with such hard-working people and be able to constantly feed off their energy.
Anyway, hope you enjoyed my "Cal appreciation" spiel. Come watch us play Washington and Washington State at Haas Pavilion this weekend! If you attend, a Halloween costume is required for entry - OK, not really but you should still wear one.
Go Bears!
Oct. 20, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Last weekend, we played ASU and Arizona. After a disappointing loss to ASU, we rallied to win a five-set thriller against Arizona! They were coming off a three-game winning streak, against UCLA, USC, and Stanford - obviously three great teams. Beating Arizona proved that we can compete with everybody in this conference, and we definitely should not be counted out! I'm so proud of the team. We have not been all that successful so far — that is for certain. However, we keep responding. This is the hardest working team I have ever been a part of. Everybody is constantly asking for extra reps before and after practice, and putting in extra time in other areas as well. We are making big strides.
Thursday morning, we headed into practice ready to work our butts off. We looked at the practice plan and saw a brutal two hours ahead of us. It was full of sprints, conditioning, and grueling ball control drills. We were a little nervous.
Then, Matt called Alyssa and I over and had us pick teams. We asked him what the teams were for and he wouldn't tell us. Sketchy dude. So, we randomly picked teams with no idea of what was in store. We figured it would be volleyball-related, considering we are a volleyball team. We should definitely be detectives based on our investigative/deductive skills.
Instead of everything we could have imagined, Rich lined us up and told us that we would be playing kick ball!@$!@$^*!^*!$@! Home plate was at one corner of the basketball court. Over the bleachers to the sides counted as an out, but over the opposite end of the court was a home run. We were pumped, but we definitely got a little heated in the heat of the competition.
I had Savannah on my team, who knows all the real baseball rules that nobody else really knows. She had to be the base coach to explain to everybody how to run (we play volleyball; we aren't used to running). Unfortunately for Alyssa, I picked a pretty killer team and we won 10-5. Mackenzie was the MVP for making a bunch of athletic diving plays (show-off), and Jenelle (on Alyssa's team) wanted no part in it. She told us that in middle school when they played kick ball in PE, she was the cheerleader. For some reason, that just didn't surprise me. Between the two teams, everybody yelled at each other, everybody tried to cheat, and everybody had a great time. Best practice of my career here at Cal.
Even though it probably seems like we were screwing around when we should have been preparing, I know that there is a lot to be said for having some fun. When you've been in the same routine, playing so hard day in and day out for two months, a mental break can be so much more important than getting those few extra touches. I feel more ready than ever for our matches this weekend, when we travel to L.A. to face USC and UCLA! Wish us luck. Go Bears!
Oct. 13, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Last weekend was a special one. Not only did we win our first conference match against 19th-ranked Colorado, but our own Savannah Rennie also made her collegiate debut in our game against Utah, five months after undergoing a liver transplant. Savannah has been working so hard to come back. She is playing so well and is so healthy, I sometimes forget that it has only been five months. It has been a rapid recovery, and it's all a tribute to Savannah's strong work ethic and perseverance. We are all so proud of her and can't wait to witness her improvement throughout the rest of her career.
Beating Colorado was definitely exciting. Some of our hard work finally paid off in a win. Our blocking and defense were lights out, and everybody was laser-focused throughout the match. We communicated well, approached it with a business-like attitude, and kept the emotion to a minimum. It worked in our favor, and it is clear that we are beginning to find our identity as a team. We still have a long way to go, but getting the first Pac-12 win helped us get over a hump. I know that we will continue to progress and will get some more wins.
So, I'm not feeling very funny today. The girls on my team that read this blog are now looking at each other and saying, "she's never funny." Anyway, I can't think of any good stuff to tell you guys. It's the middle of the season and I'm usually either practicing, doing homework, or sleeping most of the time. Actually, yesterday I watched three episodes of "Shameless." OK, so scratch out "doing homework" and replace it with "watching Netflix" in my previous statement. So yeah, that's what I do.
Today, I spent over an hour trying to find a hair salon to get my hair done at that fits with my schedule. Really important, interesting stuff. You'll all be happy to know that my roots will be fixed by next weekend. For you men out there, you probably don't even know what "roots" are, and I don't feel like trying to explain it. Just keep believing that I'm a natural blonde. Women are all totally natural all the time. We don't wear any makeup and we usually just throw on whatever is at the top of our drawers, just like you. In the words of one of the great poets of our time, Beyonce, "we woke up like this."
OK, I'm really done now. Becoming delusional. Reading this post was either a huge waste of your time, or it was a good way to procrastinate the work that you should have been doing. Or, you're a weirdo who is actually entertained by this nonsense. In any case, I appreciate you for reading!
This weekend we get to stay home again! We are playing against Arizona State and Arizona - two great teams. But, lets face it: everyone in the Pac-12 is great. That's why it is so freaking hard to get wins. We're excited to be on our home court again and keep the momentum going.
Go Bears!
Oct. 6, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Last weekend we played Washington and Washington State. We lost both matches, but they are tough teams that we had to face them in their own gyms with their own home crowds. We did some good things in both matches that we will build upon throughout the season. This week in practice, we have already gotten better at some things and are excited to utilize them in live play this weekend, when we play Utah and Colorado on Friday and Sunday.
We are especially excited to be home this weekend after spending the past two weekends on the road, the most recent trip being a five-day stint in Washington. Although we did get to have some fun in our down time in Seattle - some of us went shopping, toured the Space Needle, and more - it can still be brutal being on the road for so long. We got home Sunday night and did not have practice on Monday as our off day, but we all still had class and plenty of things to catch up on in terms of homework, laundry, grocery shopping, and some of the other adult stuff you are supposed to do when you live on your own in college (I, however, haven't been grocery shopping in over a month. #adulting).
The Pac 12 schedule can be grueling as time goes on, but it is just something that every team has to deal with. It was definitely nice to get our two weekends in-a-row road trips out of the way this early in the season, however, because it only gets harder as time goes on because we are Berkeley students and school gets more difficult as the semester progresses. Shout out to my professors! Thanks, guys!
Anyway, we are really looking forward to being home for two weekends in a row, not only to catch up on school and actually be able to attend class, but because we get to play in our own gym! Haas Pavilion is truly one of the best arenas in the country, especially in terms of atmosphere. I have high school friends that also play in the Pac 12 and they all agree that Haas is the hardest place for visiting teams to play (thanks Straw Hat Band!!!). So, we are definitely excited for the advantage we have playing at home. We need every extra edge we can get at this point, because Pac 12 volleyball is just so hard - nearly every team is ranked in the top 25, and there are no easy wins.
Come out and support us this weekend! I promise you, we are getting there! Go Bears!
Sept. 28, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
As many of you can probably tell, I am running out of things to say on this blog. I wish my life was more interesting, but I'm crazy boring. So, here is an interview with some of my teammates. I'm hoping that the combined boringness of us all will equal a somewhat exciting post for you readers. Here goes nothing:
Me: If you could swap bodies (like Freaky Friday) with anybody on the team for a day, who would it be and what would you do?
Maddie: I would swap with Christine so I could go get her cat shaved and then put it back.
Ashten: I would switch with Kolby (our volunteer assistant) so I could be an All-American and be generally good at everything.
Nobody wanted to answer this question. I thought it was a good question that would produce some funny answers. It turns out nobody really wants to be anybody else because we are already sick of each other.
Me: If you could play any sport other than volleyball, what would you play?
Bailee: Badminton because I could still make aggressive volleyball moves — but with a racquet.
Sabrina: Rugby, so I could hit people.
Jenelle: I'd do swimming, but only in clear waters and lazy rivers, and as long as my hair doesn't get wet.
Maddie: Boxing, so I can punch people in the face.
Christine: Any outdoor sport so I could get a tan.
Apparently we have some aggressive people on this team. I had no idea, but now I am scared.
Me: If you could be any animal, what would you be?
Bailee: A cheetah, so I could actually run fast.
Sabrina: A giraffe, so I can be as tall as my teammates.
Everything is based on volleyball and that is it. We are extremely one-dimensional as a whole.
Me: What is your karaoke song?
Sabrina: "Don't Stop Believing"
Alyssa: "American Pie"
Bailee: "Wannabe"
Jenelle: Anything from the Cheetah Girls.
I thought this question would solicit some funny answers… I'm not laughing but perhaps I've turned into even more of a pessimist.
Me: Who is the funniest on the team?
(Maddie and Bailee both volunteered themselves…)
No.
Me: Who is your favorite person on the team and why?
Bailee: Jenelle, because she is the only person on Earth who can be totally conceited but it's okay.
Christine: Maddy Kerr, because if I don't say that, she'll hit me.
At this point, I got over interviewing people.
Alright, we're gonna stop there. That didn't go as well as I'd planned. I hoped my teammates would surprise me with wit or humor in general, but I was sadly disappointed. Sorry guys — from the bottom of my heart.
We are headed to Washington to play Washington and Washington State! They're two great teams, but we have made some big changes in practice this week that will undoubtedly help us out and give us a better opportunity to win!
Wish us luck! Go Bears!
Sept. 22, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
As I write this blog post, I am sitting on the team bus on the way to SFO, surrounded by my loving teammates. Bailee and Maddie are in front of me taking selfies, Sabrina is playing an iPhone game from 2005, and Christine is texting all the people she loves more than us. We are on our way to Eugene to play the Oregon Ducks. The Oregon trip is always so much fun, mostly because we love the hotel. The Valley River Inn is truly a magical place. Usually when we come to Oregon, we have a day off in between games and get to go to the mall. For all you Californians who aren't aware, Oregon has NO SALES TAX. It's amazing. We get like 10 bucks of per diem and get to go crazy. However, this is a quick trip because we don't play Oregon State, so we won't get to shop. I guess we'll just have to focus on volleyball.
We lost to Stanford on Tuesday but played really well. Even though the outcome wasn't what we wanted, we showed how much better we have gotten already. It's still early in the season and I'm super optimistic about where we are headed. It's no lie that every Pac-12 team is really good, but we can definitely compete and win a lot of games.
Enough about volleyball. Don't you guys get bored of it? Christine wants me to make my blog more entertaining, even though I'm pretty sure she doesn't even read it. Currently trying to think of what would be fun to talk about when we literally do nothing with our lives. I go to practice and go to class and go home. On our off days I do laundry or hang out with my mom. Or I hang out with my mom while she does my laundry because I am an incompetent 21-year old (shout out to Margot!).
Today after practice we did watch something interesting and noteworthy as a team. Now I know you're probably thinking, "hey, these are Berkeley students. They probably watched a CNN special or a Ted Talk." You're wrong. We watched a TLC show called "Love at First Kiss." It's really the worst thing I've ever seen, but we wasted about 40 minutes watching clips from the show when I should have been writing this blog post. It's fascinating. I deem it a cultural phenomenon. This country is truly at its absolute worst for many reasons, and this is one of them. How is this a show? Somebody please tell me how it is a show. I need a sociologist to give me some information because I am LOST.
Anyway, that's the most interesting thing we've done as a team this season. Aren't you glad you know that now??? Your life is definitely better now that you have that information. You're welcome.
Wish us luck against Oregon tomorrow! Bears eat ducks (I think, idk).
Sept. 15, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Last weekend we went 1-2. It was obviously disappointing and we need to be better. We lost two close matches, but we showed spurts where we proved we could have won those games if we played our best. Just gotta keep grinding.
We are excited to close out the preseason this weekend with two away games at Pacific and St. Mary's. It is nice being able to play our nonconference away games so close to home for a lot of reasons, but one reason is that everybody gets to travel. We have 20 girls on our team (or something like that, I honestly can't keep track). When we fly and stay in hotels to play other teams in the Pac-12, we can only travel 15 girls, so we have to leave five behind. It is always weird leaving and not having our full team on these trips. It isn't fun for anybody, so weekends like this are nice because we don't have to leave anyone out.
After this weekend, we have a really quick turnaround and already play Stanfurd on Tuesday (AT HOME!!!). We are pumped for Pac-12 to start and to see how we match up against some of the best competition in the country, every single weekend. We will undoubtedly get better every game, and we think we are capable of beating some really good teams. This year even more than others, we are going to get better very fast because we have two freshmen playing huge roles for us in Bailee and Maddie. They have improved a ton already, but will continue to do so because they are only getting started. I'm really excited to watch them keep improving and see how good we can get!
If you live nearby, come to our Northern California away games this weekend! We always love all the support we can get. I also understand if you have prior commitments and won't hold it against you. BUT, if you miss the Stanfurd game, you are in big trouble.
That's all. Go Bears!
Sept. 8, 2016
Hey Cal Fans!
Last weekend we played three matches, losing to Long Beach State and beating Northeastern and UC Irvine. Although we were bummed to drop our first match this season, it was definitely a learning experience, and we grew from it. In fact, our improvement was noticeable almost immediately, and our next two matches were infinitely better. We were more competitive, crisper in our play, and just played better as a team. I'm incredibly optimistic about this team, and I'm so excited to compete again this weekend.
Our flight home from L.A. on Sunday was at 7 a.m. We were up at 5. I bet you can imagine how beautiful everybody looked and how lively we were as a group. The conversation just flowed. We got into political debates. We were asked by a photographer at the airport if we were models and everybody got offered a Victoria's Secret contract. Oh wait, just kidding. We looked like boys (not even cute boys) and didn't say a word to each other. It was memorable. Anyway, it was nice to get home and have a full day off to get stuff done. When I say "get stuff done," you're probably thinking I cleaned my house, did homework, or did laundry. What I really meant is that it was 75 degrees and I actually had time to go to the pool. I'm from San Diego, so I get some pretty strong Vitamin D cravings during the season when I'm stuck in a gym all the time. Sunday was a nice remedy to my indoor-itis. We didn't have school Monday which was also nice, because we had an extra day to get ready for class after missing Thursday and Friday last week (I had an extra day to go to the pool again after morning practice). I really wish I had something more interesting to tell you guys about the past week, but I'm super boring. I've been rewatching episodes of "The Office" and sleeping in my spare time.That's about it.
This weekend, we play against West Virginia, Grand Canyon University, and Santa Clara. All are great teams. Santa Clara in particular is our first ranked opponent of the season, so it will be great to see how we match up against a high caliber team that is more indicative of the types of teams we will face in conference. However, our team has talked a lot about how little it seems to matter what the other team does on the court. Of course you always have to scout and all that fun stuff, but we have so much potential and could really beat anybody if we are all "on." Until our game against UCI last weekend, we truly had not played all that well by our own standards. After that game, we all caught a little glimpse of our potential, and we are hungry for more. Nobody is satisfied yet and we know that we have to work hard every day to keep getting better. We have definitely gotten better this week.
Friday night will also be "Carli Lloyd Night.' We are honored to be able to recognize her after she helped the U.S. win the bronze medal in the Olympics. So, come out and help us honor Carli and see our progress this weekend! Go Bears!
Sept. 1, 2016
Hey Cal Fans!
If you are a true fan, you know that we are 2-0! If you didn't know that, say ten 'Hail Marys' and five 'Our fathers.' OK, now we're good. So, last weekend we beat Southern Utah in straight sets, and then came back from down two sets to none to beat UC Riverside in five. The second match was a thriller, and definitely reminded us what it's like to compete in Division I volleyball. After the match I realized that it's actually kind of weird getting back into 'competition mode.' Of course, we are all competitive players and we compete against each other all year in practice, but going eight months without playing in real games against real opponents is weird. In high school, you play volleyball all year around, so you are always used to playing in competitive games. Now, we have to wait most of the year to compete, and certain mental aspects of the game can get lost. It never takes long to get back into the swing of things, and I think playing in a five-set match made us adapt quickly. After last weekend, I think our team has remembered how to mentally prepare to beat another team, and I am really excited to see what we can accomplish this weekend.
This week was also the first full week of school. I wish we would've done a team trip to Staples to load up on 'Hello Kitty' binders, magic markers, and construction paper, but everyone was too busy. Bummer. Maybe next week. Cal is really a lively campus when everyone is back. It's so diverse - Sproul Plaza is full of all kinds of people, from jocks to artists, A cappella groups to engineers, frat boys to enraged feminists, and more. At the beginning of the semester, the energy is super positive - 4.0 hopes are high, people are trying to branch out and make new friends, and freshmen are pumped to be living on their own. After a few weeks it all changes, as school is always way harder than we expect, kids get sick of trying to be friends with everybody, and freshmen just want to get away from their ever-present roommates. The good vibes remain, because Cal is an awesome place, but nothing is as exciting as the first couple weeks of school. We are getting used to having to balance volleyball and homework again.
Anyway, we are currently on a plane heading to Long Beach. I'm sitting next to Bailee and the other Maddie. They're a lively bunch. I was supposed to send this blog post in last night, but I'm a senior now and have been super busy trying to get my post-grad life together by applying for jobs. So fun (not).
Tomorrow we play Long Beach State, and then on Saturday we play Northeastern and UC Irvine. I'm so excited to see how we match up against these teams. We have been working so hard and seeing immense progress, and I know we have what it takes to come out of this weekend 5-0.
Wish us luck! Go Bears!
Aug. 25, 2016
Hey, Cal fans!
Have ya missed me? I'm coming off a long summer vacation - the longest I've gone without taking a class since high school - so forgive me if my writing is below standard. School is today earlier first time in while. Oh, sorry. See? I'm rusty.
Anywho (by the way, spellcheck just underlined 'anywho,' so maybe I actually am rusty; I thought that was a word). But,
anywho, I'm excited to be back writing your favorite blog (wink) because that means our first game is on FRIDAY! I'm so pumped. I'm so excited that when I think about it it's like I drank a ton of Red Bull. It's like in
Semi-Pro when Will Ferrell yells, "I'm so happy I can't feel my arms!" If you haven't seen that clip and would like to, click
here.
You're welcome.
Anywho, it's going to be a lot of fun. We've been working our butts off since last season. I've never been on a team with people who are so determined to win, from top to bottom. One really big change for our team is that we have a new-old associate head coach. No, I don't say 'old' because of his age. He doesn't look a day over 30.
Matt McShane is a new-old coach because he used to coach at Cal about eight years ago and is returning from a head coaching job at the Air Force Academy. I'm guessing eight is the right number. It's something like that. Matt is GREAT. He has made every one of us significantly better and has helped us get our mojo back. It is no secret that the last two seasons were rough. Working hard every day and then going out and losing all the time is insanely draining.
Anywho, when you lose your mojo, the fun is lost. We all play volleyball first and foremost because we fell in love with the sport back in the day, because it is fun. When it isn't fun anymore, it becomes really difficult to succeed. Matt has helped bring the fun back. We warm up with music blasting, watch fun and inspiring videos, and answer questions of the day that have nothing to do with volleyball. For example, one was "what is your dream vacation?" But, we also play high intensity, fast-paced drills that require everybody to go 100% all the time. Matt is fun, but he's demanding. And it's a really great balance. Everybody seems to be thriving, and it's just a very positive environment. I know it's early and we haven't even played a game yet, but the vibes are just so good. It feels different than the last couple years, and I'm really excited to see what this team can do. We have truly gotten better every day.
So, we play Friday against Southern Utah and Saturday vs. UC Riverside, both at 7 p.m. We don't know anything about these teams, obviously, because nobody has played yet. However, I think it will be clear to every Cal volleyball fan that we have improved significantly, and that we're ready for the challenge that is D1 volleyball.
See you Friday! Go Bears!
