>_< Volleyball (part 1)

So since the volleyball season is up and running (at least for the most part) it's time I probably delve into one of the most important things in my life, volleyball. This sport and I have some really interesting chemistry and I think it's time I put my thoughts into words before I grow old and start to wonder why I even loved this sport.

It actually started in high school. But before that I was really into basketball. Why?? Probably because my dad was an avid fan of the sport, and I would always watch the games with him. Weird thing is that I didn't actually start shooting around until I was... 12? That's all that I did really, shoot. Shoot and shoot. Of course my shot got decent. I had an opportunity to test my skills in middle school, where my reputation to be quite the "balla' " took over my life. Many of my classmates urged me to join the middle school team, but I just stuck to playing recreation. Wasn't the best 5th or 6th grade, I think it was because I wasn't tall enough? I didn't play in 7th grade but I played in 8th grade, where I basically beasted.
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And THAT right there was a draft written on November 11, 2008. I was actualyl scrolling through my old posts and I found this one was incomplete. After reading through it, I see why. And so, 4 years and 3ish months later... let's finish this!

I sprung up to about 5'8 towards the end of middle school, which made me taller than the average boy. Needless to say, I was pretty dominant in the paint, and I had a deadly shot too. When I entered high school, that's when all the diversity hit me. I decided to try out for the high school basketball team, where I stood under the shadows of boys who were easily a potpurri of 6 footers. I tried out, and a few nights later got that dissappointing call that moved basketball from a passion, to just a hobby. I spent the rest my freshman year a little disappointed, but it allowed me to focus more on my social skills.

No I'm sad to say that I don't really quite remember how my introduction to volleyball happened (I mean... it happened in middle school, I always remembered how "good" I was) ... but how I ever got the idea to try out for the high school team I'll never really know. Perhaps we started the unit on volleyball in gym class and it sparked some kind of trigger to play. Either way... the time to try out was drawing near. I remember that part clearly. I hadn't gotten my physical papers cleared yet, so I sat on the sidelines watching the NEW volleyball coach (and one of my future mentors) run some conditioning and basic drills. Watching it all come together made it all the more interesting. By the time I was actually cleared, I had begun the most rigourous conditioning I ever had - even moreso than basketball. Which was surprising. My coach was so passsionate about the sport, I couldn't help but push through. I found out early on that I was a natural passer, and all I needed was to grasp all the fundamentals needed to succeed. Fast forward 3 years and I'm captain of the varsity team. I've learned all I could at my skil level and it was all about getting better at that point. Playing more. Experience.

When I finally got into University, I found out there wasn't a NCAA team. I thought long and hard about starting a club, but I didn't know anyone at the time who could help me. I found out there was open gym volleyball on the "calendar of events" that we freshman had. I figured I would give it a try, maybe meet some new people, and keep honing my skills. I opened the door and that's when I saw Justin.

ta ta kids