Random Summer Moments

Kim & I (one of many nights)

Kim & Jen...BBQ @ my loft

Kat & I in Minnie for Jack's event

Erica & Phil's Big Day

Rachel & I @ my Birthday Party

Bianchi, Manu & I in Hawaii

Kim & I after the ESPYs

Like Father Like Daughter

So many memories this summer thanks to all my wonderful friends and family.

Love you all...

Pallavolo Update

After arriving 11 days ago in Italy, I have already played 3 matches. Jetlag...what's that?  I got off the plane Saturday afternoon (November 20th), and left for Poland Monday morning (November 22nd).  Possibly had the highest scoring match of my life with 4 aces, 2 blocks, and 1 kill.  I now try to remember back to the match and hardly remember it I was so jetlagged.  But after only practicing 2 times together, my team pulled out our first Champions League victory against Lodz.

Villa Cortese def, Lodz 25-19, 25-17, 16-25, 25-15

Next up was our first Italian Championship match against Urbino. Last season Urbino upset us in our first match against them and we weren't going to let that happen again.  Once we came out strong, and again had our 3rd set lapse but pulled of the big win in 4.

Villa Cortese def. Urbino 25-17, 25-21, 22-25, 25-20

After only one day of rest...which really wasn't rest since we lifted weights, we had to play another Champions League match.  This time against a team from the Czech Republic.  Still on a roll from our last two matches we finished this one in 3 sets.  It was a great match for our team, playing without one of our best players others had to step it up.  Now we are 2-0 in Champions League.

Villa Cortese def. Prostejov 25-19. 25-23, 30-28

Next up is Piacenza...

Ciao from Italia

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.  Unfortunately I am here in Italy and can't be with my family but I am very thankful for being in Italy and doing what I do.  Spontaneously I asked Aury Cruz (my teammate) if her friend ("The Chef") wanted to cook a turkey and do Thanksgiving dinner.  "The Chef" agreed so we decided what everyone was providing and planned the dinner.

Last night we (Megan Hodge, Omar (Megan's boyfriend), Aury Cruz, AD (Aury's boyfriend), Walter ("The Chef") and I) gathered at my apartment for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was a little random but good enough.  Turkey, chorizo stuffing, onion risotto, sweet potatoes,  spinach w/ pancetta, salad, bread, apple tart, and tiramisu.  It actually hit the spot and did feel like a Thanksgiving meal.

The Turkey

My plate (well the 1st one)

Lastly and most importantly I just want to say Thank you.  I am so thankful to have to best and most supportive family in the world.  Words can't even explain what they mean to me and how blessed I really am.  I am also thankful for the incredible friends that I have, and all the opportunities I have been given in life.  I should be thankful everyday because I really do have a wonderful life.

Here are some pics of my incredible family

Mom, Dad & I

Dad, Lexi, & Noa

My sis Erin & her lil ones

Lala (My Grandma) & I

Dad, Mom & Lala in Japan

I hope everyone had a wonderful Turkey Day...cause I sure did.

Ciao from Italia...

World Championships Recap

Because I didn't blog about our last two games in World Championships I thought I would give a little recap.  Unfortunately we did not finish as high as we would of hoped.  The two losses in the 2nd round led to a difficult match up in the semi-finals against Russia.  Their team had an average height of about 6'4"...I felt very short out there on the court.  After lossing the first set we came back strong in the 2nd to tie up the match.  But the Russian's proved to be a stronger team that day winning the next 2 sets and advancing to the finals.

Russia def. USA 25-16, 13-25, 25-19, 25-21

The tournament wasn't over after that match.  We still had a chance to go home with a medal.  This game proved to be a tough one as well playing against the home team Japan.  It was an up and down match, one set to us, the next to Japan and so on.  In the 5th Japan proved to be the digging machines that they are and upset our team to win the Bronze.  It was a very hard fought match and unfortunately we came up short.  But in the process learned a lot about ourselves and our team and hopefully will return next summer as a better team.

Japan def. USA 18-25, 25-23, 21-25, 25-19, 15-8

Overall 4th place was not exactly where we wanted to end up, but it was a successful tournament.  There were many highlights, a couple low lights, but most importantly a lot of learning that will help us get to our ultimate goal of winning the Gold in 2012.  I want to thank Japan for being a great host country and making the month as comfortable as possible.  Incredible crowds...  Can't wait to be back for World Cup.

Sayonara...

Happy Birthday Noa

To my Darling Noa,

Happy Birthday...wish I could be there with you to count and dance all you want.

Miss you.

Love your Auntie Lou

My Nephew

Final 4...

Wednesday we battled a tough match against Brazil coming out a little short with a 3-1 loss to them.  If we would have won we were automatically in the Final 4.  But since we lost...we had to wait for the results of the Cuba/Italy match.  Unfortunately that match was the last one of the day...and ended up going 5.  If Italy would have won...the deciding factor would have been points and it would have been very close.  My Dad being the mathematician that he is...was figuring out the amount of points we needed and what Italy needed throughout the whole match.  But...eventually Cuba won and we advanced to the Final 4.

Thursday we traveled on the bullet train from Nagoya to Tokyo.  I have been on the bullet train before but every time is a great experience.  Comfortable, quiet and fast.  I think it took only about an hour and half.  We passed Mt. Fuji...supposedly it is difficult to see because there is always snow on it.  But it was perfectly clear for us with no snow.  It was amazing but too difficult to take a picture from the train.  Looked a little bit like this though...

I spent most of the train ride dominating the Monopoly card game and watching an episode of The Event...one of the new TV shows I am getting into.  I will post another blog about my other favorites.

Friday was another off day.  Had a great practice at the competition gym, a little walking around with Logan, and dinner with my family.  It has been so great having them here, I can't even explain it.  The more time I can spend with them the better since I will be off to Italy soon for 7 months.

Here are some pics from the streets of Tokyo...

Today we play Russia in the semi-finals.  They are undefeated up to this point, and their average height is about 6'5".  I might be exaggerating a little but not much.  Our team is so happy after a long summer of competition and training to have made it to this match giving us an opportunity to get to the finals.  I know I am fired up for this game.  I can't even remember the last time I played the Russians. But I think it is a good match up for us...even though they are giants...we are ready to take them down.

With Love from Tokyo...

One down...one more to go

Tonight was one of our more crucial wins of the tournament so far.  Without tonight's win we would have made it very difficult on ourselves to make it to the top 4.  But...we came out on fire and played some good volleyball.

USA def. Netherlands  25-17, 25-22, 25-18

Brazil, Japan, and Russia have already secured three of the four spots.  The last spot will go to Italy or us.  We have a tough match against Brazil tomorrow and hope to play our best volleyball yet. Time to get some rest...we have a quick turn around.

With Love from Japan...