Welcome to my blog at the 2010 USA Volleyball High Performance Indoor National Girls’ Youth A2 Program (GYA2). Thirty-three athletes will train and compete for positions on one-of-three strength tiered teams, in preparation for an international style competition in Wisconsin Dells, WI from July 20-30.  I am thrilled to represnt AVA at this level and I know that more athletes from AVA will be attending soon! 

Here we go AVA!!

Tuesday July 20, 2010

After a canceled flight and  full day of traveling,  I arrived in Wisconsin Dells late in the evening.  It was cool meeting the other athletes from across the country that flew in also.    I met up with a few other Texas players .......we chatted about Junior Nationals...... yeah they remember playing AVA..... smile! 

I welcomed the chance to "hit the hay"!

Wednesday July 21, 2010

Woke up refreshed and ready to explore.  No time for that..... breakfast is calling.  Uniform tryons and schedule handouts.   2 a day practices OMG!!  

This is what it's all about ....." I can hear Katy Garza saying ....... "Hard work starts now"   I'm ready to put in the effort that we all do back home at AVA!!    I'm ready and I am prepared for anything thanks to a great club season.

Thursday July 22, 2010

7:30 AM breakfast

8:30 AM stretching and time for meetings with Coaching staff.  We are going over offensive and defensive goals.  We are still in one group and tonight we will break up into smaller teams.   All of the teams will be stacked!  These other girls are great to play with....... but I miss the closeness with my team from back home.... Miss you guys

12:30 PM Lunch YUMMY

2:30 PM back in the gym.  Stretch Time to scrimmage ..........hard and competitive!  .........

Yes a kill against a triple block.......   I'm loving it! 

I am trying to soak up all of the great coaching like a sponge......  the coaches here are nice but tough!

Melissa Wolter, Head Coach - Univ. West Florida, Asst Coach USAV GYNT
Jill Kramer, Asst Coach - University of Virginia
Mike Gee, Head Coach - USA High Performance Coach, Golden Bear Volleyball
Tom Hogan, Asst Coach - University of Colorado
Lauren Sauer, Head Coach - James Madison University

8:30 PM

BIG NEWS!!  I'm so excited......... I just found out that I will be playing on Team RED.     All of the teams have great players on them... Team RED is the top tiered team.   I can't wait to let my family and AVA peeps know.... gotta text and call eveyone!  

I have come a long way but there is much more work to be done.  

Time to rest!!!

Friday July 23, 2010

7:30 AM breakfast

8:30 AM   New plays to learn with our individual teams.  Everyone is so excited and ready to get to work.  I am learning how we function as a team..... what works now and what we want to accomplish as we go through daily practices.

12:30 PM Lunch YUMMY

2:30 PM back in the gym.  Stretch Time to scrimmage ..........hard and competitive!  .........

6:00 PM - Team building activities and sit down meetings with coaching staff   

Saturday July 24, 2010

7:30 AM breakfast

8:30 AM Hard practice and more positional coaching

12:30 PM Lunch YUMMY

2:30 PM back in the gym.  Stretch Time to scrimmage ..........hard and competitive!  ......... we playe the 17 RED and too them to 3 games.....final 24-26.  So close!  Next time.   We also srimmage the Youth National Team.  We fought hard and kept up our intensity

5:30 PM Headed to a USAV picnic and meet and greet with other international teams.

Sunday July 25, 2010

7:30 AM breakfast

8:30 AM Hard practice and more positional coaching

12:30 PM Lunch YUMMY

2:30 PM back in the gym.  Stretch Time to scrimmage ..........hard and competitive!  .........

5:00 PM USAV Opening Ceremonies!!!  I am excited to attend this event.  We are all getting dressed up finally!!   It's so great to see the other teams that we will be competing against.  I'm trying not to size up the competition....... but I am lol. 

Read the USAV article

The food is devine and the deserts are world class ......good!!

Monday July 26, 2010 -  Tournament play.  We went 2-0 YEAH!! Our Team RED played big and we really showed a desire to win at all cost.  Our hard work is paying off and we are very proud to get the win for team USA.

We played a USAV Continental team   3-0 (25-18, 25-14, 25-14)

Next we played USAV Iowa  3-1 (22-25, 25-15, 25-20, 25-17)

Tuesday  July 27, 2010 -  Tournament play.   We had a "bi" and won our afternoon game against an international team (Peru).    We are focused.  

We defeated Peru  3-0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-16)

       photo credit: osir photography                                photo credit: osir photography

Wednesday  July 27, 2010 - Next up we play the National Youth team.  We scrimmaged great against them taking them to 3 games.  We hope to do well today. 

Well sadly the National team edged us!!  UGGGHH!!   It's all good though!  We had fun and played great team ball.   USA vs USA is always a good match-up!!

3-2 (21-25, 21-25, 25-21, 25-13, 15-9)

Thursday  July 28, 2010

I am thrilled to report that not only did I have one of my best efforts!   ..........but we captured the BRONZE MEDAL - Gold Division

3-1 (30-28, 25-20, 13-25, 25-22) defeated Women's Junior A2 White

The only teams to finish ahaead of us were the Youth National Team and an older team in our bracket.     Wow!  I can't express the gratitude and pride that I have within.  I gave it 100% in order to represent AVA to the fullest at this level.   This was a very special 10 days.  I met amazing coaches, players and volleyball supporters from across the world.

I can't wait to share this experience with everyone back home at AVA.   Oh and by the way I told the coaches to expect more AVA athletes to attend.  Are you next?  You can do it!

 Kiara Wright