Monument City Classic Jan 14 - 16, 2012
Information Page
The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.
Last updated:  04/12/2012 10:22 AM
 

Wonderful tournament to start the season! 
Second Place in 15's Open Division 2.  4-4 record.  Great job! 

Memories of #10, Alexandra Arnold

Initial thoughts and fears fill the minds of each and every one of us as we begin the 3 hour drive to our first tournament…..the Monument City Classic. Our bodies are filled with adrenaline and fear. For some of us Monument is just a repeating event but we were ready to conquer whatever came our way as a team. This was our first real test of the year as a team. On Saturday afternoon we walk into our first real barricade of the season. That day we went 0-3 but we never let it bother us. Less than 48 hours later we walked out of the Richmond Convention Center as a Division 2 finalist. One person wasn’t the reason we came home with that title. Teamwork is the reason we got were we did. That teamwork is what is going to help us get better and better at each tournament we go to this season.  Together we can do the impossible and Richmond was only our starting point.

The volleyball ricochets off the blocker’s hand and referee blows the whistle. The parents begin to cheer and we all run into a huddle. Nothing could have contained our excitement. We ended up finishing as a Division 2 finalist in the Monument City Classic.  Richmond was the starting point of our season. It didn’t go as smoothly as we expected but if we had went 8-0 we wouldn’t have learned what we did. Richmond gave us a chance to practice what we have learned so far and see what we need to practice. Together we grew as a team at Richmond and it’s only the beginning of our season.Can't wait for Saturday to do it all again!



Memories of #4, Piper Roe

I love going to Monument every year. Monument is a great way to start the volleyball season, meet new people, and a great way to make memories! These are some of my team's memories: together we watch, getting kicked out of certain areas, Tebowing, dog piles, team trains, elbow tag. :)
 

Memories of #3, Hannah Shields
My favorite part of this weekend was getting to know my teammates better. Sure, playing volleyball was amazing, but being around all of my teammates and coaches while playing, made it even more special to me.  Dave & Busters, O'Charley's, and eating pizza back at the hotel was so much fun. We all learned more about each other and had fun while doing it. I can't wait to spend another weekend with everyone in Tennessee!
 

Memories of #7 Michelle Kembel
Nerve racking; the words most teams would use coming into Monument. I mean why not? It’s the first tournament, you haven’t played that much as a team, you should be nervous, but when you ask us what word first came through our head about Monument I think it would be excited or anxious. Even though we didn’t come out on top, we still managed to accomplish one huge task that some teams will never accomplish and that’s loving every single player on the team even after the first tournament which I think it’s safe to say we all still do; which is awesome. So with that said, the weekend was great, the coaches are amazing, and let the games begin!



Memories of #1, Carden Clark

I had a great time the three days we were in Richmond. I was excited about the extra time I would get to spend with my teammates, so I could get to know them more personally. The time we spent together making hair ribbons, going to Dave & Busters, and hanging out at the hotel and eating pizza was just wonderful. Most of all I enjoyed playing volleyball with all of my teammates! I'm so happy to be apart of a team where we get along on the court and off the court. Its very hard to find such a great group of girls like my teammates that all get along. Also I was happy with how well we played. Even thou the first day was bad, I think we made up for it the other two days! And that's also another thing I love about this team, even thou we do bad some games we never give up and give 100 % every time! :) That's the story of my great experience in Richmond with my volleyball girls.:)

Memories of #20, Amelia Dalton

Together we sacrificed our time and effort to play what to most people is just a game. But to us this is our life and our passion.
This weekend we got to show everyone what were made of and all of those hours of practice paid off! Together we did!!:)
 

Memories of #26, Kayla Goumas

This weekend, the Monument City Classic was very fun. I think that we worked together like a team. Everyone worked very hard and we played well but i think we could play a lot better! We all have room for improvement, especially with serving, passing and setting.  As a setter I can work on being more consistent giving each hitter the same set every time. We won some, and we lost some this weekend, finishing 4-4. Even after Saturday, day 1, when we started the weekend 0-3 our whole team was still able to smile and get along after the end of the day. This is different from teams I have played on before where girls start yelling at each other and blaming one another for her own mistakes. I love all of the girls on our team and when one of us is down the rest of the team picks her up. We were down by a lot in some games and we all worked together and encouraged each other to come back and win! I also thought that the coaches had a great impact on us this weekend. I have been on teams before where the coaches just sit and yell at the players from the sidelines. Some coaches pull girls out of the game and never put them back in, and some coaches don't have faith in each of their players. I really appreciate Coach Houser, Coach Easter, and Coach Caroline for encouraging us throughout the whole tournament. If they pulled one of us out of the game they would explain why and tell us what we needed to fix and they would give them another chance on the court. Even in the games we lost, they told us we what we did good but we could be doing even better. It's nice to have coaches who support all of the girls on the team. Overall I feel this weekend was a good start to our season. We all have a lot to work on, but if we all continue to get along and play with our hearts, together we can and together we will reach our goals!




Memories of Coach Easter
Can't wait for Saturday to do it all again!

Memories of Coach Houser
I was so very impressed by these girls' love of the game, their love of each other,
and their constant cheerfulness towards their teammates. 
Agree with Coach E:  Let's do it again!

Memories of #15, Leah Clayton

My weekend in Richmond was a lot of fun.  I am sure all the tournaments we go to this year will be great and as we work together and get better it well be more fun.  I was a little nervous but as the day went on I felt better.  The fellowship off the court was the most treasured.  I have only known these girls for 2 months and feel I have known them forever.  I love the way we play with passion and for the love of the game.  I am so excited for the next tournament. 

Leaving After Saturday!  See ya tomorrow! 
 

I told the team to warm up.  What's going on?     :) 
 

 

Driving Directions For The Weekend: To Our Team Hotel On Friday Night:                  (These directions assume that you're coming into Richmond in I-64.) à Take the Gaskins Rd North exit, EXIT 180B for 0.3 mi à Merge onto Gaskins Rd. and go 0.6 mi à Turn  left onto Mayland Dr   (Starbucks is on the corner) for less then 1/10 of a miles. If you reach W Broad St you've gone about 0.2 miles too far à 9933 Maryland Drive, Richmond, VA 23233-1462 is on the left. If you reach the end of Mayland Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far 2 hours 48 minutes from Roanoke.  178.4 miles. If you’re coming on I-64 Saturday morning directly to our playing site: From West of Richmond I 64 East Bound to I-95 South to 64 East Bound: Interstate 64 East to junction Interstate 95 South to I-64 East/Third Street Exit#75. Bear right for 3rd Street (Do not go straight on the junction, it will take you to I-64 East). Travel ahead to 3rd and Marshall Streets. The Greater Richmond Convention Center's Parking Deck will be on the left on 3rd Street. Time from Roanoke:  3 hours, 20 minutes. Directions from our team hotel to our playing site: Get back on I-64 East, and use the directions above.  15 minutes.  12 miles. Directions from the Richmond Convention Center back to our team hotel: àAs you come out of the parking garage, turn left (one way)- go 0.2 mi àTurn right on BROAD ST - go 0.2 mi àTurn right on BROOK RD (one way) - go 0.3 mi àBear left on W LEIGH ST - go 0.1 mi àTurn right on N BELVIDERE ST - go 0.1 mi àTake ramp onto I-95 NORTH toward WASHINGTON/CHARLOTTESVILLE - go 2.8 mi àTake exit #79 onto I-64 WEST toward POWHITE PKWY/CHARLOTTESVILLE - àTake the Gaskins Rd North exit, EXIT 180B.  0.6 mi àMerge onto Gaskins Rd.  0.2 mi àTurn left onto Mayland Dr.   (Starbucks is on the corner)   0.08 mi If you reach W Broad St you've gone about 0.2 miles too far à9933 Mayland Drive, Richmond, Va 23233-1462 is on the left. If you reach the end of Mayland Dr you've gone about 0.1 miles too far