Who was your best competition this summer?

nmsvbteam · 07:50 PM

I've found that the only way to improve is to play higher and higher caliber volleyball players. This challenge seems to be what brings out the best in us and reveals more about our potential then we would have known otherwise.

So, who was your best competition this summer? Were you able to rise to the occasion, and realize a greater depth to your game then you had seen before? How did it go? How are you going to seek out even greater competition next year?

Guess I'll let others respond then I will be happy to drop in my experience.

Thanks!
--
Check out our volleyblog:
http://desertsandvb.blogspot.com/
Click on our sponsors, help us to raise $$$

NewEnglandRT · 09-19-2006, 09:12 PM

Well, I only played in one or two organized tournies this summer. The best part of the summer is we had a regular pick up group at the local sand court. Most of the time the play was pretty even which led to some great play. What was also fun was occaisionally a group of open players would come down.

As is the tradition with the court, winner stays next team can step on in any format they like (4 can come on against 2 etc.). I played a couple of games against some AA/Open players it was a blast! They did more placing than pounding but it was definately a learning experience that tought me alot about my game.

strazzere · **Season's not over! -** 09-20-2006, 02:08 PM

I know it's the first day of fall...

But my season isn't over - play this weekend in the VIP event!

I'm hoping to get the best competition there.

Better not rain... Or I'll kill you all.

nmsvbteam · 10-17-2006, 07:34 PM

Ah, late response. Thanks for the others above. In one of the first tournaments this year, we got to play the eventual 2006 AVP rookie of the year Brad Keenan and his partner, John Mayer. Brad was huge, blocking balls without jumping. He was having a hard time passing, but must've really improved quickly to have the season he did. It was a Sunday open tournament, after playing the AA the day before at Dockweiler, CA, and we didn't have our legs that day. We lost, not horribly, but we weren't really in the match. A bit later on we got to play Adam Roberts and Paul Baxter, a couple of AVP guys (nice guys as well) at the Motherlode in Aspen. We dropped that match as well, but it was much closer and was a blast. Playing that higher level of competition definately brings out parts of your game you didn't know was there. I only wish we had that kind of comp in NM all the time! Oh well, indoor sand for the winter and dreaming for next summer...