The 20th Annual . . .
[Haven’t seen these guys for a while . . . like 3rd game of the year. They’ve had a good year but probably not as good as they expected. They were defending conference champs coming into the year and are now a mostly senior team. I was a late arrival and play had already begun against Wadena-Deer Creek, who I believe were state champs in their class just two years ago.]
[The double high fives is generally indicative of a point for us. 😉 ]
[So, from left to right, we have Liz Schultz (1-senior), Amanda Haack (11-senior), Alexis Stern (8-junior), Kalley Bistodeau (2-senior), Morgan Melrose (4-junior), and Brooke Swanson (6-senior).]
[And Katie Dolan (7-senior).]
[Kalley (K2), Brooke, and Amanda]
[Another point for the Cards.]
[Rock, hammer, scissors? I just noticed I did the first 7 photos in reverse chronological order . . . but no one would know that, so I’m not going to change it.]
[In these all day tournaments, it’s best 2 out of 3 (rather than the usual match of 3 of 5). The Cards dispatched the Wolverines by identical 25 – 19 scores.]
[Next up was the Mounds View Mustangs, who required a two-photo pre-match team meeting!]
[Yay for us! Now including Jordyn Lamb (12-sophomore) and Gretchen Watkins (3-senior).]
[Gretchen attempts the daring, no-look high five.]
[K2 with a good fist pump.]
[We did good!]
[These are getting to be my favorite photos – the defensive formations. Did they bring in a nickel back?]
[Brooke and Amanda patrolling the net.]
[Though Amanda is usually the setter, every once in a while that quick leftie hit over.]
[K2 and Brooke attempt a block.]
[Try that again!]
[Looks like Brooke and Amanda got that one.]
[Liz’s jump serve was consistent all day. In fact, I thought she had a great all-around day.]
[OK, hit ’em where they ain’t.]
[Brooke, if I can hide behind you, they’ll never see me.]
[OK, up on 3!]
[Woo-woo!]
[Amanda’s jump serve . . . ]
[K2]
[Watch out for ye ole Statue of Liberty play!]
[Stuff!! Brooke had her fair share of them.]
[Double team attempted stuff.]
[Amanda tries the sneak in behind Liz trick.]
[K2 signals the play . . . slider, low and away.]
[Oh, oh, that one is outa here!]
[Amanda waits for the helium leak.]
[Another K2 fist pump.]
[That was good!]
[ . . . I’m thinking hot fudge with crushed black walnuts.]
[Alexis]
[Liz serving; don’t know the guy standing.]
[Three up front lineman with one linebacker.]
[K2 receives]
[Amanda serving behind Liz; still don’t know the guys.]
[Jordyn and Liz]
[K2]
[Katie; same guys]
[Gretchen]
[Block or tap back?]
[Blocked?]
[Gretchen serves while K2 momentarily zones out.]
[We win! Again two games to none.]
[Good game, good game, nice game, good game, have a nice trip home, good game . . . There was an hour break after the Wadena games, I lounged at Dunn Bros. There was a two hour break after these games so I went home, watched the Gophers, did my nails, washed out a few dainties, the usual household duties . . .]
[I came back in time for the Grand Rapids games to round out the round robin. Before entering the gym, I had to play around with the large touch-screen in the hall where I called up the Class of ’65 yearbook. 😉 ]
[Well. that was a trip down memory lane . . . though those passing in the hall stopped to offer condolences.]
[Liz and Amanda, synchronized ballet, as battle begins against the Thunderhawks.]
[Where’d it go?]
[Just noticed I have a stretch here featuring Liz. Well, all day long, if she got a clean hit, it wasn’t coming back. I would have kept feeding her under she cried, “No mas!”]
[Liz]
[Liz]
[People get ready . . . ]
[Well, now we’re on the other side of the net. We inexplicably lost game one after carrying a nice lead throughout – then we hit a stretch where the wheels come off for a while?]
[Nice block here though by Liz and Jordyn. Again we jumped out to a nice early lead.]
[Liz and friend.]
[Ooops!]
[And we let what looked like an easy win become a nail biter. But it was then on to game 3.]
[In or out?]
[Jordyn goes for one.]
[Liz and Morgan]
[Looks like K2 just hit one.]
[Hope that thing is sailing out?]
[K2 again]
[We again had a nice early lead . . . then hit that invincible wall. The Thunderhawks came back to win game 3 and the match.]
[Noonan’s Park on the way home. The dummy swans don’t seem to be a deterrent to the Canada geese anymore. 😦 ]
Yesterday I saw a chicken crossing the road. I asked it why. It told me it was none of my business. ~ Steven Wright
Up next: Something.
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