Blues NEWS

16 Power -- Emerald City Classic (5/28-30):
Blues 16 Power ended the season with a bang! Participating in the 2010 Emerald City Classic in Seattle challenged the girls. With several of the players (Elly, Calista, Kate) missing the tournament due to other activities, and Madison playing with the 18's did not allow for any subs. Elly McCuire from the 14's Power came to the tournament and was a great addition. She filled into the outside position beautifully, and played great defensive that only got better each day. Elise and Lauren ended the season with power and finally showing off how much they have grown as players, especially their shot selection. Middles, Meredith and Meagan played consistently all weekend. Both have learned so much about the game, and it is easy to see how that knowledge is translating into their play. They are moving quicker, hitting harder, and becoming a presence at the net. Brynelle again was our back row specialist and stabilized our passing throughout the weekend. She is really starting to read the ball which is improving her passing, serve receiving and defensive. Katelynne was our setter all weekend, and wow! This was one of her best tournaments. Her setting was very consistent and she really got our offensive going. Charlotte was with us all weekend, and even through she could not play still due to an injury, she was great support. She is a great player, and look forward to seeing her back on the court soon. We walked away 5-4 for the weekend ending on a great note. The girls have grown so much and will make a huge contribution to their high school teams, which are only a few short months from starting.

16 Force -- Memorial Day Classic (5/29-30):
16 Force saw the best competition they'd seen all year at the NW Memorial Day Classic! It was a great chance to step up and play up to their competition and that they did. Despite not being able to pull out a match, the girls looked they best they had looked all year. There were rallies where we were coming up with great digs by being in the right spots and swinging aggressively. We had scrappy rallies where we were determined not to let a single ball drop! It was hard to watch those matches slip away and if we had been able to play consistently at that level we could have taken a couple of matches! The girls really looked great and the parents were right there showing their support! I had a blast this season girls. I wish you the best of luck with your school season and tons of fun this summer! Good job girls, you really showed how much you learned this year. Go Blues!

18 Power -- Willamette Valley Classic (5/8-9):
The team had an impressive tournament all things considered. Things to consider: no Maddy for most of Saturday, the Blues had to play two right sides all the way around that have an average height of 5'4". We were able to hold seed, meaning we beat teams who we were "supposed" to (2 teams seeded behind us), and lost to the teams we were "supposed" to lose to (The 3rd and 4th ranked teams in the tournament). The highlight of Saturday was finding ourselves tied with the number 3 seeded team in the tournament (PVC Black) at 17-17 and scaring them in the second set. On Sunday we struggled against a familiar foe. Mid Valley Black, a team we played twice at regionals, was able to dispose of us in 2. The team was able to bounce back and beat Webfoot Silver to finish our tournament with a win. A bitter sweet way to end the tournament, we played our best volleyball during our last match. Makes you wonder what we could have done if we had played that well all tournament.

16 Power -- Willamette Valley Classic (5/8-9):
The entire Blues 16 Power was suited and ready to play this weekend at the Willamette Classic. Setter, Charlotte attended as Honorary Assistant Coach, sidelined due to a broken ankle, and helped her teammates battle hard all weekend. Saturday was full of highs and lows, as the team went 1 and 3 for the day. Coming into the tournament seated 31st, the team could not quite find their rhythm All the girls played well, with extremely great net play, finally becoming a force. Elly, Kate, and Callista stepped up and played awesome defense giving front row players Madison, Elise and Lauren well deserved rests. Callista even showed off her setting skills, aiding in the teams comeback in the 2nd match. She played fantastic, showing off how deep our team is with talent and diversity. Day two was the highlight of the weekend, going undefeated all day, winning the championship match in 3 games. The girls finally looked like they were having fun, giving the crowd something to cheer about. The girls pushed themselves more then ever, trying new things like jump serving, gaining attention from teams and parents. We all look forward to our last tournament of the season in Seattle, the Emerald Classic.

16 Force -- Willamette Valley Classic (5/8-9):
Sunday morning the girls looked great! They were serving the other teams off the court and beat one of the teams 25-10 in one set. The girls were transitioning and running plays and communicating with one another on the court! That first match was the best the girls have looked all year! The girls continued their high level of play through the second match but couldn't quite pull it out! The loss was a heartbreaker since we had the lead late in the second game to try and take the match to a third. But despite the disappointment in that final loss, the girls looked great all Sunday morning and I heard they looked good on Saturday too! Good job girls! I look forward to Memorial day! It should be a lot of fun! Go Blues!

14 Power -- Willamette Valley Classic (5/8-9):

The 14 Power team had an exceptional weekend at the WVC! Going in 19th seed out of 60 teams we needed to win both am pool play matches in order to hold seed and compete against the top teams in the pm pool. The girls battled hard winning tough rallies with intensity and poise and won the pool to remain 19th. In the afternoon we played the 1st and 7th seeds. Martina faced her first solo coaching experience like a true champ and the girls went out with something to prove. We fought hard against the 1st place seed but lost that game. Then we went in to the next match against the 7th place seed and pulled out an amazing upset in 3 sets!! With this win we took over 7th seed and landed solidly in the silver bracket. Next day the girls gave it their all to take 9th place overall. They all should be sooooo proud of all their hard work this season. What a way to end an amazing year!!! Go Blues!!!!

14 Force -- Willamette Valley Classic (5/8-9):
Our last tournament of the season and I saw a happiness in everyone. Saturday morning had its moments but the 14 force was able to stay the second seed and move on to afternoon play. Afternoon play was a little tricky! It seems we went all out in the first game in the morning..fizzled in the middle and then ended the afternoon beating the top seed. Yet, it didn't work in our favor. :( Again a learning experience but smiling faces. After some chocolate milk... and string cheese we were ready for sunday. Sunday was filled with fire and heart from everyone. We won our first bracket play game to move on to the championship. Everyone put forth a team effort and no one was left behind. I'm proud of my kids for seeing the adversity and learning that is the hardest hurdle to beat. Yet as I always tell them to walk in the gym with their heads high and walk out with their heads high no matter the outcome. What a season! Great job kids! Go Blues!

16Force -- CEVA Area League Regionals (4/24):
Regionals for 16 Force was great! The girls played their hearts out and at the end of the day came out on top for all their hard work. The first two matches were intense but steady as the girls won both of them in two sets. Our third match was against the 1st place team in our pool and here we struggled just a little bit. They got into a groove and we couldn't get out of a funk, thus we dropped our third match in pool play. After a morning of hard work we ended up 2nd overall in our pool. Immediately after finishing pool play we had to jump on the court again for our first round of bracket play. The girls played hard and looked good but the other side ended up being able to put more points together. Finally our girls got a break and a chance to eat some food! After getting refueled, the girls went on to win two straight sets and end the day on a win! The girls looked great all day! They came together, fought illness, fatigue, and lack of rest time and really played as a team.

I am very proud of you girls. You all showed real desire and teamwork. Congratulations on a great day!

18Power -- CEVA Regionals (4/17-18):
The Blues entered the 2 day regional 15th and exited the 2 day regional 15th. The team was unable to pull out an upset on the weekend but that doesn't mean it didn't have it's high points. Saturday was the toughest day as we were unable to pick up a single set win. Perhaps the girls minds were thinking about their impending proms? On Sunday the team returned focused and hungry. We had a rematch with a Mid Valley team that had entered the weekend ranked 7th. On Saturday we lost to this team in 3. On Sunday we pushed them to 3 and lost the 3rd set 15-13. The Blues passed well, scrapped, and tested the teams defense over and over again. The team was like a bunch of mosquitos, buzzing around and not going away. From the losers bracket the Blues took on Alpine's top team. We battled hard and lost in 3 again. During the match a Blue sustained an injury and are thoughts are with her now. We wish Rose a speedy recovery. The weekend was not rife with wins but it was ultimately some of the best Volleyball the team has played.

16Power -- CEVA Regionals (4/19):
Coming into regional's Blues 16 Power seated 24th, was in a pool with teams we have faced before. Winning the first game of the day with a great 3 game win, the girls felt well deserved confidence. Challenges for the day was of course there, with Charlotte sitting on the sidelines with a broken ankle. Katelynne stepped up to the plate as the only setter on the team, and had a great day. Elly showed her diversity as a player, at times setting, as righside, and defensive specialist. A coaches dream to have a player as flexible and unselfish as she is. It was great to have Madison, Meredith, Kate, and Callista back after missing the last power tournament. They all played their roles contributing to the teams success throughout the day. Elise and Lauren showing their true talents as teams leaders with their competitive leading skills and strong all around players. The team finished 2nd in pool play and excited to enter bracket play, facing Salem Black a team that had not lost all day. Being the first team of the day to challenge their undefeated day took the team to a 25-27 first game. The girls played their hearts out and in the second game felt the heat of the afternoon sun, and ran out of steam. Over all the girls have improved so much throughout the season gaining respect from many teams and coaches. Coaches comment that they are always excited to play the Blues as they know they are in for a great game of volleyball.

14Power -- CEVA Regionals (4/18):
The 14 Power team ended an extraordinary power league season in the Bronze Division! Starting out the year seeded 30th out of 117 teams, the team battled tough opponents with courage, dedication and teamwork in every power league. During the regional championships, the girls went undefeated through pool play, landing them solidly in the Bronze Division to fight it out for the championship. Going into bracket play, the girls played a tremendously exciting match against OVA and ended up only losing each game by 2 points. Although the girls were sad at that loss, they fought once again against two more opponents to close out the day 21st in the CEVA region. The girls should be really proud of all of their hard work. We are looking forward to playing again at OSU this weekend at the WVC. Your coaches are really proud of you girls!!! Thanks to all of the parents for their support and encouragement. Go Blues!!!

12Power -- CEVA Regionals (4/18):
The Blues VBC 12U Power team played in our Power League Regional Championship tournament on April 17^th, in Gill Coliseum on the OSU Campus. With a final ranking of 14^th, we played in the Gold/Silver Division. After a long early morning drive, we opened up against the 6^th ranked North Clackamas 12 Black team. With a lot of energy, we fought hard before coming up short 19-25, 22-25. We followed that up against #3 Excel NW 12 Black who showed us that they deserved their ranking with some aggressive play at the net and an 8-25, 8-25 win. After a match off and some food, we finished up our Pool C play against #11 OJVA 12 Gold. Maybe there was something in the hummus, but we came up on the wrong end of an 11-25, 14-25 match. On to the Silver Division playoff bracket and Cowlitz 12 Black! Bringing out some of our best play of the day still wasn’t quite enough in this one…21-25, 19-25. We finished out the day against our friends from Salmon St, MAC Jrs. 12 Black, 20-25.

We’ll look back at this long day and recall some good times…hitting the ball as high as we could and still not hit the ceiling, looking goofy in blue wigs and inflatable hands, running up and down the stadium stairs even though we told Coach Mike that we were tired. And we’ll know we spent a day with our friends and teammates, playing a game we love …and after all, just like doing the Hokey Pokey, that’s what it’s all about! We leave our Regional Championships with one burning question though: Why are all these teams named “Black”?

14Force -- CEVA Power League (4/11):
Last power league of the season and it was a hair raising event! The 14 force battled in pool play and it all came down to a three way tie. So, then it came down to points and then precentages! PHEW! It was classic! Blues came out on top as first in our pool. What an amazing showing from everyone. We were in the championship bracket and were heading towards the finals! After beating North Clackamas we were up against columbia again! We did our best and was a little short but we came up second which moves us up for regionals! I was so proud to see both my middles reading the hitters and getting huge touches on blocks. A few stuffs…Shu and Ala had a great tournament. Amelia and Maddi stepped up and were offense threats. Sammie had some key serves and great passes. Jetaime stepped up to serve and had a great kill! Rosen also stepped up to serve and passed with ease. Karlene had a great solo block at the net and Crispin couldn't be stopped on serves! Overall it was a great tournament and we are ready for regionals next weekend! Go Blues!

The Blues 16 Force team played in the 16U Area League -- West tournament, at Jesuit High School. The menu for the day… a main dish of close matches and nail-biters, a big helping of sustained energy and enthusiasm from the good guys, finished off with a well deserved desert of a 3. We opened with a great serving performance against PDX Navy, missing on one jump serve in the first game, and one serve in the second game. When a team serves like that the results are usually good and we won 25-6, 25-2 to get off to a fast start. Next we ran up against Power Force Black and came out on the short end of a three set affair, 19-25, 25-21, 12-15. We closed out pool play with our second three set match in a row…a 25-23, 21-25, 15-9 win against SEI Attack. All of this added up to breaking pool in 2. First round of playoffs…you guessed it…another three set match! We drew the first place team from Pool U, Wave 16 and came oh so close before losing 19-25, 25-23, 13-15...yes, a pair of two point sets. We finished off the day by getting revenge on Power Force Black for our pool play loss with final two-point set, a 25-23 nail-biter that featured a final point that must of gone over the net 10 times before we finally put an end to this great day! Go Blues!

12Power -- CEVA Power League (4/3): ranked #14 going into regionals!

On April 3^rd at PSU, the Blues VBC 12U Power team played in our final Power League tournament before regionals. We opened up a very long day with a tough opponent, eventual 1^st place team Apollo Purple, and came up short 12-25, 18-25. The next match was a recurring theme for the day, a three game match, winning the first against Mt. Hood 25-18, before losing the next two 19-25 and 9-15. Wouldn’t you know it…we ran up against CCJV Black for the second tournament in a row and played better, but still no joy for the good guys…20-25, 19-25. We got some rest and some food and came out in bracket play to take Athena Beta, 25-23, 24-26, 15-9…yep, another three game match and extra points to boot. We finished strong with a 25-16 revenge game against Mt. Hood and resulted in 5th placed. Lucky us…all the teams in the winners’ side of the playoff bracket came from our pool including the eventual 1^st and 2^nd place teams. We grew a lot during bracket play…a lot of energy, and players getting to balls and making plays that, even a couple weeks ago, they would have given up on. It was a very long day that included our pool having four out of six matches go three games, and having to play off a three way tie. All told we were involved in *FIVE* three game matches…we played in two and refereed three, all of which had a game that went into extra points. We finally left the gym at 7:30…tired but happy with our bracket play. Go Blues!

18Power -- CEVA Power League (4/3): ranked #15 going into regionals!
An extremely difficult morning followed by a gutsy afternoon. The first 3 matches went 3 games. We lost all 3, 2 of those matches came down to the wire and we lost the 3rd set by 2. The team channeled frustration into focus and won our cross-over, verse Cowlitz, in 2 (the first time we've beat a team in 2 in what felt like years). The team then finished the day on a high note by getting a little revenge on PVC (a foe that handed us a loss in pool play). Ultimately the team finished 17th in the region. A great accomplishment for this team. More good news was received today, the team qualified for the 2 day regional as the 15th of 16 seeds. An excellent opportunity to upset some teams.

16Force -- Southridge Friendship Tournament (3/28):

Hello all! 16 Force had a great showing last weekend at Southridge High School! The girls served tough and consistent while also putting together our system. For most of the day, we earned every win, and fought hard in every loss that made our opponents have to play harder and better. Considering we were fresh off Spring break, I thought the girls played very well! The next couple of months are going to be fun, I can't wait to see how the girls continue to improve! Good job girls, Go Blues!

14Power -- Canby Friendship Tournament (3/21):
Once again the 14 Power had an exceptional tournament day at the Canby tournament on 3/21! The girls had a bit of a sluggish start, yet ended up winning our pool in the AM. Then after some much needed lunch, the girls came back out on fire to beat the Bearcats in the quarterfinals, Blues Force in the semifinals and Canby Blue in the finals to take our 2nd straight CHAMPIONSHIP in a row!!! I think the incentive of 1ST PLACE prizes, treats from the parents and happy coaches are the trick to the girls working hard, playing as a team and showing passion on the court! We couldn't be prouder coaches!!! GO BLUES!

14Force -- Canby Friendship Tournament (3/21):
Canby tournament was the start of spring break and I think everyone on the 14 force was already there! We had a great morning taking the first seed out of the morning pool play and it was off to bracket play. We ended up waiting to see the nail biter between the 14 power and (well, i forgot the other team)! LOL! 14 power won the match and it was our turn to take a bite out of the other Blues! Everyone was fired up ready to battle but the gloves seemed to wash away. A hard learning experience but at the end of the day we took third. It was a good fight and spring break was on everyone's mind! :) I am always proud of my girls and we are looking forward to our power league this month! Go Blues!

12Power -- OJVA Friendship Tournament (3/21):
The Blues VBC 12U Power team played in an OJVA friendship tournament at The Courts in Beaverton on March 21. Even with flashes of brilliant play, our results were mixed. The team came out strong against a truly tough Rimrock 12 team. Even though they weren't very big, they hit well to keep the pressure on us.we came out of that one with a split. We got on a roll in the next match, winning 25-7, 25-7 against OJVA. This match featured Alison rattling off 11 points in a row off of her serve. Lest we become over-confident, we ran up against a very good Excel 12 Black team in our final pool play match. We fought hard before falling 20-25 in the first, and then just couldn't get it going in the second, flaming out at 14-25. That earned us a playoff showdown with CCJV 12 Black. Another tough team and some more good play, but coming up on the short end of a 19-25, 21-25 match. On the upside, it was single elimination so we got out of the gym early after getting a little more refereeing practice.

18Power -- CEVA Power League (3/14):
We went in to the tournament ranked 17th and we left the tournament ranked 17th. In between we played some great volleyball. We started the morning by knocking off the number 1 seed in the pool OJVA, in 3. The team battled hard. That match was a strong indicator of what the rest of the day would be like. The following 3 matches (2 in pool, one in crossover) also would go to 3rd sets. We played 2 tough matches and lost in 3 against the Suncats and NCVBC. Our crossover was against Webfoot. With a potential fall to Bronze at stake the Blues played some inspired ball. Serving and blocking carried the day for the team. We played our final match (a grudge match) against the same NCVBC team we played during pool play. This time the Blues came out on top. A very well played tournament with a few standouts: Becca jump served all day going on multiple point runs throughout the day. Rose connected some dots on Sunday. In the first match of the morning everything Rose touch turned into a kill. Both OH's Sara and Jaime took big out of system swings and passed brilliantly.

16Power -- CEVA Power League (3/13):
First tournament since Colorado and the team looked fantastic! Missing three players; Calista, Kate and Elly -- we were short defensive specialists. Finishing second in pool play set us up with a challenging cross match against the other pool's top team of the day. This was the match to watch! Losing the first game only by four points and missing four serves put in perspective just how important it is to minimizing controlable errors. The team battled back to win the second set and demonstrated just how far the team has come. Meagan with the game winning block capitalized how her net play skills have improved. Other great efforts like Elise's line shoots and short tips marked how she is morphing into a smart hitter. Brynelle owned the backrow all day and is settling into her role as libero. Katelynne performed as the team's defensive specialist doing well on the left side, which is different then her usually right side defensive spot. Charlotte ran the offense finding her hitters all day-especially her middles which has been a work in progress all season. Meredith stepped up and was a great team leader encouraging her teammates to never give up. Madison was a great all around player throughout the day, and went on several serving runs helping the team capture dominating wins. Lauren was the lone right side hitter and performed well. The team looks forward to their next tournament in just a few short weeks.

16Force -- CEVA Power League (3/13):
16 Force had a much improved weekend! We came out with a few wins and the girls played hard, looked good, and appeared to really begin to mesh as a team! The games we won were won with tough, aggressive serves and smooth transition. Likewise, the games we lost were mostly from missed serves. Our passing was better than usual which allowed us to sideout fast. No matter who we played, the girls competed hard. It was great to see noticeable improvement from just two weeks ago. It's amazing what a little hard work and time together as a team can do! Keep up the good work girls.

12Power -- CEVA Power League (3/7):
The Blues VBC 12U Power team played in a Power League tournament at The Hoop in Salem on March 7. Even with overall improved passing and hitting, the team had a rough tournament, breaking pool in 4^th. We went into against the Roseburg 12 Orange team and lost a couple of heartbreakers, 25-27 and 23-25. While waiting for our last opponent to finish refereeing, several of our players just started a pepper/tip circle on an empty court. They were relaxed, laughing, shouting out and moving like crazy…they reminded us of how much fun this game is and how well we can play. Well, we carried that fun over to the last game and beat the Excel 12 Silver team, 25-6!

Fantastic! Superb! Awesome! Incredible! Those are just a few adjectives to describe what an incredible day the 14 Power team had at Power League on Saturday. We started out at 8am super strong, which was a big goal since we've had some very slow starts at previous tournaments. The girls realized that in order to get back to Bronze from Diamond we had to go all out the whole day, and that we did. We took 2nd in our AM pool and then faced a team we had lost to in our last power league in the 1st game of the championship bracket. This was a HUGE match for us because if we won, we'd move back up to the Bronze Division. We came out strong and won that match with conviction which brought a ton of momentum into our championship match. The girls knew prizes and ice cream were on the line at that point so they played their hearts out :) Everything we've been practicing and telling the girls all season just clicked all at once and the girls had the game of their lives. We won the first set and battled the 2nd set back and forth only to lose 26-28. I think the girls nerves had got the best of them in that set. But then they all collectively took a deep breath and refocused and came out strong to win 15-10 and WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH!!! 1ST PLACE AND BACK TO BRONZE!!!

All of the girls played tremendously well, but I'd like to acknowledge a few on some really high level volleyball. Elli was fantastic with her jump serve and defense, but I'm most proud of her intelligent shot selection and execution, especially hitting the ball solid down the line and finding holes in the defense. Carrie was a super star setter, focusing and executing all of the technique we've been coaching. And Julianna was absolutely fantastic as our libero, playing as well as some of my varsity players (I told her that but don't want it to go to her head:) :) Martina and I are so proud of our whole team!!! Fantastic job girls!!! GO BLUES!!!

14Force -- CEVA Power League (3/6):
Third Power League and I really don't need GRAY HAIRS PEOPLE! LOL! The 14 Force had an exciting morning battling in 3 against Salem white. We gave them a run for their money but we were overtaken. With our heads high we looked towards beating Columbia and moving forward. Taking them in two we then looked out on the Horizon! Argghhh matey it was the Pirates next! What a game! Again, going in three we tried our best swashbuckling and sword fighting but the Pirates made us walk the plank! But not without a FIGHT! Ending up third in our pool we moved on to bracket play. It was a battle for 5th and sixth against yet again Columbia! Going in three the River proved to run through us! LOL! Today was a great day of learning the mental game! Maddie stepped up to set and did a great job having not played the position before. With leadership and great hands she set the way for our team to learn new things. Amelia had the tournament of perfect passing, serving and hitting cross court! It was AMAZING! Karlene had a great stuff block at the net, Hannah stepped up and was a hitting machine, Rosen had some great passes. Ala and Shu both learned how to get on top of the ball and SNAP! Jetaime had strong serves and some key passes. Again Sammie was strong defensively. For having a new setter and a new line-up my kids put the pedal to the medal and went all out. Having a tournament the last three weekends, the 14 Force is ready for a break! I'm proud of each of my kids and stepping up with learning something new. GO BLUES!

16Power -- Colorado Crossroads (2/27-28):
Another three day tournament was not only a challenge for the Blues 16 Power but a great tournament to be part of. With over 600 teams present and the only team from Oregon was a prestigious position to hold. The team battled hard in every 11 matches they faced. Ended up 3-8 overall and for many teams means defeat. But for this team it meant having a heart of passion.  After falling 0-4 the first day the team could have folded and accept losing.  A challenge for the weekend was having a team deep in defensive specialist and lacking height, especially as many teams were well rounded in every position.  However this team gave a great match for even the best of the best from teams around the US. Facing teams from California, Arizona, Texas, Colorado and Nevada the girls had the opportunity to gain an experience of a life time. Finally the girls tasted success after a sweet victory, capturing a win in a dominating 2 games.

After day two and being the last team out of the convention center at 10:30 pm, the thought of being back for a 8 am match was truly a mental test.  Fighting even harder in bracket play, the girls decided they were not done playing and wanted to worry about making their flight later that night. Knocking off two teams from Colorado from top clubs was not only great wins but put wind back in the their sails.  To capture the 16 division 5 bracket championship the girls faced a team that was strong defensively.  They dominated the first game with a commanding win. Falling short in the second set lead to a third game, testing both teams of their determination to win. Being the first team to reach 8 put confidence and momentum on our side as we quickly switched sides.  A disappointing lost was hard to digest, especially as we were up 14-7.  But the team hung their heads up high and showed their sportsmanship in style.

Throughout the weekend every girl showed off their skills as they are growing as players. Middles Meredith and Meagan highlighted their hard work as their blocking and net play was a hugh improvement from past tournaments. Outsides Madison and Elise are showing the true talents by becoming smarter hitters.  Brynelle did an excellent job as our leibro, touching almost every ball coming her way. Kate and Calisita came off the bench to be dominating defensive specialists and proving their spot on this team. Lauren did an excellent job, being one of the strongest servers capturing several aces and having several long runs all weekends. Charlotte stepped up and ran the teams offense and being a great team captain.  Katelynne showed her unselfishness as a player as she was challenged with a new role, but played as a true volleyballer!  As a coach, I could not have been any more prouder as the girls played with class, spirit, and passion.

16Force -- OJVA Friendship Tournament (2/28):

Once again 16 Force was faced with struggles this last weekend, but everyone did a good job of pushing through and competing with our opponents. Two of our regular players were sick so we were left playing with a line up that we have never practiced before which put us in a front row 6-2. Our serving stayed aggressive and helped us rack up points against a few teams. Our passing was solid. And as the day went on the girls meshed more and more to put up a better fight against every opponent. Overall, I was very happy with the girls performance. I believe that with a little more team preparation and all our girls healthy, we can compete and beat all of the teams we played this last weekend! Good job girls.

14Force -- Westview Friendship Tournament (2/28):
A beautiful sunny day at Westview High school and the 14 Force rocked the house! Early morning pool play proved their was no team stopping the Force as we used our intensity, fire, and teamwork to take first in our pool. The morning had some intense moments of great net play! With strong serving from everyone and a defense that was kickin, we looked toward our first round of bracket play against lime green PVC! It was so bright we had to wear sunglasses! After beating PVC, it was on to the suncats! Everyone was focused on the task at hand and I was thinking "WHO LET THE DOGS OUT!"!!! Yep, the suncats were not happy kitties when we were done pounding them to the floor! Now it was on to Willamette Gold who moved to our seed in the last power league. It was heavy back and forth...so intense the kids were praying! We battled in three and ended up second but we always held our heads high. I couldn't be more proud of this team and their ability to bring everything they had to the court and lay it out. Rosen had the day of her life! She was digging up everything and was killing the ball at the net. Hannah had some excellent passes and Amelia couldn't be stopped at the net or the serve line. Maddie was also strong in serving. Shu had some great touches on blocks and was big at the net tipping to where people were not. Ala had some key hits to move us forward, Crispin was the serving queen. Karlene was also strong at the net and Sammie made some great passes to keep the team going. The best thing about this day was not the second place but it was the heart and purpose that showed through each of my kids. GO BLUES!!!

12Power -- Westview Friendship Tournament (2/28):
The Blues VBC 12U Power team played in the Suncat 12U Invitational at Westview HS on Feb 28. The team started well, sweeping both sets in the first match. But a tough 24-26 loss in the first set of the second match set the tone for the rest of pool play as we broke pool in 3^rd. Our first round of bracket play went three with the good guys coming up short 14-16 in the deciding set. We are practicing well on the things we need to focus on, and learning in the school of hard knocks that we have to carry those things on to the competition court. Can’t wait until the next tournament to bring the game we all know we have…

14Force -- CEVA Power League (2/21):
Early morning heading to Springfield proved to be a little tough for the 14 Force. Being the top seed for this power league meant that everyone was trying to get a piece of us. We started out the day against PVC and barely squeaked by with our eyes half open! :) Next we played Mt. hood and it seems they didn't come from the "Hood" at all! Our own mistakes got the best of us but we pushed on looking to beat Mac to take second. We battled tough with the Mac losing in 3, but it was a strong showing. We ended up third in pool play but looked on towards bracket play. Unfortunately we ended up playing for 7th place but it was the strongest game yet! Maddie, Karlene, and Crispin had some great runs on serves. Rosen got her first overhand serve in -- so proud! Sammie had some strong back row attacks and Jetaime stepped up to serve and also had a strong back row attack. Amelia played strong at the net and was a hitting queen! To end the night Ala and Shu both hit an over pass back in our opponents face. Shu also had a stuff block after which I have never seen her smile so big! We moved down to 49^th, but It was a learning experience for us all. We ended the night strong and we always held our heads high. GO BLUES!

12Power -- CEVA Power League (2/20):

The Blues VBC 12U Power team played a Power League tournament on Feb 20, at The Courts in Beaverton. Ranked #5, the team found the Gold Division very competitive and the pace of play very fast. Let’s put it this way…getting a freeball was an uncommon luxury. The team started slow, but played better as the day went on, losing a close final pool play match 24-26, 24-26 to Mac 12 Black, losing in three to Athena 12 Alpha in the first round of brackets, and then breaking through against Roseburg 12 Orange to finish 7^th. Hard lessons learned include things we all know: make your serves, move and pass, read and anticipate…all of which led to good focus this week and our best practice yet. Can’t wait for the next Power League… Hi Ho Silver!
Go Blues!

16Power -- President's Day Tournament (2/13-15):
Presidents Day tournament was full of lessons. The 16 Power team played hard, matching up with well with every team they faced. Ended up in the afternoon wave, the girls started pool play late in the day. First day of play was the most competitive volleyball the girls have seen this season. Even the official ref made comments that this pool was the most exciting volleyball he has seen. Every girl played hard in every game, taking several matches to three games. After some disappointing losses the girls went back to hotel with high spirits for the next day. Returning to the gym the following day the girls faced yet again, another day of action packed volleyball. The team finally found a triumph win not only lifting sprits but securing a position as a team to contend with. Finishing 3rd on the final day placed us well in the bracket tournament for Monday. Facing a team that we played two days earlier the girls went in with a winning attitude. Losing in three games the girls showed heart, team spirit, and finally some passion which was the theme for the weekend. Even though the weekend was not filled with lots of winning the girls all had good time. Parents were faithful fans and whole hearted supporters of their young athletes. Looking forward for our next tournament in Colorado in just two short weeks, the girls have decided to work harder in practice to be able to finish those close matches and come out on top.

14Power -- President's Day Tournament (2/13-15):
President's Day Weekend was a great experience for the 14 Power team. We competed in Division 1 and were met with strong competition. The girls enjoyed playing a higher level of volleyball and really rose to the challenge. The girls are really starting to gel as a team and execute the concepts they are learning in practice. Many thanks to team parents Tin and Daryn for all of their help and organization. And many thanks to all of the parents for their endless cheering and support. We look forward to our next travelling tournament! Go Blues!

16Power -- CEVA Power League (2/7):

Determination. Poise. Cohesiveness. Resiliency. Diversity. These are just a few words to describe the 16 Power this past weekend. The team definitely lived up to their name Power as they captured 3^rd place in their second power tournament. The defining moment of the day was securing 2^nd in pool play. The team pulled out a win in the deciding game by overcoming the other teams’ 9 point lead. People from around the gym gathered to witness the upset. Afterwards other coaches recognized their efforts by congratulating the team on such a great game. This team is getting better with each tournament and they are proving to be a team to watch as the weeks transpire. Every girl played hard all day. They continued to show strength, controlled, and conditioned volleyball in every match. They were the most consistent team in the gym; showing off their offense abilities by producing combination plays, missing only 2 serves all day, and hitting the floor on defense. The night day ended perfectly as each girl name another team member on their contribution throughout the day during “positives.” During positives, the team gathers to give a positive compliment to another player; it always refreshing to hear every girl being recognized by their team mates. (current standing #27). Go Blues!

18Power -- CEVA Power League (2/6):

It's was a tumultuous tournament. The day had its ups and downs throughout but ultimately, and most importantly, a rewarding finish. The team finished the day 5th in silver and 17 overall. Pool play saw the team come from behind against a talented Apollo team and then collapse in back to back matches. We were faced with potentially being moved down to bronze. We played a scrappy Roseburg team in our crossover and played great. We won the second game 34-32 after coming from behind 19-24. The team held off 7 match points. Our final match of the day, that began at 6:45, was against a tough NW Jrs squad. In a single set match to 25 the blues jumped out to an early lead and never looked back. Tremendous struggles then a fantastic second half of the day. Everyone played well but I'm going to single out 2 players this weekend. Hannah was solid playing Middle Blocker and Right Side. The highlight of her weekend was being at the service line and bringing us back from the 19-24 deficit. Becca (normally a Middle Blocker) set for us the second half of the day. She was a steadying influence and a great teammate.

18Power -- Salem Friendship Tournament (1/30):
A fantastic weekend for 18 power -- the team made it to the finals without dropping a set. But in the Finals, we dropped a highly competitive match. The team fought through shakey legs and gave the NW Excel Gold team all they could handle. It was a great confidence booster for the team. I have a such a hard time choosing any standouts, since there were so many moments where individuals were brilliant. There were so many moments where individuals reached out and were great teammates. I am really proud of our team. Go Blues!

14Power -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/24):
14 Power finished power league 7 spots above where we began!!! :) We moved from the 30th seed to 23rd seed by the end of the day. The girls entered pool play a little awestruck at the level of competition in the top divisions and we lost our first 3 matches. But going into crossover, the girls were excited to try to take 18th away from our opponent and we did just that. After a long day of tough competition, our last match of the day against the 23rd seed didn't start until 6:30pm. By then, the girls had just run out of steam. For such a long, exhausting day, the girls did awesome and still had brilliant smiles on their faces knowing that they we were firmly seeded in the Bronze Division going into our February Power League. Congrats girls! Way to go!

14Force -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/24):
Blank stares, unknown possibilities, new talents, and a little fight peering through the clouds! That was what the 14 Force came to the Portland State gym with in their hearts. Our first power league started with some frozen feet and wide eyes not knowing what to expect. Playing the top seed in the tournament for our first match was a little rough but we learned and moved on. After some much needed breakfast and "Ala's shoe flying across the gym" we made easy work of Pacific(yes, we beat the Jesuit J.V. coaches team and I couldn't be more proud). From there we took Cowlitz back to the farm and had great serving from Crispin, Jetaime, Maddie, Karlene and Amelia. Hannah had some key hits and Rosen also had some great digs. Offensively Ala and Shu led the way. Our first crossover match we lost to Locos but saw we had another opportunity in our last cross over to move up. Sammie led the way in serving to help us take the last crossover. At the end of the day we saw we could compete with any team in that gym and it is attainable to move up even more. We started the day at 49 and move to 41! I'm proud of each of my kids for being positive and continuing to strive to learn as a team. GO BLUES!

12Power -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/23):
12 Power took to the court in their first CEVA competition and played well. Again we served tough and covered the court well to break pool with a 6-0 record for the second straight tournament including taking OJVA 12 Gold…the team who put us out of the playoffs in the previous tournament. We took the #4 seed into the first crossover and beat Clark County Juniors Black 25-8, 25-14 to keep the #4. In the second crossover we ran up against West Valley Jrs 12s and lost 6-25, 25-27. We went into the PL Qualifier at #13, and exited at #5. Excited and tired…and playing very well. Go BLUES!

16Power -- MAC Friendship Tournament (1/23):
16 Power tasted victory at their second tournament! Winning pool play was a definite confidence booster, confirming the girls hard work the past month. Their hitting was on fire, with outside hitters Madison and Elise dominating. Yet, credit is due to the passing and setting; as everything was clicking. Kate was the MVP stepping up and going on an 8 point serving run mid day, swinging momentum back in our favor after a short slump. Lauren demonstrated her flexibility as she hit right side in a new line up after Brynelle left for a family function. Summing up the day, the girls faced tougher competition in the first round in the championship tournament. Coach and fans were very impressed in their play as they matched up well against SouthSide. Meredith having a solo block, Meagan connecting in the middle, Katelynne flying on defense, Callista rotating in to win sideouts, Charlotte running plays, and Elly keeping the team together. The team looks forward for the next Power tournament on February 7th.

16Force -- MAC Friendship Tournament (1/23):

The 16F Blues had a great tournament last weekend! The day started a little slow and shaky, but after getting several games under our belt the girls started to flow! By the end of the day we were digging balls getting hit at the 15 foot line, transitioning out of it, and serving up aces! We put up a great fight against the #1 ranked team in the tournament and took 18 points off of them in that first game. I'm very happy and very proud of the girls and their performance last weekend. But even with that great weekend behind us we still have lots of work to do! Congratulations on a successful weekend, and I can't wait to see where you guys go from here!

14Power -- MAC Friendship Tournament (1/10):

14 Power had an exceptional day at the MAC tournament on January 10th! Out of 16 teams, we took home a 2nd place finish!! We won all of our games in pool play and went undefeated into the championship round, upsetting two great teams in the championship bracket. We put up a good fight for the championship match, but came up against a fantastic serving team (i think every one of their players jump served:) I was so proud and amazed at the tenacity, teamwork, cheering, enthusiam and hard work each and every one of the girls showed all day. With only a few short weeks of practice, these girls worked hard, listened to their coaches, bonded as a group and did a sensational job of keeping their composure on the court in times of stress. Elli had an outstanding jump serve and many amazing kills. Carrie is such an awesome team leader and inspiration. Reed and Miracle worked so hard at the net, blocking, transitioning and learning their position. Julianna & Tin Tin were SUPER STARS of the back row!! Wow, what amazing defense and serve receive those 2 accomplished! Lily and Mollie had many stunning kills on the right side, learning that position and helping out with the block. Kaija, Melissa and Ella were awesome in the back row, always competing, never giving up and taking chances with backrow attacks! The girls know we have lots to work on to compete with the top teams in power league, but they all are willing to do the work with huge smiles on their faces and passion for the game. Martina and I are VERY proud coaches!!!

14Force -- MAC Friendship Tournament (1/10):

With high anticipation for our first tournament, the 14 Force pushed through morning pool play by taking second. Stomping on the Mac in two (25-5, 25-2) putting up a fight with Midvalley(16-25, 8-25), and splitting with Nafanua(23-25, 25-10). Going into afternoon bracket play we played Midvalley again and lost in two. We had some great personal accomplishments and learned alot as a team. Being a young team we have a lot to learn but for our first tournament I couldn't be any more proud of my kids. It's only the beginning of the growth I see within my team and for our season. GO BLUES!

16Power -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/10):
Blue's 16 Power kicked off their season with some disappointing loses in pool play. Where they faced well rounded teams, exposing some of our weak areas. Yet the girls battled hard in every game, and never stopped fighting which proves they will be a team to watch out for as the season progresses. The girls showed off their excellent serve receive and defense as many teams had a hard time finding any holes. Elly and Brynelle confirmed their passing skills with grace and integrity as they were the top passers in this week’s round of matches. Moving into the cross pool action the girls got their second wind battling hard against equally matched teams. A deep bench helped in this week’s play as Elise, Meagan, Callista, and Charlotte came up with huge plays for the critical side out points, turning the momentum back in our favor. The girls tasted a sweet victory in the last match, as a new line up showed off their smarts and athleticism. Katelynne got the girls offense finally rolling with great consistent setting, while mixing it up and finding hot hitters as Madison, Elly, and Meredith to showcase just how diverse this team can be. Great serving from Lauren came in handy in the final match as she was the team’s leader in aces, which help the team come back and win the final game after being down by 12 points. Great parents throughout the day gave the team the best fans in the gym! The girls look forward to a few weeks of tough practices to get them ready for more wins in the weeks to come. (now ranked #28)

16Force -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/10):
The first day of competition for 16Force started out a little rough, but glided to two victories at the end of the day to move up 11 spots in power league rankings! By the last two matches, we were serve receiving well (which was awesome since this is a brand new serve receive for these girls), playing incredibly scrappy, keeping balls in play, and our serving was much improved and helping us score points! The girls were listening and made small changes that amounted to huge improvements as a team. I was excited at the end of the day knowing that so much improvement had been made from the beginning of the day to the end, and what that could mean by the end of this year! Congratulations girls! You did a great job and the improvement from 92 to 81 shows that! Enjoy the wins we had, but remember we still have lots of work to do!

12POWER -- MAC Friendship Tournament (1/9):
The Blues VBC 12 Power team played its first tournament on Jan 9, the MAC U12 Friendship Tournament. The team played very well, with a lot of tough serves and good team play, to break pool with a 6-0 record. With a #2 seed in the championship playoff bracket, the team went three close sets in the first playoff match to beat a tough Clark County Athletics team. In the semi-finals the team hit a very good OJVA 12 Gold team, winning the first set 25-15 and losing a long set 26-28 before an 11-15 loss in the third…good for a 3^rd in the first tournament for many of the players.

18POWER -- CEVA Power League Qualifier (1/9):
18's had a great weekend. The team bounced back after a difficult opening match that pitted us against one of the best teams in the region. We responded in the second match by upsetting the second ranked team in our pool. That win allowed us to secure a position in the silver division. We finished the day with a couple tough losses and squandered some opportunities to sneak our way into the gold division. The team played with great effort all day but you could tell we are not yet physically ready for the tough 5 matches in a single day. (now ranked #13)

CEVA 2010 Season rankings are now posted (go to CEVA website for full listings):

18Power #21 (of 60 teams)
16Power #28 (of 105 teams)
16Force #92 (of 105 teams)
14Power #30 (of 119 teams)
14Force #49 (of 119 teams)
12Power #13 (of 46 teams)

12U -- January 23rd:
12Power @ The Courts in Beaverton

14U -- January 24th:
14Power @ The Hoop in Salem
14Force @ Portland State University