3 Losses But Moving on Up!

The past 3 weeks have been a mini roller coaster of emotions. Orebro's volley went to our first match of the season in Stockholm and walked away with a crappy 3-0 loss to Sollentuna. Positive note: we played better then I was expecting from what we had on the court that night, a sick opposite, a setter who got to Sweden a week earlier, an outside whose arm was ready to fall off, 3 middles two of which have never played middle and me a nervous wreck.

The second match was a home opener against a usually weak team, Gislaved. It was a close match but we ended up losing 3-0. We were low in attack (especially me...) and were making way to many errors. Gislaved was a different team but they weren't unbeatable, no team is. Positive note: Our defense and passing was getting better and becoming more consistent.

The third match was last night against Ljungby. A team coming from the first division with a mission to let the league know they were a team to be reckoned with. The match started out like it was anyones game with constant jockeying for the lead. They came out on top. Second set went to us with a huge lead that shrunk to only about 6 point difference in the end. Third set went to them with 28-26 as the final score. Fourth set we had a fighting spirit in the start however it began to fade little by little once the other team hit 20 points and from then on there was not a whole lot we could do to bring it back. I don't remember how the last point of the game played out but I can remember the other team celebrating loudly and the crowd cheering wildly. It was their first win of the season. Positive note: despite us missing 2 key players that night (opposite still sick and middle working) we won one set! We just proved to ourselves that it is possible to win. We are continuing to improve in all areas, personally my hitting was a lot better last night, the passing and defense was almost perfect and we got to play with our coach and former national team setter. Over all the feeling on court was good and we felt like a team so I count that as improving. Once we get that first win the feeling stays and I know non of us want to lose it so we will continue to fight for that feeling the rest of the season.

Besides volleyball, Orebro is still awesome and alive during the weekends with people and students in the bars and clubs. The leaves are falling rapidly from the trees meaning only one thing, winter is on its way. I am so excited for the first snow, it will make things around here look brighter and believe it or not warmer. So heres to the first snow, Skoal!

TV bit for Orebro :)

Here is a local TV bit for our team, its the second team they talk about so if you don't see me or someone you recognize from my team in the first few seconds just wait a little. Kiah Fiers our setter was also interviewed as was our coach Matilda. Enjoy!

P.S mom your sweatshirt made the cut, look for my arms :)

Lindesberg siktar på guld - Tvärsnytt | SVT Play

www.svtplay.se

Orebro, Sweden

Hey everyone! Its been a while but I have finally made it to another season in my favorite country, Sweden! Thats not even the best part, but that comes later. I arrived in Stockholm on a Wednesday morning feeling like I had returned back home once again after only spending a brief time during Christmas break. I was greeted at the international terminal of the Stockholm airport by three of my teammates, one holding a sign with my name on it :) One was an Aussie and the other two were Swedes. I was happy to see them and was excited at how animated and fun they seemed to be already. In an almost drunken like stage I sat in the front seat on our way to Orebro. It took us around 2 hours to get to the apartment I was to stay at for the time being, it was occupied with yet another teammate, Sofia the libero. She wasn't home yet so I decided to post up on the couch and immediately pass out. Thankfully it was the one day off during the week so I was able to pretty much sleep all day, waking up to eat dinner and also in the middle of the night, since my body was still on USA time and all.

The next day I went to the morning practice and had a go to try out my court legs after the long trip over. I wasn't half bad. Still exhausted however I wasn't my best. That night was a lot of the same feelings although I tried hard to show that I was in fact good for the team and wasn't sand bagging because I had just gotten there. Practice seemed like a fog through the end of the week and then we had a weekend off! This was perfect because my boyfriend Jake signed with a team 45 minutes from me and was playing that weekend (this is the best part about being back in Sweden, hands down!) So I decided to go visit him for the weekend through monday afternoon. It couldn't have gone better, we had a lot of fun in the small town he is living in. Surprisingly there is quite a bit to do there. They even have cosmic bowling!

The next week flew by with practices, Jake coming to visit me, coffee's, moving into the new apartment, Kiah our new American setter arriving, getting internet, phone, etc. It was a whirlwind of excitement. Well the excitement ensues. This week we are getting ready for our first league match against Sollentuna. In the past this team has been slightly stacked with a good outside hitter, a setter and a libero who could all hold their own. This year both the libero and outside have left so it will be interesting to see what they "serve" up for the match. I believe that we will have challenges this season but with those challenges I see achievements and success. Maybe not all the time but I think if we come together as a team, focus and play smart then we will be able to win a lot.

Below are some pictures of where I am living this season before it starts to snow, which I assume will be coming along shortly. Enjoy and a new post will be along soon. Take care all!