Bruiserengineer

Match 2: Notre Dame defeats Soddy Daisy 3-1 (25-20, 25-11, 21-25, 25-16) Notre Dame's depth and skill level was evident in this win. They ran a slick offense with lots of slides and 31's. Kari Partridge 11 K, 2 A, and a solo block Morgan Strozak 11 K, 4 A, and a solo block Brittany Thomas 7 K Leigh Stavrum 5 K, 5A, and a block Amanda Marini, 1K, 1A Stephanie Sumida 1B Erica Cowart 1K, 2B, 1A For Soddy Daisy; Ashley England was on fire. She had 8 K, a block and an ace. Chelsea Clements 7K, 1A Cassie Conners 4 A Lauren Traub 1 K, 1B Christy Johnson 2K Abbey Thaxton 1 A Andrea Johnson 2 K

Match 1: GPS wins 3-0 over Soddy Daisy (25-18, 25-12, 25-20) GPS without the services of senior RS Jennifer Laughlin (ankle 3 weeks) cruised to the victory on the backs of some strong sophomore play. Heather Parman (#7) 8 K Jasmine Brown (#11) 7 K Danna Myatt (#16) 6 K and 2 Blks Whitney Hammond (#9) 3 K Junior: Hannah Shadrick (#12) added 5 K and an Ace Senior Marissa Thompson (#6) had 4 K a block and an Ace. Its great to have 2 experienced senior setters; Camille Campbell (#5) and Cayce Gearrin (#13). They ran the offense well all night. Soddy was led by Chelsea Clements (#19) 5K, Ashley England (#8) 3 K, Andrea Johnson (#12) 4K, and Christy Johnson (#10) 2K, Lauren Traub (#16) and Maggie Dell (#9) each had a kill. Also impressive was the libero (#11) Brittany Haney. Soddy Daisy has all the athletic talent to make a run in AAA. This team will definately get better as the year goes on.

Grace beat a very good Soddy Daisy team and they are clearly in the hunt again this year for the A/AA crown. I have been amazed at the quantity of debate on the board about A/AA. Given the number of quality teams it surely justifies all the banter! Good Luck to all the teams; it will be a wild year.

I wondered how long it would take before this topic emerged. Here are some thoughts from a three year Dig To Win parent who has had a daughter coached by both Paul and Joe. 1. Both coaches know a lot about volleyball and know how to motivate their players. They have different styles but both care deeply about their players. They have strong personalities and it would be hard to have "neutral" feeling about either of them. Our family respects both of them and are indebted to both of them for what they have done for our daughter. 2. I would not frame the debate as Paul vs. Joe. The Dig To Win organization has several officers (Lynne Stopford of Baylor is the President) and the stated reason for the split centers on a difference in practice and training regimen. Dig To Win would like to move to a skills based method and it held that Paul's methods are more scrimaged based and there was a belief that Paul would not move to the methods Dig To Win wanted to use. 3. In my opinion this was the best year ever for Dig To Win. There were many new coaches whose enthusiasm and skills were amazing. Each team could count on three and sometimes four coaches at practices and matches. The ratio of coaches to players was certainly responsible for the improved performance of the club. Certainly Paul's 18's trip to Nationals had to be the highlight but many other teams can also claim successful seasons. 4. Volleyball is growing in Chattanooga. Probably in part because of Dig To Win's success. Three years ago Dig To Win was the only club. This year area players had three clubs to choose from. 5. The rift will certainly be hardest on the girls at GPS. Most of them played for Dig To Win this past season. 6. We had a wonderful situation in Chattanooga. The girls would play together on the club team and then square off during the school season. The competition was spirited but there would be plenty of hugs after the match. This is my biggest fear; that the community will be split and there will not be a season when everyone plays together. 7. The real effect will not be known until November. Where will the coaches go? Where will the girls go? Can the Chattanooga Volleyball community find enough good coaches to staff all the clubs?

Great thread. All of us in Hamilton and Bradley Counties have to stick together. The rest of the State doesn't seem to give us our due. Good Luck to all.

No list of great concession stands would be complete without a mention of East Ridge.

I think you are going to have to adjust your list. GPS beat Knox Webb in Knoxville tonight to go 17-4 on the season. I seem to recall Knox Webb beating Walker Valley.

Two teams with great records and loads of talent. Several D-1 prospects in the starting line-ups for both schools. Any thoughts on this match-up? Any college scouts?

GPS returns all their players from last year's team that made it to the semi-finals (losing to the eventual champion; Harpeth Hall) Will DII east in basketball be like volleyball? Simply GPS, Webb, and Baylor as the only members? How will the tournament work? The volleyball tournament had an odd double elimination format.

The GPS Bruisers have the entire team back that made it to the State Semi-finals last year (losing to the eventual champion). They will be a strong contender in Div II .

GPS wins 25-20, 25-22, and 25-23. Red Bank made very few errors and there were many long rallies. Emily Lawson and Bailee Chastain played well. I recorded 9 kills, 2 aces, and a block for Emily and 8 kills, 1.5 blocks for Bailee. GPS was lead by Melyn Thompson with 17 kills and 1 ace. Emily Boydston had 11 kills, 4 aces (all with the jump serve). Jennifer Laughlin had 7 kills. Camille Campbell (2 aces and a kill) and Cacye Guerin (one ace) were settling well. Marrisa Thompson had 4 kills and the bruisers lone block. Denise Rawlings had 2 kills and Hannah Shadrick had 1 kill. This was a good tune-up for both teams heading into the tournament. GPS has a relatively long layoff now. We play Baylor next Wednesday and Webb next Thursday.

I've seen more emotion and enthusiasm at a GPS gym class than I saw last night. This team has the ability to contend with anyone in the State; however they do seem to have problems getting emotionally ready to play some nights. I hope they bring their "A" game for the rest of the week. Notre Dame tonight, Ooltawah tommorrow, and the Tandem tourney on Saturday.

My mistake. The sccores were 25-16, 23-25, 25-17, 22-25, 15-9. Sorry.

I forgot to mention that #12 Hannah Shadrick (Soph MH) of GPS had a great game. Several blocks and several great kills. Cacye Gearin set her on one particular slide that was a real crowd pleaser.

GPS was fortunate to take today's match against Webb (at GPS). We haven't heard much about Webb this year but they showed us that they are a much improved team over 2004. Their defense was great; lots of good digs. Kelly Harrison (#44) and Sara Blair (#33) did most of the offensive damage. Ashley Rutherford was also impressive. GPS was weak in serve-receive. The passing (or lack thereof) made it difficult to get into the offense. GPS was up 11-4 in the last game and held on for the victory. When GPS set tight to the net Webb was able to easily block. Webb had more blocks than the GPS squad. Emily Boydston had the most kills (I didn't keep accurate records). Jennifer Laughlin had 4 key kills in the last game. To our friends at Baylor: Don't take Webb lightly.

Thanks Sportsguy. In pool play the GPS team had their "moments" but in the elimination tournament the team did look focused and strong. Their conditioning may have been the difference.

ComPassion; One of the things that impressed me in the game Baylor beat us was the ability of Brittany Scoggins to dig the ball. At 6'1" she dispels the "conventional wisdom" that middle blockers can't dig the ball. There is no doubt in my mind that the coaching she received in her recent club season with Dig to Win will pay big dividends for her and Baylor.

GPS hosted Central and Soddy Daisy to kick off the official season. GPS beat Central 25-7 and 25-13. GPS beat Soddy Daisy 25-10 and 25-15. The setters; Cacye Gearrin and Camille Cambell (both Juniors), did a great job distributing the ball to create a balanced offense. Denise Rawlings (4K, 0.600 attack percent); MeLyn Thompson (9K, 0.462), Jennifer Laughlin (9K, 0.471), and Emily Boydston (11K, 0.318) were the key hitters. Cacye had 8 aces.

The Chattanooga "Times-Free Press" does a nice job. They report stats weekly and will have stories on big matches and tournaments. Also the On-Line news outlet www.chattanoogan.com will have regular features.