RogerHBrock00

It's volleyball time in Tennessee. My daughter played in the game last year and since my wife is a real volleyball coach I can supply what little knowledge that I have on the subject. To play in this game your H.S. Coach and/or school must be a member of the coaches association. Among the coaches/schools not members in Choo-Choo city are GPS, Baylor, Notre Dame. Last year they strickley enforced the rule. You must be nominated and as usual its easy to pick most of the rosters but at the last spots its tough and some really great kids are not nominated. The kids actually have to sign a contract that you are going to particpate and be at all of the practices, any events and the games. This can be a hardship because if I remember from last year it is a 2-3 day event for the girls. There were 3 practices plus a dinner. The great gift to the girls was the coaches association paid for rooms and meals so it did not cost the girls anything but their time. What is sad is that some kids break their pledge and contract and don't show up which happened to the A-AA West team last year. But as has been said there are a lot of summer plans and some cannot make it. It was a chance for my daughter to visit and make new friends and pal around with our arch enemies from years past. As luck would have it the east A-AA team practiced hard and promply lost to a pick up west team beacause a lot of their players did not show up. They proved that you cannot develope teamwork in 2 days. As for volleyball signees this was a very weak class and there is a shortage of them. I would say the number is down 65% this year. The great players reported to school anywhere from early Jan (they graduated early to go though spring pratice with their new college team) up to offical start date of August 1st. Laura reported June 5th to MTSU and had to get excused to play in the all star game. It was really great when her new teammates from MTSU came to the game to watch her play. She enjoy that as much as anything. A great time was had by all and I hope my youngest gets to play next summer. The expense for the parents living in the corners of the state to do this are very high and time consuming. I hope to see everyone this year because it will be my last so yell at the guy in the bright blue MTSU hat.

MTSU is 2 games away from the 2007 D-1 final four. Check your listings for TV and radio. Friday December 7th Brigham Young ranked 17th They upset Michigan (6) Saturday December 8th Penn St. Ranked NO 1 Need we say more. next up Final Four in Sacramento California this past weekend in Louisville Friday Louisville on their home court 3-2 Saturday Hawaii 3-1 1st time in 10 years Hawaii isn't going to sweet sixteen Quote from Louisville player----- They are just too athletic for us. Their line up 6'8" 6'6"6'4"6'3"6'3"6'3 6'3"6'2"6'1'5'10"(best player)setter 6'0" MTSU 6'2"6'1"6'0"6'0"6'0"5'10"5'10"5"9" Its not how big you are or how slow you are IT"s how big you play and how quick you are. Great atheletes can and will overcome height. Congratulations to these girls high school coaches, club coaches and everone else who have had an impact on their athletic careers. Now all of you can say you know Tennessee High School Players who have been to the Sweet Sixteen.

Are you telling me that if we make noise during the serve the player may hit the ball out of bounds or into the net. Have you ever been to Big South or the national qualifer in Indianapolis with 100 courts in one room, 100 refs blowing whistles non-stop on these courts, 200 sets of fans cheering for their teams non stop, 300 college coaching staffs present evaluating every move these kids make and they can serve the ball despite this! Or you could be with us at Ooltewah last week with 250 fans with a funeral home noise level as both teams mange to hit 8 serves in a row into the net or out of bounds. I suggest everyone teach their players how to serve.

All of you just kill me. Everything is acceptable as long as everyone conducts themselves with class and sportsmanship. No profane remarks and don't get personal. As far as the serving goes stick them on the free throw line with a few thousand friends and relatives screaming as loud as they can trying to get you to miss then they will get used to serving with people yelling at them. The thing that I dislike is the plastic milkjugs and like filled with rocks or loose change. Those should be banned forever from any sport. If you don't want them stomping on the stands then push the stands back and make everyone stand up or play the games without spectators. We love the football players at East Ridge. They are loud and rowdy and the girls really get pumped up when they show up. I have noticed that the home teams get upset about the visiting teams noise when the visiting team crowd completely drowns out the home team fans. This happens in all sports. I think the crowd problems can be totally blamed on the lack of knowledge of the game. They are bringing their pattern of conduct over from basketball (other sport played in a gym) and it doesn't fit the game of volleyball. I do love the noise made on a long three pointer when they do it for your big hitter fixing to plant one on the other team. That fits perfectly. Give me a packed gym full of lowd rowdy fans for my kids vb games any day. I'm still waiting for one. Thats why volleyball gets very poor press coverage and the average sports fan does't know the sport exists.

Wow I am jealous. I wish East Ridge would do this. Almost 1300 wins etc. but more important I would have 5 on the court. 4 daughters and my wife ( she would be a player-coach).