Volleyball 2015

We enjoyed another season of volleyball in the fall. This year we were God's Golden Eagles. Dennis was able to coach again. Our very good friends were able to be on our team which made it even more fun. We also had two girls on the team who attend our church and two sisters whom we've known since Ellie first played volleyball three years ago. And one of the moms grew up in the same neighborhood as me and graduated from the same high school. Her good friend lived right by us. Such a small world! It was a fun group of girls as you can see from the picture below!

Our girls played very well all season. Dennis got ideas for drills from the volleyball coach at school and we had him come and run one of our practices. One of the girls on the team played volleyball at school. Besides being a very good player, she was especially motivating to the team and was selected as our most Christlike player. 

In spite of our good playing, we ended up in third for the season. We had a chance for first or second, but just couldn't get the win we needed. At our last playoff game, we were playing a team who had not one even one set all season. Dennis asked the girls to serve over-hand for the first set to give the other team a chance as well as to practice this skill. The other team ended up winning the first game. The smiles on their faces and the confidence they had was beautiful to see. That confidence carried over to the second set, however, and we had to work for the win. We did win the third set which put us in the third place spot. 

We found out later that this decision on Dennis' part had a lasting impact on one of the players on the other team. Once of the girls had become very discouraged in her walk with the Lord. She asked God for a sign that He was still there. She wanted to win a game. After winning that first game, she recommitted her life to the Lord. The mom contacted the head of volleyball for the league to let her know what had happened and to ask her to tell Dennis thank you. Our volleyball head had heard what Dennis had done the day of the game and asked to give him a Christlike coach award. She shared the news about the player on the other team with us the night of the dinner. 

Dennis told the girls at our end of season party what had happened. Their act of kindness had made a big difference in someone's life. We decided to go roller skating for our end of season get together. It went well for a while, but then one of the girls fell and ended up fracturing her wrist. About the time we were ready to wrap it up, I fell also spraining my wrist and dislocating two bones in my tailbone. Sad to say, I'm done skating!

Not exactly the ending we'd hoped for; but a good season none-the-less. Until next year!