Awards and Accolades

Last night at Hal's volleyball banquet, I was expecting $10 food, and some fun company in the form of the other parentals that I adore on this team.

Not expecting awards (she's a freshman on a Soph/Jr/Senior dominate team).

I had hoped that her JV coach would at least acknowledge her, but no.  Nada.

So when the Varsity coach got up there, I was half listening, because I didn't think there would be any way, being the last kid pulled up, etc.

Well.... didn't know there was a Most Improved Player.

The coach's speech about her went a little like this....

"At the first of the season, I knew she was a great possibility.  I watched her grow all season, as a player, and keep everyone entertained as a goofball.  We never knew what would happen when she went out on the court.  We knew she had the capability of smashing it in their faces,  when she hit, there was nothing the other team could do. Then, other times, she'd hit, and we'd all think to ourselves, "Well that just happened.  Good job, girl, keep swinging."  (LOL)  But, then, we had to do a tournament without her, and her presence was missed, both her playing and her ability to keep us smiling.  That is why the most improved player award goes to..... Hallie Hembree."

 She also commented several times about her goofiness, with the disclaimer that she loved her, despite the goofiness, and overall paid her a great compliment.

I was very proud.  I was also proud of her friends, Rachel Maddy, who got Best Defensive Player on the Freshman Team.  And Abbey Woodrow received MVP for JV, and earlier in the year, when Hallie's club coach from last year (who received her as a brand new, freshly hatched player and taught her to block) watched Hallie and Abbey play together (Hallie as the middle and Abbey as the setter), and told me, after finding out Abbey was a freshman, too "By the time they are seniors, they will be unstoppable, what a pair".  Very exciting stuff.

I'm very proud of Hallie.  She has tackled volleyball with a laser focus, and it has really paid off for her.  I am thrilled to death to watch her move on to Club Volleyball in the next couple of months, and really continue to grow and learn more and more.   She's finally settled on a club that she wants to play for, the coach is amazing and the girls are all a tight knit group that have a laser focus similar to Hal's, so it should be a ton of fun this year.  Lots of driving, lots of tournaments, LOTS of fingernail biting fun.   And tons of pictures and blogs I'm sure.