Volleyball 2005 Preseason Journal Part 1: Jessica Yearout
8/10/2005 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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EDITOR'S NOTES: This is the first in a series of daily journals written by Crimson Tide volleyball players. The journals will give a first-hand account of their experiences as they prepare for the 2005 season, and give an inside look at Alabama Volleyball.
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I’ve had the greatest privilege to start off the new 2005 season by writing the first journal entry. For those of you who don’t know much about it, it’s a way for all of our parents, friends, greatest fans and those to-be fans (wink wink) to learn more about the Crimson Tide Volleyball team and our upcoming season. I know that everybody who is a Crimson Tide Athletic follower already knows that there is exactly 24 days until kick-off, but here’s your new number, it’s the countdown of 16 days until serve off!
After a long day of meetings and paperwork to fill out on Monday, Tuesday was our first official day of the season. As excited as we were for our opening practice, our gruesome physical test was at 12:15 in the Barn. Together, all 15 of us girls lined up on the side of the football field to run 10 half-gassers in 18 seconds. Coach Jesper (Sjokvist) has been working our tails off all summer and I want to give a big shout out to all of us because although we were huffing and puffing, (ok, everybody but Crystal... she’s so fast!) everybody gave it their all and it was a great physical test to start off.
At 4:30, we arrived in the CAVE to get some volleyball net setup 101 from Coach Redding. Our polished floors are shiny and it gave me the biggest tingly feeling to see all three nets spread across the gym floor to symbolize our time. Plus, our new scoreboard looks amazing as well. The time flew by and at 6:00 we were in the gym and ready to get started. We circled up in our new Nike apparel and got mentally prepared for the three hour practice. Megan Hudson and I sported our red sweatbands and we no longer look like we have the biggest foreheads on the team. The fab five freshmen looked jittery in their shoes as it was their first day to open their collegiate career and it made the rest of us just as excited as they were.
Practice was all-around a challenge. We started off just getting some reps in to get back into the flow of our game before stepping it up and defeating the Coach Green Mental Challenge of the day. It was a big eye opener to see that this team is going to go places. Not once did a player give up, give in, or think that it could never be done. The SEC this year is going to be full of surprises.
As soon as we were finished our new trainer Merideth (Schupp) wrapped all of our shoulders with an ice pack and we trucked our way to the training room to get in the cold tub and prepare our muscles for tomorrow. To end my journal I want to just say that this is going to be one thrilling volleyball season and I urge every one of you not to miss any of our home games. Trust me, it’ll be one you’ll never forget!
Jessica "Spud" Yearout
