UTVballfan
100+ Posts
This team has the perfect attitude. They are committed to winning. They are sooooo ready to win.
Some historical perspective. Sha’Dare and Bailey were on the team in 2009. I am talking about the heart-breaking 5-set loss to Penn State in the finals. They both played sparingly, but they witnessed the devastation first hand.
Then in 2010, Sha’Dare, Bailey, Hannah, and Sarah suffered through the sweep by Penn State in the semi’s. Bailey was sidelined that year with the knee injury, but she was there.
Last year, many of the current squad endured a 3-1 loss to eventual champs UCLA in the regional finals: Sha’Dare, Bailey, Hannah, Sarah, Haley and Madelyn. (Khat’s knee was hurt by then.)
This year, from Sha’Dare on down, they are ready. They have been through ups and downs, but dang it, they have worked hard, they’re peaking, they’re talented, they are well rounded, and shoot, they are just ready to do it.
If you look at last night’s match, it was Sha’Dare who set the tone early, with three thundering kills. And she wrapped it up too, closing the match with a huge kill and then a serve that led to an overpass. Our senior, taking care of business.
Another thing I think about. When Khat Bell started last year, we loved her talent, her passion and joy. Then, in November, the knee. Remember what she said? “How long does it take to come back from this? I am going to come back quicker.” She committed maniacally to recovery and worked her way back, so that just a little over a year later, she is making a huge difference. That is what she gave to the team, and to us the fans. I think that says a lot about her character. It’s like Bobby Knight said, “The key is not the “will to win” – everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”
The whole team has come so far. Look at the continual improvement by our freshman.That speaks to commitment. As Larry Bird said: “A winner is someone who recognizes his God- given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.”
We all know our team is talented. Mick Haley said our team reminds him of the Russians in the Olympics (!), and USC has no way to practice for what the Horns do. Mary Wise said Bailey and Sha’Dare have to be seen to be believed.
But I think our team has so much more than that. They have got passion, joy, enthusiasm, confidence, and unwavering determination. They’ve got their minds right.
Earlier this year in Louisville, the Longhorns came from behind for a five-set win. When they return this week, I think they are ready for two more wins. Soooo ready.
Some historical perspective. Sha’Dare and Bailey were on the team in 2009. I am talking about the heart-breaking 5-set loss to Penn State in the finals. They both played sparingly, but they witnessed the devastation first hand.
Then in 2010, Sha’Dare, Bailey, Hannah, and Sarah suffered through the sweep by Penn State in the semi’s. Bailey was sidelined that year with the knee injury, but she was there.
Last year, many of the current squad endured a 3-1 loss to eventual champs UCLA in the regional finals: Sha’Dare, Bailey, Hannah, Sarah, Haley and Madelyn. (Khat’s knee was hurt by then.)
This year, from Sha’Dare on down, they are ready. They have been through ups and downs, but dang it, they have worked hard, they’re peaking, they’re talented, they are well rounded, and shoot, they are just ready to do it.
If you look at last night’s match, it was Sha’Dare who set the tone early, with three thundering kills. And she wrapped it up too, closing the match with a huge kill and then a serve that led to an overpass. Our senior, taking care of business.
Another thing I think about. When Khat Bell started last year, we loved her talent, her passion and joy. Then, in November, the knee. Remember what she said? “How long does it take to come back from this? I am going to come back quicker.” She committed maniacally to recovery and worked her way back, so that just a little over a year later, she is making a huge difference. That is what she gave to the team, and to us the fans. I think that says a lot about her character. It’s like Bobby Knight said, “The key is not the “will to win” – everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important.”
The whole team has come so far. Look at the continual improvement by our freshman.That speaks to commitment. As Larry Bird said: “A winner is someone who recognizes his God- given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses these skills to accomplish his goals.”
We all know our team is talented. Mick Haley said our team reminds him of the Russians in the Olympics (!), and USC has no way to practice for what the Horns do. Mary Wise said Bailey and Sha’Dare have to be seen to be believed.
But I think our team has so much more than that. They have got passion, joy, enthusiasm, confidence, and unwavering determination. They’ve got their minds right.
Earlier this year in Louisville, the Longhorns came from behind for a five-set win. When they return this week, I think they are ready for two more wins. Soooo ready.
