Pure Michigan and volleyball

This summer I've been super busy, and when the opportunity to work high school volleyball camps in Michigan at the end of July came up and I jumped at the chance. Firstly I've never been to Michigan, secondly Michigan is way closer to New York than Henderson, NV is, thirdly I knew I might have the chance to see Lauren if I was near Saline, and lastly to give a little bit back to my sport.

On the third day of each camp we have an question and answer session with the campers and coaches and i think it's probably my favorite part of each camp. The camp coaches hired by the company I work for are all previous college players that have each gone in different directions. Some are playing professionally, some are coaching at the high school level, some are recent grads, and some are coach at the collegiate level, so a wide variety of experience. At the end of camp we all get to share our stories and knowledge, from "how do you manage sports and school in college" to "how hard it is to learn languages while living outside of the country". And after each of those q and a sessions I always have a feeling of nostalgia for how extremely lucky and how incredibly blessed I am.

Lauren, a home town friend of hers and I (after camp hours of course) in Ann Arbor

Arielle, Meghan, and I on Meghan's bday in Ann Arbor

Here's how all of this started:

In the summer of 1999 I got a phone call from the high school volleyball coach, E. Hill, saying that she'd gotten my phone number from my middle school basketball coaches wife and asking me if I'd like to come tryout for volleyball. I said I wasn't really sure, I'd already been in contact with the varsity basketball coach and was sure I was going to play basketball. So, later that week my sister who was going to be a senior at the same school asked me if I wanted to go tryout for the volleyball team, I said "I'm a basketball player.." and she said "just come with me, please...?" So, she convinced me and we went. I'd never played volleyball before, but I did have one skill: passing the ball all the way to the ceiling. Yep, that was my speciality... So in the end, my sister got cut, and me and my special skill got put on the freshmen team (because I was tall, definitely not for my skill) and since then I've given up on being "a basketball player" and haven't looked back.

When I tell that story it's incredible to think that because of one phone call and a little nudge from my sister, I live the life that I have now. I have this amazing life and it's all because of volleyball. I've had the opportunity to travel and learn and meet really great people all because of this sport and I try my hardest to convey that to the girls at camp. So while some times camp may be grueling and a lot of work, the chance to give something back to the sport by sharing what I know with the next generation is something I really love doing.

my favorite campers from Varsity team camp, Vandercook HS (and we finished 1st place!)