NCAA Division I Volleyball Championships

The coaching staff enjoyed an amazing weekend with some volleyball greats thanks to the SPS Athletics Department, the Volleychief Booster Club and the Buckner Family. We thoroughly enjoyed being at "work" while we learned about the game of volleyball and watched some top volleyball matches. In no particular order, here is a little recap of our adventure!

Penn State take the Division I Volleyball title for the fourth year in a row!

Coach Downs, Coach Harris & Coach Gavin

While we were in Kansas City at the Championships we were able to attend several different educational sessions on how to better the game for our team. We learned about using disadvantages to our advantage, middle hitting techniques, coaching philophies throughout the years from some of the top dogs in the business, junior high to varsity coaching drills and how to train setters. These were just a few. We absorbed the knowledge of the presenters.

Some of the fun memories...According to Downs, I was a little too overly excited about the free Asics backpacks that we got at registration. Coach Gavin was star struck amongst all of the coaching greats! We managed to get her picture with the current Nebraska Coach, John Cook. Nebraska just happens to be her favorite team. And, Coach Downs is still trying to recover from a nice looking young gentlemen coming up to her and reminiscing that she was his pediatrician. It was hilarious because he was soooo determined she was, in fact, his doctor. As if Coach Downs didn't feel old enough hanging out with Coach Gavin and I?!?! Ha! We also ran into many local coaches from the area and even got to see Erin Pavlin, alumni volleychief player and her parents and got to catch up with them.

Current Nebraska Coach, John Cook and Coach Gavin

At the matches we were able to hook up with some of the 2010 Volleychiefs. Carole Ann Finley, Kinsey McCarter and Maris Below came down to our seats for a quick photo opportunity!

In between the educational sessions we had some free time to walk around the convention site. We checked out several displays that included: getting an autograph from Terry Pettit, former Nebraska Coach, and his book, Talent and the Secret Life of Teams; attempting to serve in Zone 7 (let serve); the Nike booth who now offers custom Brown & Gold apparel (coaches shirts, warm ups, jerseys, etc)...we are already making our wish list; and picking up free stuff.

Coach Downs getting Terry Pettits book and autograph

Attempting to serve Zone 7

In our free time we enjoyed dinner out at the lovely Melting Pot and Cheesecake Factory. We got to hang out with the Below and Finley Clans, briefly, at the Cheesecake Factory. Kansas City Power and Light District was so pretty in the evening and we got to hang out there too.

Our volleyball watching including Penn State, USC, Cal State, and Texas battling it out for the Championship title. Penn State ended up taking the title for the fourth straight year in a row. We also got to watch the best high school athletes compete in the Under Armour All American Match.

It was a memorable weekend and we were exhausted from it! We are so grateful to those who made that trip possible! We are already planning next year's trip, which just happens to still be in the midwest...San Antonio, TX, here we come!

Fun Times in Farmington!

Coach Sean imitating Aunt Debbie an telling the team how to get it done!






Coach Downs and her Nephew, Sean!






Never dull with this crew! This is pre dance party!






Little Ashley Maska holding Blaire!






The hubby made sure we had an ice cream cake to celebrate my birthday that weekend! The girls made it a hilarious weekend filled with lots of belly laughs!






Me and Zo Allen!

We had a very successful weekend and swept all 3 teams at the JV and Varsity levels. Way to go Volleychiefs!

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Pink Out Night

Thank you for helping us Phillip the Gym last Thursday! We had an overwhelming turnout last Thursday as we raised money for the Stephanie Phillips Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.

We wanted to share this special picture with you. Cindi Maurer, we were honored to have you on our coaching staff for the evening! You are an inspiration to many, especially, your daughter, Jessye! Thank you for all you do!

Do you have some good pictures from the Pink Out? Send them to my email and I will try to post some of them.

Farmington Volleyball Quad

Playing Schedule for Saturday, October 9th

Court 1
9:00 KHS JV vs. Cape Central JV
10:15 KHS Varsity vs. Cape Central Varsity

Court 3
11:30 KHS JV vs. Farmington JV
12:45 KHS Varsity vs. Farmington Varsity

30 Min Lunch Break

Court 1

2:30 KHS JV vs. Rock Bridge JV
3:45 KHS Varsity vs. Rock Bridge Varsity

Each match will be best 2/3. There will be a concession stand. Admissions: Adults $4.00, Students $2.00.

Check out our 2010 Pink Out Night T-shirts! We had an overwhelming response to our pre-sale and we are excited to witness the sea of pink!

Come out Thursday, October 7th and help us PHILLIP the Gym and raise money for two great organizations: Stephanie Phillips Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.

We also plan on wearing our Pink Out T-shirts to our Glendale game, October 14th at Glendale.

Huge thank you to our sponsors that give a poo! Especially, Big M Marina!

Enough Said!

Highlight of the week! Score of the second game vs. Nixa. Pure domination! The Volleychiefs had a very succesful week and are looking forward to a weekend off!

Volleychiefs are ranked in the TOP 10!

Click on this link to check out the latest rankings by MO Prep VB. Volleychiefs enter the top 10 on MO Prep VB. Way to go girls!

Successful Weekend

First Place finishes to both the Freshmen and the Varsity Volleychiefs! Way to go, girls!

The Freshmen Volleychiefs took first place in the Hillcrest Slamfest!

The Varsity took first place in the Willard Invitational!

Team Spirit

In true Volleychief team spirit, we once again had a huge support group on the track for Annie's timed 800 run. The JV and Varsity cheered Annie on as she gave the 800 M run an attempt and she made it on her first try. Even Annie's mom was hiding in the bushes secretly cheering her on! Way to go, Annie!

Volleychiefs sweep Rogersville

In the first game of the season the Kickapoo Volleychiefs swept the Rogersville Wildcats. We had an amazing crowd filled with parent, family and student fans cheering the girls on. In the photo above, Brianne and Taylor model their modified libero jerseys. Our uniforms have yet to arrive so our girls made and adjustment and wore basketball jerseys. They didn't miss a beat. I am wondering about how superstitious Coach Downs is?!?! Is Taylor going to be wearing that basketball jersey all season?

Teamwork is where it's at...

The 800M run is a timed run that is required in order to play in a volleyball game. For some girls, making their time is a piece of cake. For others, it takes a lot of determination and training.

At 6:30am this morning the WHOLE freshmen team showed up at the track to cheer Jessie on in her attempt to make her 800M time. Jessie was only expecting a few of her teammates, but they ALL showed up. Jessie ran her 800 with the help of all of the girls. Some paced her, some pulled her, and some cheered her on. I wish I had turned on my camera to video tape the ending. Jessie crossed the finish line making her time...the girls said it was a scene from a movie and Jessie just said she couldn't feel her legs! This kind of teamwork is what makes you all Volleychiefs. Your Coaching Staff is beyond proud of you! What an awesome example you all are! Jessie...way to go, girl! Your hard work is showing and has paid off!

Varsity Willard Tournament

WILLARD HIGH SCHOOL

LORI ENDICOTT INVITATIONAL

September 11, 2010

BLACK POOL

Buffalo (BUF)

Oakville (OAK)

Stockton (STO)

Willard (WIL)

WHITE POOL

Jeff City Helias (JEFF)

Kickapoo (KIC)

Neosho (NEO)

Winona (WIN)

Pool play is two games to 25 (No Cap)

MG=Main gym AG=Auxiliary gym

(The team listed first will be the home team on the scoreboard)

MAIN GYM

8:00 BUF vs OAK

9:00 STO vs WIL

10:00 BUF vs STO

11:00 OAK vs WIL

12:00 BUF vs WIL

1:00 OAK vs STO

AUXILIARY GYM

8:00 JEFF vs KIC

9:00 NEO vs WIN

10:00 JEFF vs NEO

11:00 KIC vs WIN

12:00 JEFF vs WIN

1:00 KIC vs NEO

After 1^st match, there will be a 5 minute shared warm-up.

Pool play winners will be determined by:

1. Win/loss record 2. Overall point differential 3. Head-to-head

Semifinals & Championship: (Best Two Out Of Three Games)

2:00 Black pool winner vs. White pool runner-up MG

White pool winner vs. Black pool runner-up AG

3:00 Black pool 3^rd vs White pool 4 MG

White pool 3^rd vs Black pool 4 AG

4:00 Championship Game MG

3^rd Place Game AG

*Semifinal and final game times may be moved up depending on pool play*

2010 Tryouts

Thank you to all of the girls who participated in the 2010 Volleychiefs Tryouts. If you made the team, please pay special attention to the dates below. If you are interested in being a manager, please let your coach know. We will compile a list and talk to you sometime next week about duties.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

VARSITY
Zoe Allen
Maris Below
Taylor Carmichael
Annelise Dixon
Carole Ann Finley
Maddie Fuchs
Jessye Mauer
Kinsey McCarter
Emily Thater
Kylee Thomas

JUNIOR VARSITY
Hannah Burk
Brianne Dixon
Megan Elmer
Katie Etter

Annie Harley
Courtney Kinney
Ashley Maska
Lauren McCann
Blaire Miller
Aliyah Peoples
Megan Rosewisz
Hanna Wilken

FRESHMEN
Kayla Brown
Sydney Gibbons
Maddie Marshall
Kelsey Messner
Jessie Meyers
Taylor Moore
Rae Myers
Kim Thomas
Haley Waddington
Kiley Weems

Practice will be 8am-12pm Monday and Tuesday, 4pm-6pm on Wednesday and Thursday and then 6am-8am on Friday.

There is a mandatory parent meeting on Thursday, August 19th, 6pm at Kickapoo High School. One parent must attend. The Booster Club & Coaches will host a meeting from 6pm-7pm and then the Assistant Principal will host the Citizenship Card meeting from 7pm - 8pm.

Work in Progress

Welcome to the new Volleychiefs website. We have moved to this blog site for several reasons. One, it is free. Two, we can update this from any computer. And, three, it is user friendly.

Pass it on to family and friends: volleychiefs.blogspot.com

Please email me with suggestions for postings and/or pages that you would like added. Pictures can also be emailed to me and I will add those, as I see fit. Email: kharris@spsmail.org

Information needed throughout the year will be posted on this blog. Please save this to your computer. Better yet, become a blog follower so you have even easier access!

Some important things...Please look through the previous posts that I have already done. You can do this by scrolling down or clicking on the blog archive links on the right. We would also love you to click on the tabs at the top of the page. You will find the Coaches Tab and the Booster Club tab.

Suggestions are welcomed and appreciated!

Varsity Team Camp -- Arkansas University

Participating in a team building activity

Varsity participated in the team camp at Arkansas University last weekend. Their weekend consisted of several team building activities, team drills on the court, as well as, team competition versus other schools. The best story I heard was the blind dodgeball activity that focused on communication. I wish I could have been there to see that! More pics to come...hint, hint...email them to me!

Freshmen & JV Team Camp in Branson

Coach Gavin and Coach Harris took the freshmen and JV teams to the Licking Volleyball Team Camps located in Branson. The teams played at the Branson Rec Plex, Branson High School, Hollister High School, Hollister Junior High and College of the Ozarks. There was some downtime between matches and the teams got to enjoy Branson. Overall it was a good experience for the girls. Enjoy the pictures!

JV Team -- Can anyone tell who wore the wrong shirt? Ha!

Some of the JV girls at the Landing in between matches

Hannah B and Kim

Freshmen at the Landing

The Freshmen enjoying a team lunch at Macaroni Grill supervised by Coach Gavin!

Tryouts Begin August 9th

Here is some information you will need for tryouts! Players must have a MSHSAA Physical Form on file with the school in order to step foot on the court for tryouts.

Tryouts will be Monday, August 9th - Friday, August 13th from 8am - Noon each day. The teams will be posted on this blog no later than 4pm on Friday, August 13th.

In order to be eligible for matches, players must have 14 practices completed. Players must also pay their $50 athletic fee to the financial office. Players must also turn in a citizenship card, which they will receive from the coaches.

2010 Volleyball Rule Changes