Danielle Scott Weblog

Hello All,
Well, I actually started to write and entry the other day but I didn’t complete it, my husband used my computer and closed the document without saving it. So this time I am blaming him for my not having updated my site So here we are the day before the potential last match of the finals for the Paulista. It is a best of three series verses Sao Caetano. We won the first match 3-0. Although some parts of it wasn’t pretty (the tips and roll shots falling) we pulled it together. Elisangela had a spectacular offensive match and everyone else did her part.
I am taking a different medicine that I think finally I will be rid of my cough.
Other than that, My hubby and I are watching the first series of Hero’s in between his finals exams and my training … any fans of that show? What else? I got a new car … well it is not new but like new enough 2005. Thanks Sweetie.

OK, GO FINASA!

Danielle

OH, and GO USA MEN’S TEAM…right now we are in third. Top three, that what matters.

Well, we have come to the end of the road of World Cup 2008. Though we didn’t rob Italy of an 11-0 sweep, GREAT JOB ITALY, we did reach our primary objective which was to qualify for Beijing. Wheeeew! At least that is behind us. We had some opportunities to close the third set but in the end too many errors committed. Italy played a very clean match.

Now, I will be heading home on Saturday for a couple of days, literally. Not much time to relax. I will get in celebrate my nephew’s 19th birthday, go to church gather some things and head out on Monday for Brazil. There I will join my team Finasa Osasco for the semi’s of the Paulista. GO Finasa. So no Thanksgiving Turkey Day for me boo!

Once again, thank all of you supporters of USA volleyball program, team, individual players and coaches. You don’t know how much it means to us and me personally. I really appreciate your taking a chance and writing to me in English…which I am really impressed with you all you are quite good. It takes a lot of courage. I know from personal experience trying to speak or write in a different language is quite difficult. So thanks.

Take care, blessings,

Danielle

And we all say AMEN! USA has qualified. What a fun match against Japan. We played great against the home team Japan, in front of all of their fans, with only the Berg’s and a select few others cheering for us in the gym. Thanks to all of you who stayed up and watched the live score, or cheered during your dreams… But it isn’t over. New goal since we can no longer finish first is to at least blemish Italy’s 10-0 record. This should be an enjoyable match.

Blessings,

Go USA,

Danielle

Well, Yall,

Rough day at the office on yesterday. We went down 1-3. I believe it would have been a different outcome had we won the first set. We had SOOOOOO many unforced errors. I know a lot of people think, Serbia came out of nowhere. However they are FIVB world ranked ninth behind USA. They played exceptional defense behind the blocking clinic they put on.

But today is a new day, PRAISE GOD. Now it is time to refocus and take it out on the Japanese team.

Go USA!

Danielle

Hello All,

Well, we are about 18 hours til game time…WOOHOO! Today’s preparation consisted of training, two video sessions, therapy and rounded off with Hagen Daas Caramel Crisp umm um (Thanks Nicole and Stacy). We play Serbia, Japan, and Italy, respectively. No easy matches during the World Cup competition!

I have to say I am so pleased with the support that we have. And thank you to whomever introduced my blog to the Chinese volleyball bloggers. Yes, I was believing that the support that USA has from the Chinese fans was only because of our coach Jenny Lang Ping, who everyone knows is Chinese superstar “the Iron Hammer”. But thanks Jack (Chinese fan) for expressing otherwise. And thank all of the fans from USA and all over the world who have been leaving encouraging comments for team USA. It is amazing how closely some of you follow this program and the players individually. We will do our best and prayerfully good results will continue to follow.

Blessings,

GO USA!

Danielle

We are definitely on a roll. 8-0! Wow it really felt good to take care of business against Korea. Especially since they decided to rest three of their main players for the match verses Brazil because they thought they would have a better chance to beat USA. NOT! Not this time… They still played incredible defense and served tough against us. But our attack, block, and just overall game was stronger. I am really proud of my teammates. Some players were limping after the game. For us these days, that phrase “no pain no gain is very literal.”

We were promised McDonald’s today after our match but seeing the lines three across, out the door…we passed right on by. It reminded me of my dad. When I was younger my dad and I would stop at McDonald’s on the way home. As I got older, this was a cruel joke, he would act like he was going to stop, then speed by it. Of course there are a million and one McDonald’s on every other block, so eventually he would stop at one (some times)…

Well, we head out bright and early on tomorrow. Final leg, GO USA!

Danielle

Today we are 7-0! We beat Thailand in four. Thailand was the first Asian team we have played against. They played well too. It seemed we would take off to a big lead as we opened up 4-0. They quickly caught up with strong serving. I tell you, I think that most teams strategy against USA is to serve tough. We wanted to serve them tough as well to slow down their offense, but we made a lot of errors. Playing against a shorter team is tricky. Usually they have very good defense, and very skilled attackers to try to irritate the block, by tooling it. In the end, our strength over powered them. Tay was unstoppable. Today’s match was good preparation for tomorrow’s match against Korea! And no all Asian teams are not short. They have several 6′2 players and one who is a bit taller than me!

Thanks for your prayers,
Go USA!

Danielle

SIX and ZERO! That’s us… Granted our last match verses Dominican Republic was not pretty but I will take an ugly win any day. The tournament is starting to take it’s toll on our team. I am sure other teams are dealing with injuries too. Last tournament this plague hit our outsides. This time around there is no bias. Tay’s foot is hurting her, Cassie’s knee, Robyn’s knee and ankle, Berg’s knee, Heather’s calf, Jen’s knee…so all you praying folks lift these players up specifically for healing and pray God’s protection over the rest of us with our lesser aches and colds. You might think, “Wow, but Tay scored 20+ verses Brazil and the setter’s are still playing, so on…” that is the nature of the game, our work. We don’t have sick days, or personal days. We just play right through it. Which makes me thank God for giving us the strength to keep pressing on. When one absolutely cannot go any further or not performing one’s best or the coach just need a change the rhythm, one has always got what? TEAMMATES. What a great team sport! GO VOLLEYBALL!

Today down with Thailand.
GO USA!

Danielle

Still UNDEFEATED! WOOHOO! All Praise be to God. What an awesome win coming back from down 0-2. It was a great team win. I only played a bit in the first set, getting 1 kill of a couple of attempts, and some touches on the block, then coach decided to make some changes. We still went on to lose that set and the second. But what a turn around in the final three sets. The passing steadied out, our offense was great especially Tay and Kim off the great defensive plays of Logan and Nicole. Everyone who entered in the match did a great job. I got a headache from cheering my teammates on from the sideline. I think Berg will be hoarse tomorrow.

Well, we will enjoy the win until our next practice. It has been a long time coming beating Brazil so we’ll have to savour it a bit. Then focus on those teams at the next stop. Round three we’ve got Dominican Republic, Thailand, and Korea…

Go USA!

Danielle

OK win number FOUR… Let’s keep going USA! We did exactly what we wanted to today. And that is to use this match against Kenya to work on specifics of team USA. Except for the second game we really steadied our passing, served tough and just had a lot of fun keeping our energy up. I played only the first set, but in the box we find a way to be as vocal and excited as if we were on the court. Jen came in and did a great job. And was named Best Player of the match. Other substitutions were made as well. So look out Brazil, it will be a team effort tomorrow’s fight! As Tara used to say GLOVES OFF!

No McDonald’s yet this leg yet but the girls have found what? Starbucks! There is also a Mister Donut near by so anyone to serves a ball that doesn’t touch the net or pole or the strings pulling the net tight, will have to pay up. That would mean number 6 from Cuba, Ramirez. Hehehehehe.

GO USA,
Danielle

WOOHOOO! 2-0 that is us, USA team. We beat Cuba in three! Just kidding four would have been nice but we’ll take a 3-2 victory coming from behind in the fifth set! We were treated to McDonald’s for the victory. Can you believe I said no to McDonald’s fries and FRIED apple pies! I did enjoy a filetofish sandwich and large Coke.

Nine more to go. Tomorrow we will play Poland.

Go USA!

Danielle

World Cup 2008 has begun… USA opened against Peru and won in strait sets. We allowed more points to them than I would have liked but it is always good to win. To Peru’s credit, they played really scrappy defense and served pretty tough… Tomorrow we have an early match starting at 12:35 verses Cuba. Cuba is always a fun team to play. They are very athletic and attack the ball aggressively, makes blocking them that much sweeter!

One match down, ten to go…

GO USA,

Danielle