Frosh No More!

Hey Everyone!! I know its been a LONG time since I last posted, that just means we have so much to catch up on. So where should I begin….I guess I’ll start at the beginning. First semester done, wow, I never thought that would fly by so fast! Summer seemed to last a millisecond, from class to just hanging out with new found friends, all the memories seem to culminate in this whirlwind that seems like it happened years ago. But now, we’re veterans of this whole college things, me and my five froshies have basically gone pro at being a college student by now I guess. Summer was just the set up to one of the best semesters of my life. But before then, we would have to survive Double Days. For those of you who don’t know, or have never experienced Double Days, this is simply two practices a day for about two weeks leading up to school and the start of the season. It was certainly tough, when not on the court all we wanted to do, or had time for, was eating and sleeping. But, we made it through like champs to brave the season that lie ahead of us. So the season, well, it was everything I could have ever asked for in my first taste of the Pac-10. Every weekend the match was up for grabs to whichever team decided they would show some heart and guts and outlast the others. Traveling was a blast, hanging in the hotels with the girls, and eating, A LOT!! Playing so much really takes a toll on your energy level, and as elite athletes, this is simply not acceptable, so our coaches kept us well fed, as well as prepared for the battles that ensued every Thursday and Friday. Just so you can picture, a usual travel schedule went something like this:

9:00---rise and shine, down in dave’s room, dressed and ready, for breakfast
9:15-10:00---scouting report in dave’s room
10:15---leave for practice at the school we intended to massacre that night
12-3:00---rest in the rooms, and lunch (usually consisting of PB&J sandwiches)
4---Pre-game meal, (eat up, this has to last you the entire game)
7---GAME ON
10:00---dinner
10:30ish---Bed time, (only to get up the next day and do it again)

It seemed kind of daunting at first, but we all love it... it’s what we do!! During the week we had practice everyday at 2:30, not to mention class. OHHH CLASS…far different from what we were used to in high school. I personally had little to no actual homework, sounds great right…WRONG!! 3 out of 4 of my classes were based solely on quizzes, tests, and papers. So believe me, I went to class and paid attention, everyday. But it all worked out in the end!!

Now, aside from volleyball, because we are college kids, we did have a social life. Because our conference played on Thursday and Friday, home weekends entitled us to an entire weekend of socializing, while away tournaments allowed us to get back early Saturday and still salvage some time to be college kids. It was nice to get to spend so much time with my team away from the court, we all had a volleyball bond, but having a social life allowed us to become extremely good friends. We would all do anything for each other if anyone ever needed us to.

As of now, I’m in the Houston Airport, on my way back to Tucson for the second semester of my freshman year at the best university in the country (of course I’m biased haha). So, what lies ahead for me and the rest of the crew. Well, now is our chance to improve from a team two wins away from making the NCAA tournament, to a team that will vie for a national title. It won’t be easy, it is going to take hard work, day in and day out, but in the end it will all be worth it. Workouts this spring start at 6, yes that’s 6 am, which means we are up at 5:30, out the door at 5:35 and at the gym no later than 5:45. No one said it would be easy, but we’re all in it together. I guess I will let you know how that all goes the next time I post.

Until then, best wishes wherever you may be, and good luck in all your endeavors, volleyball related or not.

Posted by Paige Weber

Q & A with Rebecca Murray

Editor's Note - Rebecca Murray played for the Circle City 18 Cheetahz, which finished 9th in the Elite Open division at the 2007 Junior Olympics. She is now a freshman starter at the University of Connecticut. She recently had time for a short Q & A while in a Florida airport on their way to Georgetown.

Question - You only have about 5 or 6 matches left this year. Does it seem like your freshman season has flown by?
Answer - This season has flown by, our first match seems so long ago. But also my freshman season is only half way over we still have spring season and training!

Question - Congratulations on receiving Big East Freshman of the week for two weeks in a row! Why do you think you've had so much success lately?
Answer - My team has really been challenging each other in practice every day. We come into every practice wanting to get better. My teammates have definitely made this possible, I couldn't have done it without them.

Question - What has been the biggest change from playing on your wildly successful Circle City 18's team to the UConn Big East program?
Answer - The time management is a killer. Being an athlete in college is so much more of a commitment than club was. I thought I was overwhelmed during the club season but now I never stop!

Question - What advice would you give to girls playing club ball today, to help them prepare for their Freshman year of College?
Answer - Do the summer workouts and come into the season/preseason expecting anything. You'll do things you never thought you would and train like you never have before. So have a tough skin.

Question - What is a typical schedule for your day?
Answer - I wake up for 8 am class, have classes until 150. Practice at 2:30, then lifting until 6. Eat on the way to study hall, study hall 7-9, get back finish more homework, take a shower and head to bed.

Question - You spend so much time training and studying for class, Is there a Social life the first semester of college? If so, what do you like to do?
Answer - Truthfully, no. I have been able to go to the movies once, otherwise I'm catching up on homework and the days off that we have are normally the days you want to just relax and catch up on sleep. Also there is a partying policy where we can not go out 24 hours before any volleyball… and we always have volleyball, haha.

Question - After spending your whole life with a twin brother (who is playing sports at another college), and your family, do you get homesick at all?
Answer -Not really, after being around him for 18 years, I really knew it was time for us to go our separate ways. I see my parents all the time and both my brothers have made it to one of my games. So really I'm not homesick yet, I just miss my cheetahz.

Question - What do you miss the most from home?
Answer - My friends of course. Having so many friends that play volleyball in college, everyone is so far away from eachother. The only girl I've seen is Cheese but that’s because we played them in Big East play.

Question - Did you hear that your High School Alma Mater, Carmel, went to State this year in volleyball? How cool was that?
Answer - Yeah, actually my old coach Bill sends me weekly emails to update me on the team. I'm so very proud of the girls because I know they worked so hard!

Question - What's the best part of going off to College?
Answer - I really needed to get away for college. I felt like I was in a rut, living in Carmel for 18 years. Also I have become so much more independent so much faster, and I've been forced to become more outgoing.

Question - Do you have any team pranksters or would that be you? What kind of funny things go on that we don't see on the court?
Answer - We really don't have any pranksters, we just have a bunch of crazy attitudes. We laugh all the time and that’s the only way I would make it through the season, is with my team.

Question - When you travel for road matches, what kind of meals do you get, and what type of hotels?
Answer - We stay at pretty nice hotels, but for road matches everyone gets excited because we don't have to eat dining hall food. For our last road trip we got like Olive Garden and Panera, so we are well fed.

Question - Do the freshman have to do any special duties kind of like an initiation?
Answer - We just have to carry the extra equipment, so we pay our dues.

Question - Did the Uconn team adopt your Circle City nickname of Becks? I think Paige Weber came up with that one?
Answer - Yes actually, they all call me Becks, haha.

Question - Do you ever play against former club team mates? If so, was there any fun trash talk?
Answer - I played against Cheese for Big East play, we really didn’t trash talk but it was really nice seeing a familiar face on the court. I know during spring though I will be playing Tots a ton.

Question - What is life in the dorms like?
Answer - It’s so nice, I've met so many people that way. You really never get lonely because people are always walking in and out of your room.

Question - Have you been able to keep up with any friends back home or former team mates that have gone off to college?
Answer - Yeah pretty easily actually. With facebook and aol its really easy to stay in touch. I've talked to pretty much everyone from the Cheetahz. But also its hard to find the time to sit down and really talk because of our demanding schedules.

Question - Any other parting comments?
Answer - When you are deciding on the college you want to go to, make sure it's what you want. I've heard of so many people transferring already. I love Uconn and would never leave here, but there will always be hard times so don't get discouraged. If you work hard, you will be rewarded!

Kirby's Blog

Hi everyone! First, I just wanted to thank Corky and Eric again for everything they did for me personally and for the Circle City Cheetahz Franchise. We love you guys so much, and appreciate every effort you made towards improving us as athletes. Corky doesn't come to the games as much as I would like! Come to some Butler games!!! =) Eric sure goes. Ohh wait, he is our up-ref about every game so he has to be there! haha good times good times. Anyways, my experiences at Butler have already been incredible. I have already traveled so many neat places that I've never been, met and become close friends with so many people, and learned a whole new knowledge about the game of volleyball.

On the second day of school this year, our volleyball team flew down to MIIIIIIIIAMI, FL. It was amazing. Who would have thought that on our last night we would have been walking on South Beach with our feet in the Atlantic Ocean and the dance clubs on the other side of the street. It was truly a dream. The competition in Miami was very challenging. We played Jacksonville and won. We then continued to play Hofstra and Miami. We dropped both game but went 3-2 with Hofstra and 3-1 with Miami. Both teams were very good. It was just such an incredible experience to be in the most beautiful place I've ever been with these amazing girls.

We also traveled to West Virginia. This was such a great experience as well. West Virginia is literally located in a town that is surrounded by mountains. It was beautiful. We played East Tennessee, West Virginia, and Indiana State and swept the tourney! We won the tourney! We were very successful on this trip. It was such a blast. Plus, it is so nice to have all your meals paid for. You can basically eat where ever for a reasonable price. "Eat like it's your job." Obviously, I can still say I live up to the rules that apply on the Franchise shirt.

Lastly, as much as I love Butler University and everything it has to offer including the girls on the volleyball team, it is hard to compare any team to the Franchise. I miss all the girls so much! It's kind of ridiculous. I mean I am cracking jokes left and right out here to the girls (jokes only the Franchise would understand) and only Dubbs (Jessica Wolfe) and Jelly(Jalesa Lee) laugh!!! HAHAHA!!! We have become so close and are basically family now! That awesome run with the Circle City Cheetahz and club volleyball created some friendships that will last forever. To them I would say...

Pweb(Paige Weber- She's my girl. She always will be. I love her more than life itself!

Mac(Lauren McIntyre)-words can't express the feelings I have for her! ES MUY ES EL ESTUPIDO! I just wanna see dubbs slap her leg again and leave a mark!!! haha kidding (inside joke) Dubbs smacked her leg at practice one day, so hard that Eric was able to get a picture on his cell phone. It showed Dubs' hand print on Mac's leg! The hand print lasted for like a week!

Julie- BABBBBY!!! Thanks for getting me hooked on RENT! haha. I love her so much!

Cheese (Kate Letcher)- haha. I miss her sarcastic self so much! haha. god every time I think about her, or the things she would say i just lose it! I cant help but laugh out loud. I am sure people are looking at me like I am a psycho, but I don't care! D coke for life baby!

Bex- how come you decided to come to Circle City so flippin late!!! We would have loooved to have had you on our team years before that! I miss her so much!!! I hope she comes home soon so we can hit up another club and have a dance party... haha Mickey blue eyes and jajuan (another inside joke)... nough said bex nough said!!!

Skeet- I'm sure Pepperdine is going well. I am sure she is just ballin out there. god knows she is not the only tall vballer to go out there ever, but she's got that California blonde thing going too- ahah!!!

Dubbs & Jelly- we family now. GET SOME! BU vball '11! I love these Butler team mates more than life itself!

SERRR (Sara Heldman)- She's always been my best friend, that I hung with, but is now playing vball in New Hampshire and i miss her so much! ok its not even funny. I cant even start to write about you or i will cry ok???

Ok sorry I got off track! I LOVE BU VBALL SO MUCH!!!! Sorry for all the detail you future college volleyball players. Just to demonstrate how much fun you have in club volleyball and how close your friendships become. I mean, how else could girls from Roncalli, Center Grove, Cathedral, Carmel, Terre Haute South, Perry Meridian, Plainfield, and West Lafayette get to be such good friends.

-KATIE aka Kirby, Kooter, Kirbside #5 Bounce Bamfs Franchise This
By Katie Daprile - Freshman at Butler University