East Carolina Jr. Volleyball 16's Team
took 3rd Place, Gold Bracket, American Division of the USA-V Jr. Olympics!
 EC 16s Team at the historic West End district in Dallas. Left to right: Caroline Wainright, Juliann Shirley, Kaitlyn Anderson, Aubrey Rushing, Emily Neideffer, Asst. Coach Katie Koop, Pammy Craigle, Taylor Hardee, Brittany Adams, and Caroline Douglas.
The East Carolina JVC 16s team played in the USA-Volleyball Jr. Olympic Championships in Dallas, TX, July 1 - 4, 2008. The team earned a spot after taking 2nd place out of 143 teams who played in the Big South National Qualifer Tournament held in Atlanta, GA over Easter Weekend. ...Read on for daily updates!
JULY 4 -- The final day of play had East Carolina JVC 16s in the GOLD BRACKET. It started with a repeat match-up against Alabama Elite, going 3 games, (17‑25, 25‑21, 15‑8) and East Carolina moving onto the Semi-finals against a strong Santa Barbara Elite team. East Carolina lost, 16-25 and 19-25, to Santa Barbara, who ended up taking 2nd Place. Our team played great, and everyone is so proud of these girls!!! USA-V put on a nice medal ceremony, where the girls each received bronze medals and had a team photo taken. Caroline Douglas and Pammy Craigle were selected for the ALL-TOURNAMENT Team for the 16's American Division and received plaques for this honor. The group celebrated with lunch down town sampling Texas BBQ, and later going back for the Trinity RiverFest July 4th event, listening to a band and dancing with the local folks!!!
JULY 3 -- The fireworks came early to Dallas, with the East Carolina JVC 16's firing off hits, popping up balls, and slamming their opponents with some missles! Caroline D. actually knocked down one of the Texas girls with a hit tonight! (She appologized to her after the game, being the polite girl she is!) What a night -- the girls played so strong and confident. It was great to see them so excited.Before the Texas Assault match (the match that would put us in Gold or Silver), an ECU Alumnus whose daughter plays for that team, came up to us and said he wasn't sure who to cheer for, being torn between his college town and his daughter -- he laughed and said he thought he'd better cheer for his daughter, even though he still bleeds purple! Also, a mother of an ECU Physics professor was there watching a granddaughter play -- she stayed and watched us play too. It's a small world!
Still undefeated, we head into the Gold Bracket pool that will lead up to Championship play beginning Friday morning at 8 am. You'll have to check the "Advanced Event System" web site link for the results since we won't have internet connection after Thursday night. Sorry!
Hope you enjoyed reading about our trip! Thanks to all those at home who supported the team, helped us out with fund raising, and kept the team going with phone calls and text messages! It's been a week that these girls will remember for a lifetime!
We'll be home Saturday!
JULY 2 -- Wednesday's games went well, with East Carolina at the top with a 5-0 record after the Round One of pool play. They started off the afternoon with a win in a 3-game match with Alabama, then another win in a 3-game match against Red Johnson, and then wrapping it up with 2-game win against ECJ (East Cleveland). We move into Round Two of pool play on Thursday, with games at 3, 5, and 7 pm. These games Thursday will determine if we make it into the Gold Bracket for the Championship! The girls are holding up well, with only a few bumps and bruises! Spirits are good, and they've got their eye on the "big court."
This morning the group went to a downtown bakery for breakfast, and then to the Dallas Holocaust Museum. We got lunch to bring back to the hotel and then off to play! Dinner was a late-night snack at the hotel, and the girls are looking forward to sleeping late in the morning!
JULY 1 -- Quick update on Tuesday night's games... The girl's took North Dallas in 2 games, then went 3 games against Southwest and won! Southwest was seeded first, so this was a big win. Good start to the tournament! Some matches were, as we've called it before, "scrappy ball," but they pulled together and got it done. Earlier today we did a little souvenir shopping and ate lunch at the Spaghetti Warehouse. Katie caught up with us today and came to lunch with us, along with Shannon and her husband Brett. Photos and more tomorrow ...
JUNE 30 -- The flight from Raleigh to Dallas was uneventful and pretty quick. We opted for taxi's instead of the shuttle to save money. Checked into the hotel and got some lunch. Monday afternoon we rode the DART to the Convention Center for team check-in and letting the girls get a t-shirt. Once again, no SMALLS in the styles the girls liked. In the evening we rode the DART one stop down to a place called West End Historic District. Neat place! Brick streets, lots of restaurants and shops, and even a horse drawn carriage. We ate at TGI Fridays. Naturally, Chris provided the entertainment of dancing to 80s hits on the patio while we waited for the tables. Everyone's in good spirits and the girls are ready to play!
Funny stories from the "Lost and Found" department... Day 1, we check in and head up to the rooms on the 9th floor. We get off the elevator and Aubrey says, "Hey, where's MY suitcase?" Uhh, did you get it off of the cart in the lobby like we did? Ooops, it's still downstairs -- sorry Aubrey, you've got to carry your own bag! We were heading off to lunch and Monica realized she couldn't find the backpack with the Team Info and yells at David and Emily, and Caroline for losing it... hmm, where was it? On her bed in the room. Later on Day 1, we're in Subway and Kaitlyn goes to pay for her sub and can't find her wallet... She gracefully (ha!) calls the attention of everyone in the place asking if anyone sees a green wallet. ...where was it? Underneath her purse on the counter! Day 2, Aubrey is at the Bakery and goes to pay, and can't find her purse. Must have left it on the train! She quickly runs out of the store and we all turn to look, and where is it? Sitting on the counter right where she was! Chris wanted her to panic for a few minutes, but Monica went and got her and told her the good news! Later Day 2, Caroline is back at the hotel and can't find her cell phone! She and Sandy head back to the bakery, and where is it? The waitress found it on the counter and was holding it for her! Whew! Day 3, almost lost the water bottles at the train station! Good thing the "local guy" came running over with them! Something that could NEVER be lost... Lisa with a can of Diet Coke... and the team's determination to WIN!!! Final report from the lost and found ends up with 2 stories of lost and not found.... what would a trip to the airport be without someone in the group of sixteen losing their boarding pass? After a few minutes of panic and searching through the giant purse that held anything and everything that could possibly be needed on the trip, Leslie gave up and went and had another pass printed at the ticket counter. Pammy was relieved she didn't have to leave her mom in Dallas! And one last note... Sandy misplaced her car keys! We all hope she found them and got her car-full home!!!!!!!! Ah, stories any parent can relate to!
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LINK TO DALLAS PHOTO GALLERY
A HUGE "Thank You!!!!" to George & Frances Garrett for their very generous donations!
A Special "Thank You" to all who have been so supportive with their time and donations at our fund raisers so far, and the many well-wishes we have received! We appreciate the support:
- Aldridge & Southerland
- Dr. Susan Bane
- Brown & Wood Jeep Mazda
- Myles & Jennie Cartrette
- Jim & Jill Casey
- Joey & Jean Cherry
- Karl & Kathy Chiang
- Christinne's at the Hilton
- The Clement Companies
- Conway & Co., Insurers
- Scott Cooper & Bob Hyatt
- Dick & Janey Douglas
- Factory Mattress and Bedrooms
- Garrett Charitable Trust
- Frank & Debbie Gay
- Dale & Pamela Hartough
- G.B. Electric, Inc.
- Golden Corral
- Growers Ginning Company
- Dale & Pamela Hartough
- Hooker & Buchanan
- Wolfe & Sherry Isley
- Mr. James Jones
- Krispy Kreme Donuts
- Mr. Willie Lee
- Lowe's Home Improvements
- Mark & Ann Mannie
- Rick & Judy Miller
- Morgan Fertilizer Company
- Knox & Amy Oakley
- RV & Karen Parker
- Don & Helen Parrott
- Joe Pecheles Volkswagen
- Polly Piland - State Farm Agency
- Pitt Country Mart, Inc.
- Tracy Purvis
- Dr. Dennis Ross
- S&S Repair Service
- Greg & Jane Steele
- Dr. Hale & Lee Stephenson
- Dr. Daniel Warren
- Dorine White
- Xerox Document Solutions / Darrell Harrison
 The East Carolina 16's Team invited George and Frances Garrett to a practice to thank them for their generous donation from the Garrett Charitable Trust. This donation is greatly appreciated by the team and parents, to help defray costs to travel to Dallas, TX for the Jr. Olympics! |
