Darkside Update 1/19/99

For those of you who didn't make it, or those of you which have forgotten, here is the summary of the 1/16/99 Eckerd Tournament.

Greg and Raik drove up Friday night to St. Pete., while Ahren, Kurt and I did the 5 AM departure from Casa del Zaz in the new Explorer. We had to stop and meet Chris Romine on 710 & Northlake to get his jersey for Ahren. Shane made it solo from Orlando and that was our 6 for the day.

There were 4 AA/A teams in our pool and the other pool was a BB tourney. We had 2nd match and it was against Your Name Here, 2 games to 15. They had picked up Mike Zarate, the short setter from last year's U. of Florida's alumni team. After siding out on their first serve, we served and Raik almost ended his season right there. At the net double blocking, a lefty hitter from the other team came flying under chasing a tight set and took Raik out, cracking his Active Ankle support in the process. A major delay followed as the hobbled Raik retrieved his spare Active Ankle, pre-tape and tape, taped his ankle, put on his remaining support and gimped back onto the court. Adding insult to injury, we lost the rally, because he was called into the net. The reffing team was not even close this match, maybe they we looking to become replacement NFL referees? Either may, we lost game 1 15-13. We made many mistakes, passing, hitting, blocking and serving! Captain Canada (Ahren) jumpserved something like 8 points that 1st game giving us a 10-2 lead we would squander. We did win the second game 15-12, giving us the win in the head-to-head split.

In the next match, Powerhouse had one of their players go down with a torn calf something-or-other and he was done for the day. They picked up another player, registered him on the spot and they finished the tournament with him. They wound up losing both of those games.

We played David's Team (that's their name) next and won 2, despite making too many service errors. We did side out well and transitioned well. The offense and transition are starting to gel. In the next match, David's Team was quickly beaten by YNH, thus ending Powerhouse's chance at 1st place in the pool. They chose to forfeit their last 2 games to us and go into the semifinals rested. We accepted and took 1st by the better head-to-head score against Your Name Here.

The semifinals went 3 games, with Your Name Here winning the 1st, losing the second and winning the rally scoring game. The finals were also best of 3, but only went 2 games, as we won both without much drama. The games featured many side outs and a few quite impressive plays; everyone had their turn to shine.

T.K.A. - Many exploded with noteworthy efforts. There was a "Wally-Warhead", a shoulder-almost facial, and a few impressive straight-downers. I give it to both Ahren and Shane for several X-balls and massive destruction in general.

The Dorkside - Amazingly enough, The Dorkside goes to both Ahren and Shane. Blocking next to each other, they both go up to hit an overbump. Neither relinquishes (the minds merged as one and the bodies performed the exact same action), both swing at the ball and it is plowed into the net! The Dork signals come out. The first time we have had the same TKA and Dorkside winner at once (and it's shared by the same 2 people!).

Next tournament - Disney Classic. We play in the afternoon wave. There are 2 pools of 5 in the men's open. We need to figure our who is coming up when. I have 2 rooms for Friday and Saturday at $49 per night. As before, Shane has offered some people sleeping accommodations. I can still cancel one of the rooms; there is a captain's meeting Friday night and I will have to be there anyway. We'll put it all to bed (no joke) before Friday.