by Regan Peltier and Brittany Howard

Quote of the day: one more ‘til Singapore

For the past 24 hours, three of us have been ill. But after being horizontal for the whole day, we recuperated and “got vertical” first thing in the morning to meet with the team and do a 15-minute cardio workout. Because of such a low-key practice we had the rest of the morning to work on homework and mentally prepare for our big match tonight against Puerto Rico.

Coming into the match, we knew Puerto Rico wouldn’t just hand it to us, and we would have to work for it. Unfortunately, before the match, Maddie Bugg came down with the same sickness as the first three. But she toughed it out to play the entire time. Throughout the match we held the lead for the entire game. Our blocking was on BIG TIME!! The first game was back and forth ending with a score of 25-23 but after such a close game we turned it on to win both the other games 25-16 and 25-18. Winning this match gave us one of the three qualifying bids to the 2011 FIVB Girls' Youth World Championship and the chance at continuing on to win the one and only bid from NORCECA to the first-ever Youth Olympics that will be held in Singapore.

“Winner, winner, chicken dinner” held its meaning tonight as we came back to another yummy chicken dinner. Once again, unfortunately, on our way back up to our rooms “other one bit the dust" and came down with the same virus that had made its way around to one-third of our team. Despite all of the sickness, we are excited about the win and really ready to face Mexico in the finals!

Buenos Noches,

Regan Peltier and Brittany Howard