11 Oct 2011
Just a quick update on our girls volleyball team from today's play at the State Champs.
We started this morning with a hard match against Mackellar Girls - previously home to the U19 World beach champion, so you know this school can play volleyball!
The first 2 sets were point for point - TRHS in the lead, then Mackellar. We worked hard and managed to hold out the first 2 sets 29-27, and 26-24. In the 3rd, we got a little tired - and a little scared I think, and while leading the whole set, we somehow had a brain freeze, and lost the 3rd 24-26!!!!! Heads went down, panic set in and it was time for the 'Miss Oates Team Talk'. I started by explaining that I wanted the ball set higher out to edge of the net for my big spikers to hit the ball. I tried explaining it by saying the ball needs to move like a big double rainbow. The girls looked blankly at me, so I said the magic words - "you know what the Maccas big yellow 'M' looks like" - eyes lit up, "yes miss" they said, "okay then, set the ball like the maccas 'M' ". And they did! We won the 4th set 25-12!!!! And through to the top half of the draw. (Much relief for Miss Oates!!!!! )
First game down, and off to our next match - Blayney HS - the 2010 State Champions!!!!!!! OMGOSH!!!!!!!!
After a much longer - 'Miss Oates Super Team Talk' (and then 5 minutes looking at mobile phone photos of snow in Blayney's playground at school last week,) we stepped up our game, found our confidence, and the girls played like little superstars!!!! Helped from the bench by Paki Bird (Yr 8) my amazing assistant coach/scoresheet official/general fillauppera of the waters bottles super helper, the girls came through this quarter final, in 3 straight sets, winning the match, and taking TRHS through to the semi finals tomorrow!!!!!!
We play Bomaderry HS in the semi final tomorrow at 10am. Bomaderry were the 2009 runnerup state champions, so I know it will be a hard match, but I'm confident the girls will give it their best shot.
If we are lucky enough to win the semi, we will play the NSW CHS State final at 1pm, and if we lose, we will play for the bronze medal at 12.30pm. Either result will be an excellent achievement.
The girls, Paki and myself are leaving from the front school carpark tomorrow morning at 7am. If anyone does happen to be at school at that time, please come down to the carpark and wish the girls the best of luck for the games tomorrow.
Thanks folks!
Kim Oates
(Very excited TRHS coach!)