email:  ckoplien@todaystmj4.com

My 12 year old daughter Amanda has one week left in her first season playing club volleyball.  In case you don't know (and up until about a year ago, I didn't), there is an elaborate network of club volleyball teams in Wisconsin.  For that matter, there are clubs like this all over of the nation.  They are independent entities, not affiliated with school sports programs.

Anyway, Amanda plays for a program called the Midwest Penguins.  They have just one tournament left in their season that began last fall.

We've had a ball watching Amanda and her teammates this season.  They've won a lot of matches, lost a few, learned a bunch, and had lots of laughs.  It's also been great getting to know the wonderful parents of her teammates...a great group!

The girls have been led by their fantastic coach Casey Brand.  Casey has been terrific with the girls making sure they learned the right way to play, holding them accountable for the actions on and off the court, and ensuring that the girls had plenty of fun.

Here are a few photos...

That's Amanda, #7, wearing the red head band...Coach Casey is sitting in the background, right of Amanda


Here's Amanda from behind with the bump.  Alyssa is to the left, Jenna and Erika to the right, and just a sliver of Alex to the far right.


Here's Amanda serving...awesome picture with the ball in flight!  (I'm a great photographer.)


Here's Amanda during warm-ups.  That's her big sister Courtney (my 14 year old) in the red shirt helping out.  Not sure what the deal is with Courtney's socks.


Spike it, Amanda!


Here's another cool picture where you can see the ball just after Amanda serves it.


Anna and Amanda


Here's Amanda next to Lauren, with Coach Casey and Anna above...

Here's the whole team:
Top row...Coach Casey, Abby, Amanda, Alyssa, Mariah, Erika, Coach Art.
Bottom Row:  Jenna, Lauren, Anna, Erin, Alex.