July 23, 2008
Click here for the official results page for the European Global Challenge
PULA, Croatia -
Good morning Redbird fans!
The USA/BIP team has come up strong once again! Yesterday, we played another match against a very strong Italian team. This proved to be another tough challenge, especially with their strong outside hitting.
After winning the first set, we dropped the second set, setting up the decisive 25-point third game. Near the end of the set, we trailed by a few points with the Italian team on the brink of winning the match, but Carrie Minogue's (one of our middle blockers) strong serving brought us back on top. Carrie ended the set with an ace and we all celebrated in victory!
In the evening, we played our first best three out of five match of the tournament, against a younger and less experienced team from the USA. Although Front Range VBC, a club team out of Colorado, went on a few runs against us, we pulled off the win in straight sets.
Even though we only had one loss in pool play, we ended up seeded 6th out of the top eight teams. This put us in the quarter-finals, and we played against another very strong, third-seeded Slovenian team this morning.
Like all the European teams, this team was dominated by high outside sets. They also had a very good libero and excellent back row attacks. We pulled off set one, lost the second set, and took a 2-1 lead after winning the third set. Towards the end of set number four, we led by just a few points.
Although there were a few scares as the Slovenian team crept back into the game, we finished off the fourth set and the match with another win.
We play tonight at 7 p.m. in the semi-finals against a home team from Pula, Croatia. Hopefully we'll bring home another victory to place us in the final match tomorrow evening at 7 p.m.
Thanks for supporting and following such a great trip! Talk with you all soon!
