Volleyball

After recently competing at Nationals in Louisville, Ky., the team placed 17th overall in its division. While tryouts are generally held the second week of every fall semester, the season commences in spring, and the team works throughout the year to be the best it can. This group, consisting of 15, makes up both the first and second teams of men's FSU Club Volleyball.

"Guys' volleyball typically doesn't get the credit that I think it deserves in regard to the speed and intensity of the game," said FSU freshman Brandon Blahnik. "Most people haven't actually seen men play at a real competitive level and don't really understand how exciting of a game it is."

Blahnik, 19, is the outside hitter on the first team and also serves as the club's treasurer. He is currently enrolled in 15 credit hours.

"The most difficult part, along with any school sport, is finding the extra time to practice and go to tournaments while still worrying about classes," said teammate and FSU sophomore Tommy Austin.

In high school, Blahnik played volleyball, soccer and ran cross country. He was an active member in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Mu Alpha Theta, Epsilon Nu Gama, National Honors Society and the Drumline.

Blahnik currently works as the head coach of 12-year-old girls' club volleyball, and still finds time to be involved on campus.

"I am really involved with the Wesley Ministry on campus, which I absolutely love," said Blahnik. "I attend service there on Sundays, family groups, and play almost any intramural sport you can imagine with them as well."

Blahnik, from Oviedo, Fla., has been playing volleyball competitively since sixth grade. After high school, he knew he wanted to continue playing the sport.

"I have been playing volleyball for about six years now and I knew that I wanted to continue to play in college at the highest level that was available, and here at FSU the club team is that level," said Blahnik.

In any competitive sport, the occasional injury is bound to occur. Some can be damaging, while others aren't as severe.

"I have never had any major injuries playing volleyball but have rolled my ankles quite a few times and broken a couple of fingers while blocking," said Blahnik.

The team practices twice a week for two hours and many members play outside of practice as well, at the Leach center or for fun. On occasion, a few members will practice with the girls' varsity team.

"My favorite part is going to and hosting tournaments," said FSU graduate student Greg McCandless. "It's what you work for in practice and you feel better blasting opponents in the face than you do when you do it to your own teammates in practice."

Being a part of the team isn't always fun and games. Besides exhausting practices and improving their game, the guys have come across other struggles to date.

"My least favorite part about being involved with FSU Club Volleyball is the fundraising," said FSU senior Jonathan Thomas. "We end up paying for a lot of things ourselves."

Aside from the hard times, undoubtedly, there are benefits that come along with being a part of the team. Some enjoy traveling and making new friends, while others like the opportunity to be excused from class for games and tournaments.

"My favorite part about being involved with FSU Club Volleyball is being able to play high-level competitive volleyball against the best teams in the country," said FSU senior Jonathan Thomas.

© Copyright 2008 FSView & Florida Flambeau

His modesty is undeniable. His candor, unequivocal. His benevolence, simply true to the word. But it’s his commitment that inspires.

There are coaches and athletes in this world that make you stop and watch. It’s not only because of what they represent on the playing field, but what they represent off it. Sports figures that grasp the attention of the masses have as much between the ears as they do between the lines.

They don’t bother with hype or extravagance. They smile at the fans, wave at the kids. They are aware of the surrounding world and choose to embrace it, not ignore it.

There are coaches and athletes that fall into that category. There is a list somewhere.

Brett Favre is on it. His combination of a down-south-aw-shucks attitude with his football savvy put him in the hearts of millions. Mickey Mantle was the same way. He was so humble, in 1956 he told Shirley Povich that Babe Ruth’s 60 HR record would be broken in the next four or five years, “but not by me.” He was honest too. The closest he got was five years later when he hit 54 in 1961 – the same year Roger Maris hit 61.

Closer to home, I’m Oregon State Head Volleyball Coach Dr. Taras Liskevych on that same list. But, he’ll ask you to call him Terry. While his resume is full of more Accolades than a Babbage’s, Terry doesn’t flaunt it. He has an Olympic medal, earned a Ph.D and if you try to get him to elaborate, he is most likely going to steer the conversation elsewhere.

He coached Olympians from 1985 though 1996. For the better part of a decade he dealt with egos and politics, greed and corruption. At the Olympic level, egos and money rule. “In the Olympics you are only paid to win,” Liskevych said. “And it is very difficult to take the best of the best and make them into a team.”

But he succeeded. During the eleven years he was involved with the USA National team, he collected a Bronze medal at the World Championships and the Olympics and in 1995 won the World Grand Prix. He coached the best volleyball team in the world, it was composed of three and four-time All-Americans. But after working with Olympians for more than a decade, Terry wanted a change.

If you ask him why he decided to come to Corvallis a few years ago, he’ll tell you he wanted a challenge. He once said on The NickelBlock, “I liked the fact that [Oregon State] had never been good in volleyball, because there’s nothing but up.” Terry conquered the world of Olympic volleyball and wanted to return to the college scene and conquer a different beast.

“I wanted a chance to teach again.”

Terry has had his opportunities to teach. Not in the classroom but on the court. In his first few years at Oregon State he has taken a team that was a regular in the bottom of the Pac-10 to a team that is winning at 10th-ranked Hawaii, at fourth-ranked UCLA and at 15th ranked California. The team even cracked the top 25 this year after beating fourth-ranked USC and No.13 Wisconsin. While the team may not win a national title or contend for one, Terry isn’t disappointed.

It’s not his style, words like that aren’t in his vocabulary. The only dis-word he knows is discipline. His command is calm and collected with a vision and a plan.

“I tell my kids, I’m going to teach you life skills, you’re going to graduate and you’re going to be a great volleyball player.” Liskevych said.

And he believes that.

“You can’t legislate ethics and morality,” he said. “If I want to cheat and I want to do things outside the purview of the NCAA guidelines, I could do it everyday. And no one is going to catch me. I think you need to say ‘What am I here for as an educator slash coach?’”

Terry Liskevych is an NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Head Coach that is here to be an educator first. Win games second. He preaches it everyday when he says, “success breeds success.” A successful student makes a successful athlete? When was the last time you heard a coach say that? Makes you stop and think, doesn’t it?

You have good rivalries, such as the red river shootout with Oklahoma and Texas. You have Florida and Florida State. And some say Georgia and Florida. But one rivalry has held true for over a hundred years.

I am talking about of course The Iron Bowl Alabama vs Auburn. Many times they have gone against each other with good teams, and sometimes one was good and the other was bad.

And sometimes both were bad. But in any case Alabama vs Auburn has always been the best rivalry in the SEC and in the nation period for college football. Of course Alabama and Auburn are in the same state and are separated by 200 or so miles.

And in every sport they go at each others throats. They go at it in gymnastics, volleyball, baseball, softball, basketball, and others. But none compare to the Alabama and Auburn football game.

First off the game is in mid to late November, which means that both teams can't afford to lose if they are in title contention. If they do then they are pretty much out of any hopes to win a National Championship or conference title.

And since it is so late in the season they have no time to make the game up. Being in the SEC they go at other great SEC teams all year and when they finally get to the Iron Bowl both teams are tired and and hurting.

But still they give their all in hopes of bragging rights all year long, and since they usually are high profile teams, a win at the Iron Bowl can get you a BCS bid.

Over the past couple of years both teams have been good but not great, so the one who wins gets better bowl game. So that is also an incentive to win.

Not only that, but the team that wins gets to hold onto the Iron Bowl Trophy. And that has been in the hands of the Auburn Tigers the past six years in a row. Will Alabama finally win? Who knows, but many will be watching to find out.

As any football game in the SEC, both defenses keep the game very close, and play so hard against each other, there is that one player who steps up and becomes a hero. In the state of Alabama, if you win an Iron Bowl, sometimes it is better than National Title.

Is it right? No, but that is Alabama and Auburn football. Not Ohio State and Michigan or Florida and Florida State can bring that to you.

Is the Iron Bowl your favorite rivalry game? If not, what is your favorite?

Well the Olympics are over and most of the fringe sports thrust into the spotlight of the sporting world will soon be forgotten. I want to make sure one sport isn't:

Volleyball.

If you want a sport that involves the fast scoring pace, athleticism,and a mixture of tennis, then volleyball is the sport for you to both play and watch.

I understand that most people play volleyball in the off-season from football or basketball if they have the time in high school. I, however, play volleyball full-time at my high school in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, Canada.

I love volleyball and play for my JV team. I want to share this wonderful and fast paced game of volleyball with everyone. Here are the basics:

Types of Volleyball

Beach

Beach volleyball can be played with two-six players, usually with an even number of players on each side of the net. They are mens, womens and mixed competition.

In the Olympics they feature the two-on-two style of beach volleyball, which is the most common. The superstar tandem of Misty May and Kerri Walsh have dominated the women's game for the last four years and are currently on a 108-game win streak.

The outdoor beach volleyball game also features the luxury of every player being able to make a kill at any time from any spot on the court, adding more difficulty and athleticism to the game.

Indoor

The Indoor is played with six players on each team and has different rules from the beach game. For example, only the three front row players in the rotation can play the ball above the net into the opponent's side of the court, ahead of the attack line.

The three back row players need to jump from behind the attack line if they want to make a spike attack.

Only one person can sub into the game for each of the six positions on the volleyball court. The positions are front/back row power, front/back row middle, and front/back row setter.

The exception to the rule is the Libero, a player who specializes in defensive passes and wears a different color of jersey. This player can sub into the game for any of the six positions, but cannot serve or make any pass/spike over the net into the opponents side of the court.

The two types of main tournaments are the FIVB World Championships, held every four years. The Summer Olympics are held every four years as well.

Lingo

Kill- When a player jumps and makes contact with the ball, usually with one hand, above the net into the opponents side of play. Also known as a spike.

Bump- An underarm pass used with the two forearms on any pass from neck height or lower, usually it is the first of the three passes allowed in the game of volleyball. Also called a dig, it usually involves a player diving. Dgs can also be done with one arm, but most coaches teach diving bumps.

Sets- This is almost always the second pass in the sequence, and sets up the aforementioned kill. There is usually at least one player on the court who specializes in "setting" up the other five players for kills.

The set consists of the player making the "Jay-Z" sign with the hands spread about a inch apart and pushing upwards with their hands and legs before the ball lands on the players head.

6-Pack- When a volleyball player takes a spike to the face. While it is never good to hit a player intentionally in the face with the ball in other sports, the "6-Pack" is often a huge turning point in momentum in a volleyball game.

The Positions

Power- Plays on the left side of the court, also called outside players. These players usually take high sets allowing them to take longer approaches, therefore giving them more momentum and stronger hits. I play this position and let me tell you this is the most fun position in the game.

Middle- These guys are usually the tallest and most agile players on the team. They perform low sets that are almost literally hit out of the setter's hands. They also block on both the right and left side of the net when playing the front row. They also help out the outside and opposite side players with their blocking duties.

Opposite Side- Usually one of these players is the setter on the team, the other one is strictly a hitter. The setter directs the offense and decides where each set is going to go and who will get to spike the ball.

The opposite side hitter will either play defense while back row, and block and spike when in the front, like the power and middle positions.

Formations for Indoor

4-2- Four hitters and two setters. This is most popular in beginners play.

6-2- Basically a 4-2, but the setter always comes from the back row to set. This allows for six possible hitting options.

5-1- Basically a fusion of the 4-2 and 6-2 with one player assuming the setting responsibilities. This allows for three setting options ahead of the attack line and the advantage of the setter being able to dump or tip the ball over the line when the opponents aren't on their toes.

I hope you are better informed of the game of volleyball after reading this. Don't be afraid to ask any questions as there is more about this game than my brief description.

Team USA volleyball arrived here in Beijing in attempts to continue to restoration of what was once a powerhouse team.

Not since their back-to-back gold medals in 1984 and 1988 and then a bronze in 1992 had the United States medal in the Olympics.  Being eliminated in the round-robin preliminaries in 1996 and 2000, which was rock-bottom when the USA went 0-5.

The United States began to re-discovered their winning ways in Athens with a 4th place finish, dropping down with a 10th in the 2006 World Championship and then back up with a 4th place finish in the 2007 Worlds.

Team USA coach Hugh McCutcheon had his team in their best shape and ready for the Olympics with a first place finish in the 2008 World League.

With his team primed and ready, McCutcheon and his American players were ready to take on the best in the world.

But before pool play even began the team, and more importantly McCutcheon were struck with an unthinkable tragedy.

McCutcheon's wife Elisabeth, a member of the 2004 Olympic volleyball team, and her parents were touring around Beijing when they were attacked.

The assailant stabbed and killed Elisabeth's father and seriously injured her mother.  The attacker then next jumped to his own death.

This attack has been widely covered in the Beijing Games, so I won't go into any more detail, but to say that McCutcheon's mother-in-law is expected to make a full recovery.

Coach McCutcheon was not with his team for their opening round victory over Venezuela, but after talking with his wife, they made the decision and he returned to the team.

Team USA would fly through Group A with a perfect 5-0 record, including wins over powerhouses Italy and Bulgaria.

In the quarterfinal round, the United States drew #4 internationally ranked Serbian team.  The Serbs had struggled early in group play, but advanced to face the Americans in the toughest of all four quarterfinal matches.

Down 1-0 and 2-1 in sets, the United States rallied to win the final two sets 25-18 and 15-12 and defeat the Serbs and next face the incredible Russian team.

In this semifinal match the United States jumped out quickly winning the first two sets 25-22, 25-21.  But the Russians never gave up and came back to win sets three and four and force a fifth and decisive set.

The Russians who had won silver in Sydney and bronze in Athens and were also the reigning world champions had the Americans on the ropes.

But with a type of Rocky Balboa fight in them, the Americans rallied and won the fifth set, 15-13.  Highlighted by the final point scored on a block of Russia's best outside hitter Maxim Mikhaylov, who already had recorded 28 kills.

This set-up the Americans for a showdown with the #1 internationally ranked Brazilians.  In the 2008 World League semifinals, the Americans defeated the Brazilians in Brazil, but this time it was for a gold medal and Brazil was the defending gold medalist.

Also in these Olympics, the Brazilians and Americans had matched up in gold medal rounds in men's beach volleyball and the day before in the women's indoor volleyball.  USA won on the beach and Brazil indoors, 1-1, this was the tie-breaker.

Brazil wasted no time, winning the first set quickly and decisively, 25-20.

But not giving up the Americans tied the sets at one a piece with a 25-22 victory.  And then took over the lead by winning the third set 25-21.

Late in the fourth set, the Brazilians led 20-16 and seemed on their way to force a fifth set and doing so with the momentum on their side.

But after a time out from Coach McCutcheon, the United States went on a tear, winning 9 of the next 12 points and defeating the Brazilians 25-23 for the gold medal.

In was an incredible victory over a power-packed team of champions for a team and a coach that had been through so much.

A two-week period that had started with the senseless death of McCutcheon's father-in-law, followed by the claiming of an Olympic gold medal.  It was a surreal week for McCutcheon and his players, but ultimately a week that allowed them to have their perseverance pay-off.

It started in 2001. It won gold in 2004. It nearly broke up in 2006. It has won 108 straight matches. It has not lost in 2008. And Thursday afternoon in Beijing it won back-to-back golds.

It is the winning machine of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.

Misty and Kerri are the faces of women's volleyball in America and two of the most recognizable names in all of American sport.

On Thursday afternoon, in the monsoon-like rains of China, they became legendary.

The two faced off against the top seeded Chinese team of Tian and Wang for the gold medal match in women's beach volleyball. Looking to finish their incredible run of 107 consecutive matches won, May-Treanor and Walsh battled the last team that beat them.

And to make the match even more fun, Mother Nature joined in with constant rainfall that made the ball slicker and the match more unpredictable.

However, neither Mother Nature nor the Chinese best beach volleyball team could hold down the best in the world. 

In a back-and-forth first set that saw neither team with more than a three-point lead, May-Treanor and Walsh eventually pulled out the 21-18 win.

In set two the American duo did the same thing again, never letting unlucky bounces or unforced errors ruin their run. It ended with a Walsh kill and the Americans were gold medalists, again...21-18, 21-18.

They celebrated just as they did four years prior when they won their first Olympic gold medal in Athens—running around, hugging one another playfully, dancing around in the sand like a child would on his first trip to the beach.

They became the first team, men's or women's, not only to reach the gold medal round in back-to-back Olympics, but to win it as well.

It was their 18th straight tournament victory.

It was their No. 1 all-time record 96th team win.

It was their 108 consecutive match victory.

It was simply magical.

When NBC analyst and former beach volleyball great Karch Kiraly was asked if they were the best he responded, "Yes, there is no one else.  They have beaten everyone."

You can't analyze that any more.  With this victory May-Treanor and Walsh vaulted themselves from great to legendary.

Michael Phelps, Usain Bolt, the Redeem Team, not even Team USA Women's Softball team have done what these two have done.

In a post-game interview, amongst their child-like celebrating, Walsh and May-Treanor confirmed the rumors that they are now going to be focusing on starting families and volleyball will take a back seat.  But neither one said anything about not returning for London 2012.

If they do decide to return and if they could possibly repeat again, then the team would go down in Olympic history as one of the greatest teams ever to compete in the Olympic Games.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh: untouched, unbeaten, unbelievably two-time Olympic gold medalists.

• 18 straight tournament titles.
• Undefeated in two Olympics, without dropping a set in either.
• 108 straight matches, without losing a set.
• 69 straight international matches, without losing a set.
• They haven't lost in over a year.
• Misty has 103 career victories, most all-time for a woman
• Kerri is right behind her with 100.
• They are the all-time winningest team in Women's Beach Volleyball.

What is there left to say about these two? As dominant as Michael Phelps was in swimming, Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh (or "Six Feet of Sunshine," as she is affectionately known) have been in women's beach volleyball.

After cruising to yet another two-set victory, Misty and Kerri are now on the precipice of becoming the first beach volleyball team, men's or women's, to repeat as gold medalists.

They will have to get by one of the two Chinese teams to accomplish this feat. The gold medal game will be played on Wednesday night.

Let's get to the recap of tonight's game though...

Maybe my articles are bringing some love to May-Treanor and Walsh, as Kobe Bryant and LeBron James were in attendance.

The second Brazilian team in as many matches, Talita and Renata, had apparently kicked May-Treanor and Walsh off of warm up court No. 1 earlier in the day. And it seems that the Americans took it personally.

In the first set May/Walsh jumped out to an early 5-2 lead. Again there was a score change as we came back from the commercials. The Americans were up 9-3. Somewhere during the ads, they went on a 4-1 run.

May-Treanor and Walsh ran the score to 18-8. After a long volley back the Brazilians cut the lead to 18-9. They then got another quick point to cut it to 18-10. After that, the Americans won three of the next five points, to win the set 21-12.

The second set was more of a battle as Misty and Kerri fell behind quickly 2-1 and 4-3. 

Talita and Renata kept the match close after May-Treanor and Walsh took the lead. After another long volley, and a penalty on Walsh that I didn't quite understand, the Brazilians tied the game at 10, then went up 11-10.

After that, it was over. The Americans went on a 10-1 run to take a commanding 20-12 score.  

The Brazilians reeled off two quick points to cut the lead to 20-14. The ensuing serve went into the net to give Team USA the victory.

All this was with Misty playing while under the weather. You'd never have known from watching her though.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have yet to drop a set in the Olympics. They have also increased their total win streak to 107, including 68 international matches.

Tune in Wednesday to see them try to repeat as gold medalists.

Good luck, ladies!

The team of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh have advanced to the final four in their quest to repeat as gold medalists in Women's Beach Volleyball.

This time out was a bit easier as they took on the number three seeded Brazilian team.

The Brazilian team has only been together since August 7th. Larissa Franca's regular partner Juliana Felisberta da Silva was sidelined on August 6th with a knee injury. So three-time Olympian Ana Paula Connelly was called upon.

You would never know they had only been together such a short time, as they played extremely well together.

In the first set, May and Walsh trailed only a couple of times. Their biggest deficit being three points.

When they finally gained the lead they never relinquished it.

The Brazilians gave them a bit of a scare at the end of the first set though. As May/Walsh were up 20-16 serving for the first set, when the Brazilians won two points.

I started thinking uh-oh, this is exactly what May/Walsh did to the Belgians when they broke five set points to win the first set of that match.

That would be as close as they'd get though. The final score of the first set was 21-18.

In the second set, Misty and Kerri cruised to a 21-15 victory. They continued their perfect streak, by not dropping a set.

Unfortunately, my DVR cut off the last 8 (or so) points of the match. I wish I could have seen the end of it.

May/Walsh have now won 106 straight matches, including 67 straight international matches.

May-Treanor is the winningest Women's Beach Volleyball player of all time.

Photo above from Reuters

Photo of Kerri Walsh from Holly Stein/AVP

Photo of Misty May-Treanor obtained from Google search. I couldn't find the photographers' name. If anyone happens to know it, please feel free to contact me so I can give proper credit.