Hey y’aaaaaaaallllllll! Yes, this is freshman Emily Warren here. I’m so excited I get to post a blog about the trip to VCU where the team’s first matches of the season took place!! For me, it was my first road trip ever with the team and the van ride was definitely one of my favorite parts. We departed from UNCW (in two separate vans) after classes, and I was ready to get a nap in after a long week. Everyone had their I-pods in and was sleeping until the big bumps came when going over a bridge and Dash got a little air born. Angie and I woke up at the same time and were laughing hysterically. John followed closely behind us and I could see C Lee’s smile, foot, and her and John laughing hard through the front window the whole way there. Come to find out they were taking pictures of each other and making their faces fat with a new app C Lee downloaded on her phone. John’s picture was one of the funniest. When we finally reached our destination it was FREEZING outside, and we were happy to find our room keys ready with our names on them. Once we were settled in our rooms we had some amazing Cheesecake Factory take-out that was quickly devoured by all of us. We warmed up in “the bubble” at VCU that night to get ready for the next morning’s matches. This was followed by coach’s meeting with the team, which actually was accompanied by some unexpected music…the church choir in the room next to us.........
On Saturday, the first day of matches, we all headed down for breakfast then left for the courts---We had a great start by wiping out our first opponent, Hampton, and then taking down the next opponent, Norfolk State, later that afternoon.
One of my favorite parts of the whole trip was eating at Bertucci’s Italian Restaurant Saturday night. The food was delicious, and Riley’s Dad somehow was brave enough to sit at the table with all the girls. I think Lindsay, Chels, Dash, and C Lee would agree we definetly had the most interesting/hilarious conversation ever! Maybe one day we will find that dream guy we were discussing—The team headed back to the hotel to get well rested for the next two rounds of matches that would come the next day.
On Sunday the team would face two tougher opponents, Penn and VCU. Coach’s pep talk before our match had everyone pumped and the team was ready to go out and win. In a very competitive match the team took Penn down and then next we would play VCU. Coach said, “Were playing six players and they’re playing nine!” I loved when she said this because it is so true in every match we will play this year. The team fought hard against VCU and lost with a competitive drive. The support and cheering was amazing this weekend, and we really brought some teal spirit to Virginia. Everyone could feel our presence. A really big thanks to the parents that made it out to the matches too! Mr. Riley and Mrs. Cameron - - over 11 hours!!! Wow - - and a Seahawk match would not ever be normal without the Dash's in the house!!!! We all appreciate it so much. I really would like to mention how much we loved having Margery come with us too. It was so nice to have her with the team the whole weekend and for all she does! Thank you Margery!
At one point Olga looked over at me and said, “I couldn’t imagine being on any other team than this one. The other teams aren’t as close as us.” I think all the girls on the team would agree. There’s something about being a part of this team that is so different than all the other teams we play. Everyone is pumped to continue working hard and improve even more as a team.
John Ware definitely gets the goofiest award on our trip. I found out Sunday morning at breakfast that his tiny toothpaste tube reminded him of Angie, that he stirs butter into his grits for ten minutes straight, and that if he gets an omelet it will be scrambled eggs within minutes from his hard chopping. It was also reported that he uses cruise control in his driveway…more to that story…. Anyways… C Lee, Riley, and K-Cam got the privilege to accompany John in the mini van on our travels and said John had some funny stories to tell. C Lee gets the goofiest faces award. She is the only girl I know that can make her face warp to whatever she wants it to look like and it can be very scary when she isn’t smiling. Riley, well Riley can’t frown and I guess after all that’s a good thing.
On the ride home Dash and Chels were studying some, but Angie and I decided we wanted to have a dance party in the very back of the van. I think I did a good job of teaching her some of my moves. All the while Olga was passed out sleeping and missed the whole thing. The first road trip with the team was definitely a memorable one. Everyone had great attitudes and played hard. I look forward to our first home matches of the year - Feb.10th, 12th, 13th!! and seeing all the family’s faces out there! This team will go so far and have such a great year.
LET’S GO HAWKS
