Wednesday at Nationals

Hey everyone, today started out about the same as the past two days with a team breakfast and study hall afterwards. We are all really trying to stay on top of our schoolwork as finals are quickly approaching. After study hall, we scouted the other team through film and the scouting report coach wrote up. Since we didn't play until 8pm tonight, we had some free time this afternoon where many of us spent with our parents and teammates just enjoying everyones presence. It was nice to be able to spend this week with my parents here supporting me and I know all of the girls on the team are very thankful for how great of family and friends we have in our lives. It is hard that not all of our loved ones could be here, but they remain incredible support.

Before our match we had a good pre-game meal at Perkins, which is actually our sponsor for the national tournament. It is really nice having our hotel within walking distance of not only the events center, but multiple restaurants as well. We haven't had to take the charter bus many places which gives our favorite driver Kim a break! Before our evening match we got our team picture taken for the tournament. Warming up for the match, your MNU pioneers were feeling more confident and excited about the volleyball to come. We started off with a rough first set as Fresno Pacific seemed to break us apart by the seams. What I think was pretty incredible was that in the next two sets, although we fell short, we played our hearts out. We had Fresno on their heels until the last few points when they came out ahead. Both sets came out to the last five points as the score was tied 20-20. We ended up losing the last two sets 22-25 and 23-25. Although we felt the defeat from the loss, we will not crumble.

We always end the night giving the glory to our God through a devotional. Molly brought so much scripture into the devotional tonight that I can honestly say I felt an instant peace. So many emotions are amongst us as we head into our final match of the season vs. #14 Missouri Baptist. Seniors are feeling the reality that this will be the last game of our career and underclassman are realizing they won't be playing with the same group of girls ever again. Whatever happens tomorrow we will know that we will have given it our all and played as one, for One. I have so much love for the girls on my team and I know that love comes from above. We have learned what it means to play selfless volleyball and have combined our passions to succeed. We have begun MNU's new volleyball tradition by attending the first ever national tournament for the program. People better get used to our name because believe me, it has only begun!

Tune in tomorrow night for our last game of the season as we prepare to go out fighting! We would love to win our last game of the season, which many teams don't get to do. We play Missouri Baptist at 8pm! Go Pioneers!

-Laura