Santo Domingo Highlights!

After months of my girls asking to play in the capital, Santo Domingo (SD), we finally got ourselves a tournament in the placio de voliebol... in gringo terms- the volleyball palace... in Jess' terms- MY HEAVEN.  This is the place where they train and recruit players to be the players that represent the DR in any national tournaments.  A couple months ago, I went and saw one of their teams play (girls ages 14-16) and they beat a college team from the states.  They have a facility that has 5 courts (my girls have never played anywhere with more than 2).   It seriously is any volleyball players dream to be in a facility like that.  I am super exhausted because we spent the night there but I want to give you some highlights of our trip!

#1:  Watching my girls line up to give high fives to the other team and noticing that all my girls are about 5'5 average height and the other team's was about 6'.  Then, watching my girls play their hearts out and watching them BEAT the other team... 1 out of 3 games.. BUT STILL!

Dianny, Sarah, Anna and Esther 

#2:  Estephanie said she wanted to give a devotional talk to the SD team before we arrived. So, the oportune time came right around the time we sat down to eat with the other team (keep in mind there was a table of food and drinks set out).  I asked her if she still wanted to do and she jumped up with such enthusiasm that she tripped and took out the entire table of food and then continue to fall HARD and spralled out on the floor.  So not only did she fall, but got red pop and cheetos everywhere.  She then just popped up and ran to go get her bible and give the talk. UNPHASED!  Satan can't stop this team!!!!

#3  Watching my girls continue to play volleyball, buck buck, ninja into the night Saturday night.  You would think after 7 hours of volleyball, they'd get tired or something!

JV Girls in the Van

#4  Watching our 2 new JV teams play in their first tournament ever!    We currently have 9 players on each of the JV teams coached by two new GREAT coaches, Melisa Gomez (great friend and quality female example for these girls) and Adan (Dominican who is an AMAZING volleyball player and brings so much knowledge and skill to coaching JV practices and helping me coach varsity).  Both teams played great and it was so awesome to have 3 of us to coach all the girls. Above you can see a picture of the JV. The totally held their own at the tournament.

Overall... and AMAZING trip!  We plan on continue practicing so we can beat those giants ASAP!

Check out a video taken from one of the games.  Place close attention to number ten, Nana as she continues to pass the ball from the FLOOR! Man, I seriously LOVE these girls.
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