December 11, 2021
Quarterfinal morning greeted the volleyball team with some sun and a drop in the temperature, producing a wind chill of +3 degrees. Following breakfast and a quick touching-of-base between the staff and the players, everyone was dismissed and on their own until training table at Noon. The program couples (Lauren and Casey, Michael and Ally, Marc and Sarah, and Rebecca and Savannah) hung out in the formers' rooms, displacing Sophia who joined Cameryn down the hall. Finally able to check her messages from overnight and early this morning, Sarah's inbox was filled with many texts wishing her and JMU luck against Purdue that afternoon.
katie.fuller: Go, sis! Mom, Dad, and I will be watching today and cheering you on. Love you and will miss you until you get home for Xmas. MUAH.
dana_rettke: Can't wait to see you in Columbus in a few days, since you know UW is going back to the Final Four. Take down Purdue and deliver a little bit of payback for us.
jocygurl78: WOOOOO! Your team was on FIAH Thursday. Almost made me want to take up the sport myself. Just kidding. Win today and message me about a meet-up on FaceTime over the holidays. *heart hands*
Others around the team had been sent messages as well.
WhatYouTalkinBoutWillis (to Caroline): Three days 'til I get to see your shining face again! Wouldn't it be crazy if you and Jade end up playing each other for the national title?! If that happens, I'd have a hard time choosing who to back. Do your thing and beat the Boilers!
WhatYouTalkinBoutWillis (to Chloe): I am so proud of you, baby! Wish I didn't have to wait until the 31st to get my lips onto yours, but know they are waiting for you and only you. Kick some tail and win so I don't have to wait that long. XOXOXOXO
IzzyTizzy (to Liz): And to say I knew you when. Both Sydney Hilley and I are happy to see one of our fellow Twin Cities natives a step away from the Final Four and are hoping you make it so we can meet up next weekend.
RNStevens (to Marc): Today will be the first volleyball match I'll have seen since my last one at Riverside, all because my big brother is in love with a player. VERY excited to meet her on the 19th and tell her ALL the embarrassing stories from our childhood. Wish her well from Michelle and I and I'll see you soon, Big Marc.
Marc shared his sister's message with Sarah and, together, they responded.
KickFromTheMarc: You do that, and I'll have to bring out the BIG file of anecdotes concerning you that I'm sure Mish doesn't know yet. (Sarah) Thanks for the well-wishes. Looking forward to our visit to Milwaukee in a few days and learning how Marc got to be as screwed-up as he is.
Sarah quickly hit send, leaving Marc to pout about her comment. Sarah placated her bae with an overpowering kiss, one which she hadn't been able to unload on him in a few days. With a couple of hours left to kill, the two of them curled up on his bed and watched ESPNU's replay of last night's JMU football game against Montana, which the Dukes won.
***
The crowd at Holloway Gymnasium was in full voice during warmups for the NCAA quarterfinal matchup featuring the homestanding Purdue Boilermakers and the upset-minded James Madison Dukes. The discomfort JMU had at William and Mary was rearing its head again, forcing Lauren to dig into the bag of tricks to resolve this prior to first serve. She walked over to her team's supporters' section and sought out the resident fix-it man.
Lauren: Can I enlist your services today?
Marc: Sarah told me some of the players didn't take too well to the crowd noise during the Purdue/Minnesota match on Thursday and that I might need to address it before today's. Lead on, my liege!
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