Under The Radar: A Redshirt Diary

Sandstorm

March 18, 2022

High winds rolled into Gulf Shores overnight, causing the tournament organizers to make alternate plans for Friday's matches as there was the expectation of at least one weather delay occurring at some point. In an effort to get as many of the day's eight duals completed as possible, they would be played to decision, with the dual ending once one team had won three matches, rather than to the completion of each match. Also, all flights would play at the same time rather than the staggered start that was in the original schedule.

The opening dual of the weekend had Georgia State facing Tulane for the second time this season, with the Panthers hoping to even the ledger against their opponents, to whom they lost, 3-2, on February 25th at the Green Wave Invitational in New Orleans. As had been the case so far this season, the Ferary twins secured the first point of the dual with a straight-set win over Tulane's 4s, with Eden and Maddy taking slightly longer to finish off their opponent at 3s and put GSU up, 2-0. Everyone's attention from JMU and Georgia State now focused on Court 2, where Yasmin Kuck and Kayla Whetstone had a 17-12 second-set lead on the Green Wave and were four points away from ending the dual. Over on Court 1, Tulane's Maddie Speicher and Kendall Peters said, "not so fast", as they defeated the Panthers' Kelly Dorn and Elise Saga by scores of 21-16 and 21-19. As those following that match moved next door, Whetstone delivered an ace on match point to provide Georgia State its third point and thus end the dual.

The next battle on the sand, between Florida State and Grand Canyon, was played under ominous skies as the wind picked up and threats of rain were drawing near, causing both teams' coaches to implore on their players the need to play quick and finish off their encounters as fast as possible. The Seminoles got off to a great start in ending the matches at 5s and 1s by identical 21-12, 21-12 scores, but the Lopes would not go away so quietly, as Abbie Hughes and Dana Roskic beat Jordan Polo and Caitlin Moon 21-19, 21-19 at 4s. The dual would end a minute later when Alaina Chacon and Madison Fitzpatrick won their match at 2s to give FSU the clinching third point, thereby allowing the two teams to seek cover and the tournament to take what hopefully would be a short intermission in order for the current weather system to leave the Gulf Shores area.

***

As the weather delay stretched on, the James Madison brain trust decided to handle the business portion of the trip, which was to interview Dani for the vacant coaching positions and square away Maddy's matriculation to JMU. Being that Georgia State had set up shop in the Hangout, a 2.5 acre restaurant/entertainment complex bordering the courts, Lauren led her staff and players into the facility and approached the pair with her requests, with Maddy joining Marc and Ally at one table and Dani and the coaches at another, leaving the players to entertain themselves and those they knew from other teams.

Marc: I saw you hit the Portal on Monday and, rather than call you and do this "academic" meeting over the phone, thought I'd do it while both of us were in Gulf Shores. Ally is joining us because she's our money maven and that is something which both you and I need to discuss. First thing I'd like to know is if you've applied to either of the programs of interest yet?

Maddy: I sent mine for the MSAT out on Monday after informing Compliance of my desire to enter the transfer portal.

Marc: Good. Depending on when Dr. Frye gets it and is able to request your transcripts from GSU, her decision could come pretty quickly because she already knows you're looking to transfer in order to play for the volleyball program.

Maddy: What's the projected scholarship budget for next year?

Ally: When we present our completed plan to the high chiefs in the athletic department, we plan to push to have it be fully funded, 6.0 equivalencies.