"Of course, with their exemplary record of wanting to give back and connecting with the young athletes who look up to them, it wasn't long before I had a handful of great responses for my friends in Omaha! "

"My coaches challenged me to get better at my job, to figure out ways to use every opportunity to improve, to come out of my comfort zone and see how far I can go. One question they asked me that I loved was, "Why not you?""

Sports are so humbling... there are constant trials, frustrations, moments of success, and countless setbacks, and when you learn from them it just adds a deeper level of understanding of not only the game, but yourself.  

Hooper Nebraska.  Population 830.  Routes 77 and 275 pass by, as does the Elkhorn River.  It is also the home of the "Governor".  Not the one who lives in the mansion in Lincoln, the more popular one, Jordan Larson-Burbach.

Every morning I wake up I feel blessed to have Cassie, Carly and Jennifer in my life.   I think the young ladies on the team have found inspiration in our story and have become more involved in community outreach because of it.  Additionally my daughters are lucky to have 16 amazing role models from the team.

"Coaches are great mentors, but too many coaches practice for practice, and not performance, doing drills to look good on the weekdays, and not empowering players to perform in the competitions."

John Kessel

Ok so maybe I've seen this all before.
Trust me, the situation isn't exactly the same, but the feeling surely is.
Let me back up just a bit.

  It was difficult for me to wrap my head around the idea that I was good enough to play next to some of the greatest volleyball players in the world.  However, I was surprised by how the older girls welcomed me and I quickly learned that despite the constant competition amongst us, we were all in it together.  

"for sure the emotion of that last point was something I had never experienced before and was absolutely incredible! It gets me so pumped to get back in the USA gym this summer."

My biggest victory in my career is today. Each day that I can wake up, walk into the gym and give 100% effort is a victory. No matter if I am injured, tired or homesick, I am where I am because of my work ethic and I think that’s a victory in itself.

When you're a kid, you dream big.  You find what you like and you figure out what the most amazing accomplishment would be in that field and then if you really decided to go after it, you have find the path that will take you there.

The biggest challenge when I first joined the National Team was figuring out the dynamics of competing everyday and still finding ways to have friendships.  In college, you were all a part of the team.  Sure there was still competition, but you weren't fighting to make rosters. 

The alumnus of "Five Questions" dot the globe and come from a variety of perspectives and religious affiliations. We can all agree, "Peace on Earth, goodwill towards man" is a pretty solid idea!  Four of the first fourteen “Five Question” participants agreed to re-join the fray for more questions, this time with a holiday slant!

 Kelly brings all the tools to the court.  She is steady and dependable from the back row as a passer, and gives the team extra options hitting from behind the ten foot line.   Her left handedness makes her the perfect opposite, and she hammers the ball from that position. She also adds a extra set of hands on out of systems plays from her years of development as a setter. 

 "I feel so fortunate to come from such a close knit community where parents, coaches, and teachers all have a direct hand in shaping who we become. I’m very much a product of teachers and coaches taking special interest; friends and their families reaching out, when times got tough; to offer rides, hand-me-downs, or just a home cooked meal after a big game."

 "I knew as soon as our conference slate was released, that winning our last three matches – all on the road to good teams – would be tough. It was. The NCAA result for our team this year will serve as both a learning experience for our program and a great motivator."  

Coach Shondell

Coach Rose didn’t just prepare me for volleyball games, he prepared me for life. Life isn’t easy.  I’m forever grateful for that man.

For me, any time I walk in the USA gym is very humbling. Knowing I get to be a part of this program and to represent my country is an amazing opportunity. I’m surrounded by incredible athletes and incredible coaches who only want this program to be the best it can be.

The day after the finals I flew home to Iowa and all of a sudden here I am in my hometown hanging out with my family thinking "Did that really just happen? 

 What can we use in our huddles, boardrooms and dinner tables that was successfully cultivated in the gym at the American Sports Center in Anahiem by this team and their coach.