TicketsMyanna Hellsten is a senior middle blocker for the UC volleyball team. She is majoring in interdisciplinary studies.
Natalie Dossman is a junior defensive specialist and team captain for the UC volleyball team. She is majoring in health promotions.
July CATSBlogs
August 30, 2006
by Myanna
We had our opening tournament this past weekend at home! We got a good win over Western Michigan and beat Maine in three. We lost to 10th-ranked UCLA in four but the worst part was that we lost Doss early in game one against UCLA. Doss tore her ACL and a bunch of other stuff in her knee. She will not be able to compete the rest of the season and we are going to miss her presence and skill on the court tremendously. Her fire, desire, and passion, along with her great work ethic, have always made her a ton of fun to play with. She will still be around, being loud and pushing our team to be better, not to mention just being the fun person she is. However, we are going to miss her on the court.
Doss, I just want to say how much I've enjoyed being on the court with you. I realized today that, while you'll come back next year better than ever I'm sure, I won't. I will not get the pleasure and honor of being on the floor with you anymore. So thank you, thank you, thank you, for being such a vocal, passionate player. I loved turning around after a good play to see you doing a tuck jump! Just know how much I've enjoyed it and I can't wait to hear you from the sidelines! You are such a vital part of this team, do not let that change! I love you!
August 27, 2006
by Natalie
Well hey there everyone! This weekend was full of all kinds of ups and downs, but for the most part it was a good experience! We played Western Michigan on Friday night and we won in four. We started out a little slow but we gained momentum and won the last three games. It was a really good win and they are a really good team so it was fun. On Saturday we beat Maine in three and we played pretty consistent after starting out a little slow again! Today was the big heartbreaker. We played UCLA, the number 10 team in the country, and lost in four. We started out really well and were playing well. In the middle of the first game I made a wrong move and hurt my knee pretty badly. We don't have a diagnosis yet, but I'll let ya know as soon as I can. So unfortunately I had to sit out for the last 3 and 1/2 games and let my revenge on the team I didn't get to play last year because of injury slip away. I am proud to say that my teammates fought hard and even though we lost they proved that we are not a team to be taken lightly! While the end result wasn't what we were all hoping and fighting for, we learned a great lesson and saw that we can play with top 10 teams in the nation! Well that's all for now so I will catch up with you all later! Have a good week!
August 23, 2006
by Myanna
We are three days away from playing our first match!! Everyone is really excited and ready to finally compete against someone besides ourselves. We had practice this morning and then we went to Kings Island. It was so much fun. I had never been before and it was everything people had hyped it up to be. It was a perfect day to go; the weather was amazing and there weren't very many people there. We were able to ride rides numerous times in a row. No lines and a ton of fun; it was great!
Petey conquered her fear of roller coasters and had a great time. The best was sitting next to her on a ride because she would take a shallow breath, let out a scream and then do it all again.
We went on a ride called Drop Zone where Elley and I played the no hands game. You have to try to keep your hands up the whole ride, it's very difficult and made me quite queasy. In addition to the hand game Schroder and I put pennies on our legs when we got to the top of the ride and then watched them as we dropped. It looked really cool at first, like it was floating in the air and then it just looked like it flew up. I don't understand physics but it looked really awesome!
Everyone loved it and it was a nice break from volleyball. Now we are ready to get back in the gym and prepare for our tournament. I think everyone is fired up about defending our home court and getting revenge on UCLA!!
August 20, 2006
by Natalie
Hey there everyone! Well the end of the week was pretty exciting. We had our last real two a day on Friday and everyone was pumped that we made it through yet another pre-season! On Saturday we practiced in the morning then had a marathon lift afterwards. We got a longer break in between sessions and when we came back at night we had a scrimmage. My team included Steve, Myanna, Elley, Custer, Schro, and Jami. We beat the other team 2 games to 1. Myanna almost got kicked out of the scrimmage because her mouth got the best of her! It was a pretty funny incident but the refs there didn't seem to think so! After the scrimmage I picked up R.J. and Mia and took them back to Reed's house and babysat them while Reed and Laura attended a party at Clifton Meadows. I always have so much fun babysitting them! After they went to bed I played Super Mario on the Gameboy for probably 2 hours straight!
Today was our first real off day, no lifting or anything! I slept in until 10:30! That's like a new record for volleyball pre-season! I went into school and did some rehab for my ankle that still gives me problems even though I sprained it like 2 months ago! After that I ate in the caf with Jessie, Jenny, Frey, and Laurie. Then I came back to my house and hung out. At 2 I met the other girls at the boy's soccer game. They tied Michigan 4-4. It was a pretty exciting game, especially the second half. We had a lot of fun. I am now currently letting hair dye soak into my hair. At the soccer game I decided I was sick of my hair color so Jessie, Erin, and I went to Walgreen's after the game and picked out a new color. Jessie dyed it for me, but we will have to wait and see how it turns out. I might be a blond the next time you see me! That's a first in my life! Anyways it's time to go wash it now so I will talk to you all soon! Have a good week!
August 16, 2006
by Natalie
Hey there everyone! Sorry you haven't heard from me in a while but I have just been so busy with pre-season! Anyways I'll fill you all in on the past couple of days. Friday was our first day off so we went as a team to see Step Up which was a pretty good movie. We all had a lot of fun watching it, even though some people (Noel and Myanna) were a bit distracting while we were watching it! I think that half our team fell in love with Channing Tatum, but Pete might kill you if you try and "steal" him from her!
We got back to practice on Saturday and Sunday and we have been working hard since. Counting down the days until we get to play our first match! We are all itching to play some real matches and win! Anyways not much else other than eating, sleeping, and breathing volleyball is going on. If there is I will fill you in on in a more timely fashion next time! Until then, have a good week!
August 15, 2006
by Myanna
Every year during preseason we go to Camp Kern where we do ropes courses and other team building activities. This year we only went for the day but we still packed a lot in. We played games that made us problem solve and work together as a team. However, the best part of the day was a course called Tango Tower.
We did an element called Cowboy Up where we had to climb a ladder about 10 feet high and then climb onto a suspended log with a saddle on it. From there you have to stand up on the saddle and reach for a rope ladder. (Your teammates are pulling on a rope that is attached to the log which helps hoists you up so you can grab the ladder). You climb the rope ladder and end up on a platform that's about 60 feet high. It is difficult but everyone finished and we got some great laughs out of it!
August 9, 2006
by Myanna
Pre-season has started!!! We had our first two-a-day yesterday and have started to spend even more time with each other than usual! The freshman and sophomores all moved into the dorms, some rooms looking more settled into than others. Petey's (Lindsey Peterson) sister decorated the sophomore's living room and it looks so cute; we'll see how long that will last though. Now that we've seen each others rooms there's not much else that it too exciting.
For the next few weeks life consists of volleyball practice, lifting, eating, sleeping, and just hanging out with each other watching T.V. or chatting. The best stories are always told and relived during pre-season and new ones are made. For example, Jami (Torok) decided that she had to beat some soccer kid's record for how long they were under water in the cold pool. This pool is 55 degrees (F) and it takes your breath away it's so cold. Jami had to beat the record time of 10 seconds. She was completely submerged in the water, head and all, for 15 seconds! She was sooo excited she beat the time. In my personal opinion she's just crazy but she can make me laugh!
August 4, 2006
by Natalie
Well hey there everyone! It's about that time for the short of it again! This past week has been pretty much wonderful! No camps to work, meaning only class and workouts to attend to. I had my final on Wednesday for my class and thankfully it was fairly easy. Jami, Erin, and I worked the Bearcat Caravan at Party in the Park on Wednesday night and we met some interesting people, especially Dora the Explorer. Well that wasn't his real name just the name we decided to call him. He swore that he could play volleyball really well so we made him do some spike approaches in the middle of everyone and he wasn't too bad to tell the truth.
I had to miss workouts this morning because I had a doctor's appointment back in Indy, so I ran on Thursday morning with the women's basketball team. It wasn't too bad, but I'd rather stick to running with the volleyball team! After that I lifted and then I went swimming, which was so nice because it was so hot! Later in the evening I headed back to Indy and hung out with my family and a few friends. This morning I had my doctor's appointment and then I spent the day with my brother, sisters, and mom. My family went to dinner tonight because I won't be home again until after the season. They make me feel so special sometimes!
Anyways, I am about to go meet up with a few friends before I head back to Cincinnati until December! Hope you all have a great weekend and I'll be in touch soon!
August 1, 2006
by Myanna
Our last camp of the summer is over! It was a really great few days. Our three incoming freshman, as well as our '07 recruits and commitments, were all there. Our current team and the recruits all played together after camp was over each night. It was a ton of fun and made me really excited about this season and the future of the program. We've got some amazing recruits coming in who are not only great volleyball players but great girls!
With preseason only a week away, camp just made me even more excited. Well, I'll be excited after I pass the river which is our running test that I despise. We have a chance to be really good this year and return to being a top-25 team. UCLA is coming to our home tournament so we have a chance to start out on a really great note. We lost to them in five last year in Hawaii so not only would it be a great win but it would be revenge.