the last few weeks of open play volleyball, i wore jeans just so i wouldn’t be dressed accordingly if i got the itch to play.  this week, i went knowing full well that i wanted to play.

it was yet another good turn out at the SW2.  good enough to run fours and five on a couple of courts.  and, as promised, i kept one of the nets at women’s height so that the ladies could play competitive sixes.

i started playing three’s, but i found that it wasn’t going to be the pace or workload that was going to make for a smooth transition as far as easing my shoulders into play was concerned.  so after dropping a couple of games, my threes squad disbanded and was absorbed by other teams for fours and fives.  thankfully.

jumping on with neville, stiga, and some others was good for me.  a decent fives team where i could get a good workout playing back row as well as getting the occassional swing in.  i went a good seven eighths speed when playing the back and about three quarter when on the front row.

the odd thing for the night was that for some reason, my blocking was on.  even last week playing with alex in the wednesday night league, i told him that i wasn’t a really good blocker and that he should go to the net instead of me.  partly because of the strain on my shoulders and that i wanted to play more defense.  partly because i didn’t have the wind to block and then drop back for a swing.  but i think on sunday i had four or five really good blocks.  hard driven balls.  and my shoudlers felt okay afterward.

there were a few awkward swings that left me wincing, but i feel like i am starting to get some of it back a little.  i really appreciated neville helping me through it.  feels good to be playing again.

by the way, as far as the schedule is concerned for you open play people on sundays, next week is the last open play until the new year.  5-8 at the SW2.  in the new year, i am told that we will be getting pushed back to 7-10 because of the CJV girls coming in to practice again.  sorry.  back to late night VB it seems.

hope to see some of you out this sunday.