39!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 16-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at the 16-team California University of PA tournament on Saturday February 23, 2008.  This is the first Advanced Approach Gold Championship of 2008.

The 16-1 team went undefeated in matches (6-0) and games (12-0) on the day.  Several times throughout the day, the 16-1 team found the energy to dig itself out of big holes to come back on teams and win games.  (We trailed 00-09 in Game 1 of the Gold Semifinals and 02-10 in Game 1 of the Gold Finals).

Several players exhibited great physical and mental toughness battling through injury and illness throughout the day.  We are very proud of you and the way you performed today.

What may have have been most impressive was the lack of junk food and soda present at the tournament.  We know this was a BIG sacrifice for some of you, but wasn't it worth it?  We looked fresh and chipper in the Gold Final.  Your commitment seems to be working.

The champions today are Jaime Barkman, Caitlyn Beatty (DNP injured), Natalie Chieffallo, Madie Hudac, Alex Karika (up from 14-1 for the day, great job & thank you, Alex!), Shelby Knopick, Stephanie McCarl, Courtney Shallcross, Jodie Shearer, Emily Traupman, Paige Vavrek, and Coach Scott Phillips.

A special shout out to Jodie Shearer who made the ultimate sacrifice of a teenage girl on Saturday, she actually went to her high school dance AFTER we won the Gold, BRILLIANT!  Thank you Jodie for your commitment to the team.

This accomplishment marks the 39th time an Advanced Approach team has come home with a Gold Bracket Championship Finals Victory.  Nothing beats getting in the "car" (used to be "minivan", now its more like "SUV" - see March 11, 2006 Championship) and riding home as a champion.

#40 is next, which team will get it?  The race to #50 is just around the corner!

40!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 17-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at the 12-team California University of Pennsylvania tournament on Sunday March 2, 2008.

This is the 2nd Gold Championship for the club this year.

The 17-1 team rolled through pool play going 3-0 in matches and 6-0 in sets.  We won 2-0 in the Gold Quarterfinals, 2-0 in the Gold Semifinals.  In the Gold Final, we were down one set to none.  We came back to win Set 2 and Set 3 to capture the gold.  We finished the day at 6-0 in matches and 12-1 in sets.

The gold champs today are Erin Augspurger, Paige Banyas, Sarah Beals, Jillian Galloway, Kim Gomber, Anna Homitsky, Kellie Karasack, Cassie Kulp, Mariah Martin, Erica Powell, Coach Karen Kaczmarek, and Coach Matt Work.

A pic of the gold champs from last Sunday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

41!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 16-1 team on winning the Gold at Edinboro University on Saturday March 8, 2008.  This is the 3rd Gold Championship for the club this season and the 41st Gold Championship overall.  This is the second straight Gold Championship for our 16-1 team.

Players, Parents, and Coaches braved blizzard conditions to get to the tournament.

After a slow start (we lost our first game of the day), the 16-1 team ended up going undefeated (6-0) in matches (4-0 in pool play and 2-0 in the gold playoffs) and 12-1 in sets, winning our last 12 sets in a row.  (We had a five-team pool due to teams dropping out due to the blizzard conditions).

The gold champs today are Jaime Barkman, Natalie Chieffallo, Madie Hudac, Shelby Knopick, Stephanie McCarl, Courtney Shallcross, Jodie Shearer, Emily Traupman, Paige Vavrek, Coach Colby Hill, Coach Bethanne Mixter, Coach Karen Kaczmarek, Coach Tia Mancini, Coach Scott Phillips, Coach Kayla Schaughency, Coach Amanda Silay, Coach Izzy Vavrek, Coach Matt Work, and Coach Brittany Yates. Caitlyn Beatty was unable to attend.

A pic of the gold champs from Saturday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

42!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 14-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at Bethany College on Saturday March 15, 2008.  This is the 42nd overall Gold Championship for Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) and the fourth this season.

The 14-1 team went undefeated in matches (5-0) and 10-1 in sets on the day.  After winning the Gold in the 14&U division, several players stayed to watch the 17&U gold championship match.  To see what happened in that match, read the next posting!

The Gold Champs today are Michaela Ankrom, Jocelyn Craker, Dana Fitzgerald, Rachel Hast, Alex Karika, Courtney Kress, Alexis Rains, Kelly Reynolds, Laura Thomas, Izzy Vavrek, and Coach Scott Phillips.  Coach Katie Ward was unable to attend.

43!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 17-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at Bethany College on Saturday March 15, 2008.  This is the 43rd overall Gold Championship for Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) and the fifth this season.  This is the second Gold Championship for our 17-1 team this year.

The 17-1 team went undefeated in matches (6-0) and 12-1 in sets on the day.

The Gold Champs today are Erin Augspurger, Page Banyas, Sarah Beals, Coach Jocelyn Craker, Jillian Galloway, Kim Gomber, Coach Rachel Hast, Anna Homitsky, Kellie Karasack, Coach Alex Karika, Cassie Kulp, Mariah Martin, Erica Powell, Coach Laura Thomas, and Coach Matt Work.

A pic of the gold champs is coming soon.  If you have one, please e-mail it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

44! 
 

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 16-1 team on winning the Gold at Aliquippa Middle School on Saturday April 12, 2008.  This is the 6th Gold Championship for the club this season and the 44th Gold Championship overall.  This is the 3rd Gold Championship for our 16-1 team this year.

The 16-1 team played consistently well all day and ended up going undefeated (6-0) in matches (4-0 in pool play and 2-0 in the gold playoffs) and 12-0 in sets.

The gold champs today are Jaime Barkman, Caitlyn Beatty, Natalie Chieffallo, Madie Hudac, Shelby Knopick, Stephanie McCarl, Courtney Shallcross, Jodie Shearer, Emily Traupman, Paige Vavrek, Coach Harry Humphrey, Coach Karen Kaczmarek, and Coach Scott Phillips.

The proudest moment of the day came when, after we won Gold Semifinal #1, our team offered to work for the team we defeated to allow them to leave the tournament early.  That team had a long drive and we had to stay and wait to play in the Gold Finals.  This noble gesture was greatly appreciated by the other team and is one of the great things about our sport.  Volleyball people get along and truly like each other.  You don't see this type of sportsmanship and camaraderie in other sports.

A pic of the gold champs from Saturday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

45!

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 14-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, OH (Cleveland) on Sunday April 27, 2008.  This is the 45th overall Gold Championship for Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) and the seventh this season.  This is the second Gold Championship for the 14-1 team this year. 

The 14-1 team went undefeated in matches (5-0) and 10-1 in sets on the day.  We made two great comebacks to win games during the Gold Playoffs...  We came back from down 23-15 in Gold Semifinal Game 1 and we came back from down 23-12 in the first game of the Gold Final.

The Gold Champs today are Jocelyn Craker, Rachel Hast, Alex Karika, Courtney Kress, Laura Thomas, and Izzy Vavrek.  Michaela Ankrom, Alexis Rains, and Kelly Reynolds were unable to attend.  The championship coaches today were Coach Erin Augspurger, Coach Paige Banyas, Coach Jillian Galloway, Coach Anna Homitsky, Coach Kellie Karasack, Coach Alex Koury, Coach Cassie Kulp, Coach Mariah Martin, Coach Nicole Miller, Coach Scott Phillips, Coach Erica Powell, Coach Katie Ward, and Coach Matt Work.  (In another display of club unity, our 17-1 team stayed and cheered on our 14-1 team to the Gold Championship).

A pic of the gold champs from Saturday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

#46

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 18-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at the Penn State Beaver tournament on Sunday May 4, 2008.

This is the 8th Gold Championship for the club this year.

The 18-1 team rolled through pool play going 3-0 in matches and 6-0 in sets.  We won 2-0 in the Gold Semifinals and 2-0 in the Gold Finals.  We finished the day undefeated in matches (5-0) and undefeated in sets (10-0).

The gold champs today are Kaitlyn Bianco, Liz Emerick, Stefanie Kelley, Casey Klukaszewski, Tami Mack, Morgan McCarthy, Brianna Mixter, Nikki Rakovan, Rachel Stedina, Coach Haley Dzumba, and Coach Dan Sisley.  Brittany Jakim was unable to attend.

A pic of the gold champs from Sunday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.

Congratulations to the Advanced Approach (Pittsburgh) 17-1 team on winning the Gold Championship at the Washington and Jefferson College tournament on Sunday May 4, 2008.

This is the 9th Gold Championship for the club this year and the 3rd Gold Championship for the 17-1 team this season.

The 17-1 team rolled through pool play going 3-0 in matches and 6-0 in sets.  We won 2-0 in the Gold Semifinals and 2-0 in the Gold Finals.  We finished the day undefeated in matches (5-0) and undefeated in sets (10-0).

The gold champs today are Erin Augspurger, Paige Banyas, Jillian Galloway, Kim Gomber, Anna Homitsky, Kellie Karasack, Alex Karika, Cassie Kulp, Mariah Martin, Erica Powell, Coach Karen Kaczmarek, and Coach Matt Work.  Kim Gomber attended but did not play due to a high ankle sprain.  Sarah Beals and Alex Koury were unable to attend.

A special thank you to Stephanie McCarl (16-1/10th grade) and Alex Karika (14-1/8th Grade) who stepped in and did a marvelous job.  Steph attended her Prom Friday night, attended the 16-1 tournament on no sleep all day Saturday at W&J, and then played great with 17-1 all day Sunday.  Alex left a basketball tournament in Erie on Saturday night (and missed her basketball games on Sunday) and stepped into Kim's role and did a great job setting a 5-1.  Thank you Steph and Alex!

A pic of the gold champs from Sunday is coming soon.  If you have one, please send it to advancedapproach@comcast.net today.