Our Volleyball Story — We Serve First, a Volleyball Foundation

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Playoffs?

Playoffs?

With a share of a section championship in hand, the Cavaliers were awarded a home match for the first round of the playoffs.  This again brought more attention to Thad and the team.  Thad was discussed on MSA's selection show, and the threat of this team making a playoff run really had teams outside section 1AAA paying attention to this issue. 

Inspired

Inspired

The team had built on the good feelings coming out of Jam the Gym, and learned as the first half wound down what their roles would be.  Thad's strong play on the outside gave the middles extra room as teams put their best blockers on him and Faye and Maddie, reaped the benefits.

No Time to Stop

No Time to Stop

I'm not sure about everyone else, so I will only speak for myself when I say I totally underestimated what Jam the Gym would come to symbolize to us, and to our community.  For different reasons every Jam the Gym would mean something new. 

The Pauno Effect

The Pauno Effect

Thad was a hard worker and a good leader.  The team blossomed with him on board.  The girls accepted him as they would a brother.  It was a favorable mix.  You might imagine this group would be easily distracted with everything that was happening around them.  They never were.

and then, Angels

and then, Angels

The dark of night hid the names on the signs and luminaria, until daybreak, and soon the names became familiar.  Nancy Johnson, Frank Delvecchio, and yes Jaime Vick.  The relay is where I first remember hearing young Jaime's story. 

Our story in the media

As we approach this part of the story, I wanted to share this video with you all.  Up until this point I had seen Jaime being so courageous, helping Ellen deal with her treatments, sharing tips and stories about what she was going through.  I'm not sure I had ever seen her down.  In this video she did with Andrew Stockey she let her guard down a bit.  I'm not sure many of us outside her family saw her this vulnerable, and I remember that it shook me up. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IG8SB_12z_E

Later as Thanksgiving approached Jory Rand came out to the school to do a special story on both Ellen and Jaime.  By this time both were doing so well, and the mood was much more positive.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5327929

We are so thankful for the media and their professionalism and kindness. 

What do we do now...

What do we do now...

She told me how important it was that I give my speech, that so many were here, waiting to hear what i had to say.  It took everything I could muster just getting started.  The speech was about angels and how they appear when you need them most.  They do too...

This is getting so difficult

This is getting so difficult

  I know that writing these stories has a dual purpose.  One is to detail this courageous story one last time, making sure we have it here, so we can remember.  The other is more selfish.  I need to get this out of me, before the memories fade.  There is a cost however as I get closer and closer to the parts of this story I hate the most.

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