"At the Net" - with Shay Gracy

Well its about 9 p.m. on Friday night and we just got back to the hotel from eating supper. Everyone is getting ready to call it a night since curfew is at 9:30. We had practice tonight and it was filled with a lot of emotions. We worked hard like we do every other practice, but there was something special about this practice - WE HAD FUN!!! We have all come to realization that we are not a successful team when we do not enjoy ourselves out on the court and when we have a limited amount of talking.
Therefore, with that being said, in the middle of our practice we all came together to talk things out. We all decided that instead of looking too much into ourselves about what we can do better individually, we are going to look to one another... and that talking to each other is going to be the key. So, we made a pact and the pact was to talk consistently - no matter what the circumstances are. The last two games that we have played, out on the court it has felt like we are stranded out in the middle of the ocean on six different islands. I know it sounds goofy, but that’s what it felt like and I what it looked like.

So, tomorrow we face Southwestern Oklahoma and they are 3-0 in conference. They beat Kingsville in 4 on Thursday night. SWOSU is on high right now and we are going to have to show up to play to win this match. If we can get all six cylinders going on the court we will be just fine. So our biggest challenges are to all have our killer instinct game faces on with the consistent talk that is much needed.

I am personally excited and ready for this game. It’s a big game and I want to prove to people that we aren’t a fluke when we come away with a win. We have the most talent in the conference - it is just taking a little extra effort to get it all out on the court. Therefore, I am simply ready to play. I believe with my heart that we can do it!!! I tell the girls every game day that we are going to have to earn it, that its not going to be given to us, and I think it is really starting to sink in.

Thanks for everything!!!

Shay