Danielle Scott Weblog

Yes! All Glory be to God! We qualified for the finals of the Grand Prix for the first time since 2004. Our qualifying couldn’t have come at a better time as this is our last tournament before the Beijing Olympic Games! Of course all of the teams that we will face at the Games will not be in the finals however we will get to play Asian, European and South American styles of volleyball.

We beat Turkey in four today. WOOHOO! While our errors were still many, we controlled the match for the most part.

Tomorrow we will play one of the top ranked European teams, Italy. This should be a fun match. I think we match up well against them. Both teams are very familiar with each other, although both teams have newcomers. Italy is a team of few errors so we will have to clean up that area of our game in order to beat them.

Stay tuned,

Go USA!

Danielle

Well, we lost a day traveling here from Poland, rather it was a really long travel day almost 30 hours with the delays. Jenny just had us stretch rather than start with a double day Tuesday. Our bodies were grateful for the rest.

Wednesday everyone went to get massages. Here a one hour massage is like $35! It was wonderful. Actually Kris Richard and I went together. Instead of changing into a robe for the massage they gave us this half top which opened in the back like a hospital gown and pants. The pants were so funny because of the length. We are sure they would have been full length on a native, but on us it was like our half pants reaching just below the knees. The used hot towels to prepare the body for massage. My massage pressure was great I left there feeling ready for our early morning practice.

I decided at hit my trainer Emery for my legs after the morning practice yesterday. He usually takes care of all the massages and treatments for the team. I think he was feeling cheated on with a lot of us going out to get paid massages. I even went for a foot massage. It wasn’t the best that I have had but who am I to complain, it was and hour of having someone massage my feet.

And now GAME DAY yeah! Down with Poland National Volleyball team.

GO USA!

Danielle

Second leg down. Wake up time 3:33 am to start another 26 hour travel day! Good bye Warclow, Poland and Kate our wonderful translator. Also we had to say good bye to coach Li, Gen-san and Angie. They are heading back to C. Springs while Tom and Robyn will join us in Chinese Taipei.

Well, the time went by quickly. Especially with my friends Marta and Mattia from Italy visiting. We won all three matches, finishing first in our second week of the Grand Prix preliminary play. And actually we moved to second overall. Right now we are looking pretty good for making the final round hosted in Yokahoma, Japan. The finalist will be top five plus Japan. The final match of the weekend was quite a fun match playing Poland in front of their home crowd. There were red and white banners and cards being waved all around the arena and then the one lone but large USA flag. Yeah, GO USA! The crowd was not to be quieted even as we dominated the match. I scored on 8 of my 9 attempts and had two blocks. Heather was named MVP. Yesterday Kim G was named MVP and Friday’s match Lindsay was the MVP.

This week we will play Poland, Turkey and Italy. Our team seems to be improving. Italy will be a challenge and measure as to how much we’ve improved and what else we need to work on as we approach the finals.

I have a few pictures I would like to post but they are too large for my website. I will have to see if I can have the size maximum increased.

GO USA
Blessing to ya,

Danielle

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Want to see the last exhibition match against Brazil played on June 14,2008? Well, here is your chance. see USA Volleyball play on Sunday June 29 at noon ET MSNBC and on NBCOlympics.com.

We beat Thailand on yesterday in four sets. Should have could have beaten them in three. But to their credit they did play a lot better the third set serving tougher and running more combos. I saw action first, second and fourth sets. I hit7 of 7 attacking and added four blocks to our victory. Today we have Dominican Republic our NORCECA rival RRRRrrrrr.

GO USA!

Danielle

Well howdy do…We are already in the second week of Grand Prix. The summer started with an A/B team going to Pan Am Cup in Mexicali who did a great job in qualifying USA for the 2009 Grand Prix. GO USA! Then Brazil arrived in Colorado for three exhibition matches all pre agreed upon that five sets would be played instead of the normal best of five match series. Well the first two matches were thrillers. Those two matches were taken to the fifth set because the sets were tied two all. Brazil (ranked number one in the world) won the first match. While USA (ranked fourth in the world) won the second match. The third and final exhibition match was dominated by the Brazilian. They won four set to our one.

After the first leg of the Grand Prix hosted in Kobe, Japan we finished in a very close second place with Japan finishing third by one point! Turkey had a surprise first place finish thanks to our lost to them in our opening match. I think our team has made some adjustments, and gotten out the first match jitters. I am looking forward to some great matches this week against in Wrocraw, Poland verses Thailand, Dominican Republic and Poland.

OH, oh! two of my friends from the land of Chieri, Italy have come to show their support for me and team USA, Marta and her brother Mattia. So wonderful to see them. It has been two years! Too long! They of course know also Kim Willoughby, Jen Joins, Logan Tom who also played in Chieri, as well as Heather Bown, and Lindsay Berg who have played many years in the Italian League.

That’s it for now,
GO USA!
Blessing to ya!
Danielle

Hey Yall,

Well, this week has gone by quickly, even with our four practices! Since we don’t have much time to get back to USA volleyball, our rhythm, our system, and chemistry, it is full engine ahead. Woohoo! It is really exciting. Thank God for the recovery center.

There are a lot of players in the gym. Actually, part of the team went to Mexico to compete in the Pan Am Cup Grand Prix 2009 qualifier. Our coaches are still wanting to see new players or players who haven’t been with the program very long in competition. With only a few days more than two months remaining before Beijing, there is still a big pool of players aspiring for only 12 positions to represent THE UNITIED STATES OF AMERICA! Very intense but exciting time.

Anyway, the weekend is near and I have yet to tell you about the wonderful weekend team USA had over at Diane and Ricks home. It was like a drive to the country, lots of land, even goats! So peaceful and quiet. The food was great, chicken, tuna, salad, fruits, PIES! We are looking forward to another BBQ weekend so that Robyn can do her pink chicken and ribs… We played games and tried to balance on the rope, that reminded me of a low ropes course.

This weekend not so exciting… but Jen and I plan to get a manicure and pedicure. And I will probably spend the rest of the weekend getting my hair braided. Yep a long painful process but oh so practical.

That’s it for now
Blessings to ya

Danielle

Hello all,

I made to Baton Rouge on May 11. Yes on Mother’s Day. It was a beautiful day. I was glad to be home to celebrate my mom and grandmother on this day. My grandmother reached 84 years of age on May 10 but we had a surprise party for her on Mother’s Day. She is pretty keen and expected something special was going to happen. She really looked great and had a good time seeing her grand kids, and great great grand kids, family, church members and friends.

Now I am in Colorado. Practicing in the altitude isn’t so bad but the three flights of stairs get me every time. Actually I just started practicing a new breathing technique. You know as you get higher in altitude the air is thinner and seem you need more oxygen. Well, I thought I would try inhaling more often to see if I would feel less winded, and it worked! Could be psychological but I really felt less winded.

Well, Monday just about all of those who will compete this summer arrived. Because of all the varying end dates of leagues players are joining the team at different times. Now we are just awaiting the arrive of one setter. My body feels good. I am healthy but I am taking full advantage of our recovery center. There we can get massages, or use the aqua massage bed. There is also a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and cold plunge.

Ok, that is it for now.

Take care, and blessings to ya,

Danielle

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Well folks I am heading out of here. I got to have a few last things before leaving Brazil, acai and pastel with caldo de cane…hum hum. I am looking forward to leaving the cold behind as Sao Paulo is getting chilli. I am happy to spend Mother’s Day with my mom and Grandma who will be celebrating her 84th birthday. And I am excited to join the National Team. Today I trained with the men’s team from UNIP again. As usual it was challenging but fun.

Blessings,

Danielle

Hello Everyone,

Well, I am winding down my time here in Brazil. May 10 is my Grandma’s 84 birthday and my fourth grade teach Mrs. Borden (can you believe that I remembered that!?!), and of course May 11 is Mother’s Day. So I will be heading out on Friday. Jenny, the head coach of the USA National Team is allowing me to join the team after these special days. Thanks Jenny!

In the meantime I am enjoying time with my husband and my in-laws. Yesterday we had a BBQ. They call it Churrasco in Brazil. We actually found really BBQ sauce at the market. Most Brazilians don’t like it because the sauce is a bit sweet. But to me the ribs were the bomb! I have been on a diet these last two weeks so yesterday break from it was an especially nice treat. And I am working out. Last week I trained with the UNIP (university) men’s team. I held my own until they figured out my timing…hehehehe. Then I had to throw some shots. Today I trained with Finasa’s Junior team. It was fun. I played middle and outside. Ya know how I like to mix it up lol.

It is a nice day in Sao Paulo…sunny but a bit chilly. The Baton Rouge heat will be welcomed by me as I am not a cold weather person.

That’s it for now.

Take Care,

Danielle

Hello Everyone,

Well, I am winding down my time here in Brazil. May 10 is my Grandma’s 84 birthday and my fourth grade teach Mrs. Borden (can you believe that I remembered that!?!), and of course May 11 is Mother’s Day. So I will be heading out on Friday. Jenny, the head coach of the USA National Team is allowing me to join the team after these special days. Thanks Jenny!

In the meantime I am enjoying time with my husband and my in-laws. Yesterday we had a BBQ. They call it Churrasco in Brazil. We actually found really BBQ sauce at the market. Most Brazilians don’t like it because the sauce is a bit sweet. But to me the ribs were the bomb! I have been on a diet these last two weeks so yesterday break from it was an especially nice treat. And I am working out. Last week I trained with the UNIP (university) men’s team. I held my own until they figured out my timing…hehehehe. Then I had to throw some shots. Today I trained with Finasa’s Junior team. It was fun. I played middle and outside. Ya know how I like to mix it up lol.

It is a nice day in Sao Paulo…sunny but a bit chilly. The Baton Rouge heat will be welcomed by me as I am not a cold weather person.

That’s it for now.

Take Care,

Danielle

Hey, thanks to all of you who have been voting for me in the poll of ten nominated for “Who is the greatest Olympian to wear a US Women’s National Team jersey”. It is an honor to have been chosen as one of the ten on the list. So thank you to my family, friends and fans all over the world who are voting for me… Especially my fans in Brazil where I am currently playing and where volleyball is the second largest sport in the country. I am definitely surprised by the results as there are so many great players in USA Volleyball.

Go USA!

Danielle

Hey, thanks to all of you who have been voting for me in the poll of ten nominated for “Who is the greatest Olympian to wear a US Women’s National Team jersey”. It is an honor to have been chosen as one of the ten on the list. So thank you to my family, friends and fans all over the world who are voting for me… Especially my fans in Brazil where I am currently playing and where volleyball is the second largest sport in the country. I am definitely surprised by the results as there are so many great players in USA Volleyball.

Go USA!

Danielle

Well, I have been putting off writing this entry as I was so disappointed and didn’t want to think about our defeat. But of course one can’t help it, the flashbacks of the match, the if only’s that stand out so much more when one lose continue to creep in my thoughts. Instead of forgetting, I remember. I think that is best. Sure forget the loss, but remember those things, the if only’s, and make an effort to do better.

The first set was all Finasa. It appeared that we would win in three. Bad illusion as we lost the second set followed by a third set thumping. Still not at any point did I think we would lose the match. This was the finals. I remembered Toshi saying,”15-13 in the fifth set, that is volleyball,” and that was my hope, if only we could win the fourth. I came back in the match when the score was 19-23 Rexona. Difficult but not impossible as we were in that exact situation when we won the fourth set 26-24 to win the round three finals 3-1. My belief in the team and my faith was not shaken. We lost the set and the championship 1-3, but I still believe that we were the better team. We unfortunately could not show it that day. I am proud of my team and grateful for my experiences this season.

Congrats to Rexona 2007/2008 Superliga Champions.

The match was on Saturday and Tuesday I was back in the gym lifting weights (Monday was a holiday). Now I have to keep my conditioning and arrive in shape for the National Team season and primary focus Olympic Games 2008 Beijing! It is necessary to have a break from volleyball to allow one’s mind and body to recovery. Praise God that I am healthy and being motivated well it comes easily when I think on the quote that I just shared with my USA assistant coach Tom…”Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men Col 3:23 For nothing is impossible with God Lk 1:37 .”

One last GO FINASA for 2007-2008 season.
And now… GO USA!

Blessings,
Danielle

Danielle

WE’RE GOING TO THE FINALS! QUERO DIZER “WE ARE IN THE FINALS!” Hallelujah! Boy it was a tough series. Both matches were five gamers. In each we lost the first set. We really need to get out of the blocks faster. Against Rexona it will be much more difficult to come back from being down 0-2 but not impossible. So that was our situation this second match verses Brasil Telecom, down 0-2, we had to make a decision as a team that it was in our best interest to finish this series now rather than take it to a third match. Nothing was said in those terms exactly but looking into each others eyes and the change in our performance was better than words. We won the third and fourth set and now it was game time. Fifth set… as if coming back from 0-2 wasn’t enough to make our fans hearts skip a beat, we then decided per our performance to make winning the match even more challenging by getting down by four points. YIKES! Everyone knows that coming back from a deficit in the fifth set is really difficult. We rose to the challenge and won by a nail biting, two point edger…15-13 final score. Praise the Lord.

One week of preparation for the Championship Superliga title verses Rexona.

Go FINASA!

Danielle

Woohoo, we have qualified for the semi finals. Never a doubt in my mind but Medley/Banespa really played their heart out; so congrats to them. We thumped them the first set but again seemed to relax after that losing the second. Everyone entered the match to help in the victory. I scored 17 points in the match. Next up Brasil Telecom. We faced them in the first round finals winning 3-2. And twice in the regular season winning 3-1 both times. But we all know that that doesn’t mean much. It does, however, give the team confidence going into the semi verses a team against whom we have had multiple victories.

Go Finasa,
Blessings,

Danielle

The playoff have begun and we have our first victory in the best of three quarter final series verses Banespa. It theoretically should have been an easier match but they came out with a sponsor, uniform and nothing to loose attitude that won them the first set and a 24-27 battle in the fourth set. We won 25-16 and 25-9 the second and third sets. I contributed 13 points (4blocks,1ace) to the victory but it was not a pretty win. Who says it has to be pretty right? I will take the win any day any way. But we must look to bettering our performance on Saturday and on into the next round.

Go Finasa,

Danielle

Well, just when we jumped a pr it seemed by winning the third round finals against Rexona, it seemed on yesterday we couldn’t even do the fundamental steps. Don’t get me wrong, we had a few come back moments but for the most part we were a bit lost. Our block and defense was not in sync much less our attack. Better it happen now than in the final match which we will be working toward. Paula was our best scorer with 10 points, I added 7. Ade is still doing a good job blocking with match high of 5 blocks.

We will have the first quarter finals match on Wednesday verses team Banespa. It is another team in the Sao Paulo area so we won’t have to travel far.

Playoff time is game time!
Stay tuned…GO FINASA!

Danielle

Howdy do…. Well we are coming off two wins from the appropriately named Belo Horizonte as it is a beautiful city. First a 3-0 win against Mckenzie followed by a 3-0 victory against Minus. Minus had great crowd there. Apparently there is some rivalry between our teams as we changed our routine a bit to put off hearing the fans “name calling”… We actually stretch in the locker room and hall way, and changed the direction that we warm up with pepper from sideline to sideline to net to endline. My teammate and I were the brave ones to warm up next to the Minus fans. Maybe I didn’t understand some of the shouting as the gym became really loud, but what I did experience was Minus fans yelling my name to look at them so that they could take a photo. We pretty much commanded the match throughout. The third set the court lights went out so there was about a fifteen minute break before we could finish the match. This delay almost caused us to miss the last flight to Sao Paulo. As it was, the flight was delay and we didn’t get back til one thirty in the morning. We were grateful to have Sunday off. This match qualified us for the fourth tournament finals. It will be a rematch against Rexona this time at our home. I pray that my teammates and I can have a spectacular match. So lift us up in prayer please.

GO FINASA!

Danielle

One more victory under our belts with our win over Pinheiros (3-0) who has a good team but was not able to perform well tonight. With our tough serves and blocking they had a very difficult time. Good for us. We did our part. I added 7 points to the victory. Seems my rotations blow by. But I do what I can when I am on the court, scream and cheer when I am off. After how many years of the libero position, I still do not like having to come out of the game. Oh well… I am so blessed to be able to play. In that I find enjoyment.

Two days off! Woohoo! We are off to the beach. Of course it is suppose to rain a bit Saturday and Sunday Booo! But that won’t stop us.

Still got a cold, more than two weeks running now. I was prescribed an antibotic this evening so hopefully it will help me recover quicker.

Tomorrow, March 8 is Women’s Day in Brazil. We received a beautiful rose before the match. That was sweet.

Well that’s it for now,
GO FINASA,

Danielle