Wow, 2006! Thank God for letting me live to see another year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2005 went by so quickly. Volleyball…2004/2005 my team finished tied for third in the Italian Championship, third in the Italian Cup and won the Top Teams Cup. It was a good year for USA volleyball winning NORCECA zone Championship for the third strait year, qualifying for 2006 World Grand Prix and 2006 World Championships and finishing second in the final tournament of the year, that being the World Grand Champions Cup. With these international tournaments I was able to go to new places like Trinidad and Tobago making new friends there. My return trip to Japan I spoke to and saw some of my Pioneer teammates and staff. And Yoko Zetherland a friend of mine from way back. These are prized moments in my career.

I was able to spend a bit more time with my family this year and change it up a bit with volleyball playing on the sand because I had an amazing approximately two months of total time off this summer. My mom, Natalie and my adorable nephew Stefan came out to visit me in Italy.

We also saw a lot of tragic natural disaster with the Tsunami in Thailand. A place where I have been several times with the National Team and vacationed three years ago. The earthquake that shook Asia and finally Hurricane Katrina that flooded my neighboring city New Orleans and other Gulf coast states. My prayers are with all of the victims of these horrific tragedies.

Well, the 2005/2006 season has begun with a rough start. But we hope to turn that around starting with the unofficial match against Novara on January 4.

That’s it for now,

Blessing to ya in the year 2006!

Danielle