Neon Ballerz Volleyball Team:
Members:
Owen Burkett
Jackson Doyle
Mike Hopp
Justin Korman
Jason Lee
Joshua Miller
Oliver Rose
Shreyas Sundar
Latest Announcements:
February 20th-21st, 2016- Neon Ballerz Participate in First-Ever All Night Volleyball Tournament
The tournament was nothing short of an exhausting non-stop volleyball marathon and somewhat of a nightmare. By the end of the tournament, in the early morning of February 21st, all energy had been robbed out of the Neon Ballerz's souls, all meaning of the tournament had been washed away, and the remnants of the Neon Ballerz were all laid in miscellaneous parts atop the State College Area High School balcony floor, all bundled up and driven to absolute lethargy and pain. The Neon Ballerz had just played their final match about an hour ago, and after a night a disaster, it came to no one's surprise that another loss had been endured. The tournament didn't start off so terribly, in fact, the Neon Ballerz compiled a respectable 4-4 record in the first seeding tournament of the grand event. However, everything went downhill from that point on, as the night tore each of the players down one by one and limb by limb. In the second tournament that decided seeding, the Neon Ballerz lost all eight games. To little or no avail to their pleas for help and a greater chance of advancing in the tournament though, the Neon Ballerz were placed in the tough winners' bracket of the festivities, which only made matters even more hopeless and daunting. Then, at about 4:50 in the morning of the event, the Neon Ballerz suffered their 9th straight loss in a game that held the most significance, en route to an elimination from the tournament.
The tournament, in entirety, without consideration of the outcome of the games and the pure exhaustion, was very enjoyable and served as a great experience. The supervisors of the inaugural event, the local Key Club at State College Area High School, developed a complicated and meticulous arrangement of the games, served food during almost every hour of the event, and in all, were great hosts. The Neon Ballerz also received a hero's welcome by several other teams, which quickly formed into a "Fan Club." Throughout the night, when spirits were dry and mellow, the Neon Ballerz served witness to a barrage of cheers and greetings by fellow attendees of the tournament, which the Neon Ballerz were gracious for. The Neon Ballerz even sensed an underdog, and thus supportive mentality forming around the team. One reason for this foreign support, and often opposing team support, could be the structure of the tournament and the identity of the team playing one of these supportive opposing teams. For example, with a Neon Ballerz victory in one stage of the tournament, the next team that the Neon Ballerz faced would be facing a less talented team in the Neon Ballerz team instead of the tougher opponent that the Neon Ballerz had beaten. This is one possible reason for the overwhelming support, but the Neon Ballerz like to not think of it as an explanation.
One especially motivating highlight of the night occurred during the first seeding tournament. Down a game and four points in the second game with under two minutes left, the Neon Ballerz willed themselves to victory with five consecutive victorious rallies to avoid a two game sweep against the opposing team and preserve a tie. Despite this psychological victory, the Neon Ballerz would later lose to the same team in both of the next two games.
All in all, the tournament was a memorable, yet energy-draining spectacle.
Members:
Owen Burkett
Jackson Doyle
Mike Hopp
Justin Korman
Jason Lee
Joshua Miller
Oliver Rose
Shreyas Sundar
Latest Announcements:
February 20th-21st, 2016- Neon Ballerz Participate in First-Ever All Night Volleyball Tournament
The tournament was nothing short of an exhausting non-stop volleyball marathon and somewhat of a nightmare. By the end of the tournament, in the early morning of February 21st, all energy had been robbed out of the Neon Ballerz's souls, all meaning of the tournament had been washed away, and the remnants of the Neon Ballerz were all laid in miscellaneous parts atop the State College Area High School balcony floor, all bundled up and driven to absolute lethargy and pain. The Neon Ballerz had just played their final match about an hour ago, and after a night a disaster, it came to no one's surprise that another loss had been endured. The tournament didn't start off so terribly, in fact, the Neon Ballerz compiled a respectable 4-4 record in the first seeding tournament of the grand event. However, everything went downhill from that point on, as the night tore each of the players down one by one and limb by limb. In the second tournament that decided seeding, the Neon Ballerz lost all eight games. To little or no avail to their pleas for help and a greater chance of advancing in the tournament though, the Neon Ballerz were placed in the tough winners' bracket of the festivities, which only made matters even more hopeless and daunting. Then, at about 4:50 in the morning of the event, the Neon Ballerz suffered their 9th straight loss in a game that held the most significance, en route to an elimination from the tournament.
The tournament, in entirety, without consideration of the outcome of the games and the pure exhaustion, was very enjoyable and served as a great experience. The supervisors of the inaugural event, the local Key Club at State College Area High School, developed a complicated and meticulous arrangement of the games, served food during almost every hour of the event, and in all, were great hosts. The Neon Ballerz also received a hero's welcome by several other teams, which quickly formed into a "Fan Club." Throughout the night, when spirits were dry and mellow, the Neon Ballerz served witness to a barrage of cheers and greetings by fellow attendees of the tournament, which the Neon Ballerz were gracious for. The Neon Ballerz even sensed an underdog, and thus supportive mentality forming around the team. One reason for this foreign support, and often opposing team support, could be the structure of the tournament and the identity of the team playing one of these supportive opposing teams. For example, with a Neon Ballerz victory in one stage of the tournament, the next team that the Neon Ballerz faced would be facing a less talented team in the Neon Ballerz team instead of the tougher opponent that the Neon Ballerz had beaten. This is one possible reason for the overwhelming support, but the Neon Ballerz like to not think of it as an explanation.
One especially motivating highlight of the night occurred during the first seeding tournament. Down a game and four points in the second game with under two minutes left, the Neon Ballerz willed themselves to victory with five consecutive victorious rallies to avoid a two game sweep against the opposing team and preserve a tie. Despite this psychological victory, the Neon Ballerz would later lose to the same team in both of the next two games.
All in all, the tournament was a memorable, yet energy-draining spectacle.