Day 3- Izola Tourney By: Taylor D—Jacksonville, FL and Lindsay—Atlanta, GA

It was a rainy Tuesday morning when all the girls had to wake up at Hotel Marina.  We ate breakfast and headed to our tournament to play some local Slovenian teams. When we first arrived, we warmed up and made sure we were well prepared for our battle against the foreigners. In the first match, the high school team won against OK Koper Youth 25-16, 18-25, 17-15, and the senior team won against OK Koper Juniors 25-19, 25-14 so both resulted in victory for USA. We then ate some nutritious food and CJ insisted on putting vitamin C in our water… what a great coach. As the senior team lost to Lakolit during the second match 21-25, 21-25, the High School team went on winning against OK Koper Juniors in a three game match, 25-17, 21-25, 15-8. Finally it came to the third and final matches of the day. The senior team played OK Koper Youth and defeated them 25-23, 25-6, while the High School lost in a brutal match against Lakolit 18-25, 9-25. Team USA is now 2-1 in both divisions. After the tournament ended we met a lot of girls from Slovenia. We exchanged facebooks, took a lot of pictures, and some even traded t-shirts. When we were done socializing and getting to know the other teams we headed back to the bus and went back to the hotel. Dinner tonight was scrumptious; we had pasta with parmesan, potatoes and juicy pineapple. For dessert there was apple tart, and many flavors of Gelato. On the agenda for the evening? Game night, courtesy of Miss Jamie.  Game one:  Big Moose, Game 2  Taelor’s item passing game, then Game 3 Kaye’s hand game and finally we ended our night.

Editor’s Note:  This morning began with breakfast, a few journal entries, picture downloads, all before heading to the bus around 11.  Once at the gym, the teams split up and began jogging and peppering to prepare for the matches.  The parents searched for lunch food to bring back to our starved players prior to the first match.  Mama Cin was on her game, supplying water refills throughout the matches.  Thanks to Mama Jamie, chef extraordinaire, handing out sandwiches out to the malnourished junior team.  Mr. Wilson was allotting extra euro’s to players in need of hydration at the vending machine; taking note that only the bottom two rows had non-bubbly water.  Miss Anne was poised with her camera, snapping action shots left and right.  Grandma, aka the super fan, busted a move on the walk to the bus—no need to fear, as she was a break dancer in her early years.  Miss Jeanette was cheering her head off, supporting both teams running back and forth between the two courts.  Brooke K. was keeping score for the junior team, as she was not 100%.  Coaches Marion and Ceej were at the top of their game, ensuing strength, leadership, and wisdom in their players.  The older team made a few “that’s what he saids” and some risky kneepad jokes in the final match, and managed to pull out a 2-1 record.  The junior team, despite a setting change, also was on the winning side with a 2-1 record as well.  Our after-dinner game night was a success, with many in hysterical laughter.  With the Hotel Marina staff shushing our group, we decided to call it a night, ready for what tomorrow holds in store.