Bowling Green State University Athletics
Van De Walle Wraps Up Journal From the Netherlands
June 27, 2006 | Volleyball
June 27, 2006
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - June 23 I am happy to write that we did beat Ukraine again ... this time 3-0. It was finally a much better match for us. We looked very poised and confident ... and moved well (finally).Our USA Men's team was there to cheer us on. We were there for their match against Iraq, which they won in five games. After the match was over we took a few pictures on the court with the men's team. It was nice to be together with them. So we are finishing the World Championships in fifth place. Not at all what we hoped for and thought we'd do. Now we MUST win our zone in March of 2007. At least it's in the US. Mike and the team headed back to the hotel while Lori (our captain) stayed to watch all the other matches. It was really good volleyball. I am fascinated with the men's game of sitting volleyball. It is so fast and very powerful. I wish we could have some exhibition matches back home. If people could see this game I think they'd fall in love with it. It's so popular in the Netherlands. People are familiar with it and come to watch it all the time. The Dutch women's team is treated like a professional team. It's awesome.
Well, the Gold Medal matches are set ... they are exactly what they were in Greece. Women's-China vs. Netherlands ... Men's-Bosnia vs. Iran.
June 24 We didn't come for the Bronze medal matches but on the women's side Slovenia beat Lithuania. The Gold medal match between China and the Netherlands was great! It went five games, with the Dutch team winning. In Athens, China beat them easily in three. So the Dutch are the World Champions. I've seen them play quite a bitin the last few years and this was by far the best volleyball I've seen them play. Their defense was awesome. China is a lot smaller than they are but their ball control is better. However, today they couldn't stay with the Dutch. #9 hit the ball harder than I've seen. It was a great match. I taped it and hope to let people see it. That will give them a good idea of what this game of sitting volleyball is all about. Our whole team was there and was cheering for China. We have developed a pretty good rivalry with the Dutch. It's like BG and Ball State or Miami. I have a favorite person on the Dutch team and I wanted her to win, since she told me it was her last match. She's retiring after this. Well, when the match was over I saw her crying and I could tell she gave it all she had. She was in a lot of pain as well. I got very emotional and cried, too. I went up to her and hugged her for a long time. I was so happy for her!
The Men's final started 30 minutes later and it was great. Before the match started a riot broke out in the gym between the fans of Bosnia and Iran. The police were called in. I missed it since I was outside getting some air with Karey. When we came in, everything was under control. Bosnia won in four games. The fans of Bosnia are like none I've ever seen. They have a club that travels around to all the events that their National teams are playing in ... they're called the Fanaticos. I filmed them since they are like no other. They stand and cheer the entire time the match is going on. I mean cheer ... loud ... non-stop with air horns, constant clapping, beating the seats. It was great. I wish we could do that here.
The closing ceremony was a little bit boring in that the teams came out and received their medals and some flowers. I was sitting next to Team Canada ... they won the Gold for Men's Standing volleyball.The Coachgave me his flowers to take back to the states. That was nice. So now I have flowers from the '04 Paralympics and the '06 World Championships. Pretty cool. The USA is going to host the World Championships in 2010 ... they happen every four years also. So, Roger Neppl got to go up and accept the flag ... kind of like the torch.
After the closing ceremonies we headed over to the Athlete party where we ate and danced for the next several hours. (Well, I should say the staff did ... the players all went back except for a few.) We had a blast! They played all kinds of music ... almost all of it American ... but a lot of it was old. :-) Got back to the hotel and finished my packing. I'm sad I'm leaving. I love Europe! We leave at 10 am tomorrow. Good night!
June 25 We're heading home today. We leave here at 10:15 by bus to Düsseldorf and then home to New York. That's where we'll go our separate ways. I have loved writing. I hope it gave you a little insight into my trip.
