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Ciao from Jesi, Italy! Well, I apologize to you all that my website hasn't been updated recently. However, I believe that you can count on it being updated a little more regularly from now on. If you read my last journal entry, you know that I am in Italy. Actually, in about five days I get to return home to Dallas to spend Christmas with my family. I am so excited you can't even imagine! I have always loved living close to my family, so being so far away is particularly hard for me. My volleyball season has gone remarkably well thus far in Jesi, Italy. It's quite a change from my last two seasons in the Italian League. I am getting paid on time every month, and we are 4th in the league. We have only lost two matches (to the teams that are 1st and 2nd in the league), so that is positive. Another positive thing - a wine company being our official sponsor. That never hurts! This year it's become obvious that I still have so much to learn as a volleyball player! It's amazing that I am 27 years old, and I still have days when I feel like I just picked up a volleyball for the first time. Of course, for me, as a dual-sport athlete, I have really been playing "part-time", so you can take the number of years I've been playing and cut that in half. That's pretty sickening, when you think about it. I could probably still consider myself an amateur in both the high jump and volleyball. Oh goodness! I'd rather just not think about it. This season, to add to the craziness of my inexperience on the volleyball court, I've been tossed into both middle blocker positions. At one point or another both of our other middle blockers have been injured, therefore it has been very difficult to find my rhythm as a player. Those of you who have followed my career, know that I am much stronger hitting off of one leg, similar to a high jump approach. This year I have had to bounce between both positions. I have had good days and bad days, as I've tried to improve my attacking off of two legs in front of the setter. I can't even begin to explain how frustrating it's been for me, but I knew what was in store for me when I signed the contract to play for Jesi. I chose to sign the contract with this club, because it would force me out of my comfort zone of always playing behind the setter and hitting off of one leg. I knew I would have to improve my skills as a player to stay competitive and on the same level as my teammates. Like I said, it has been more than frustrating for me, but I believe that slowly but surely, I will continue to improve and in the end I will be a better player to forcing myself into an uncomfortable situation. Afterall, I have always been one to take on the challenge. My goal this season is to become a more complete player, so this is another small bump in the road for me. Thanks to all of you for tuning in to my website. I always enjoy reading your messages and emails (yes, I really read them)! Check back for the next journal entry, because like I said, the updates will be more regular from now on. I promise! Ciao, Erin |