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Ciao tutti! Well, it's been an exciting, yet interesting season thus far. It's been a very exciting season, because I can gladly report that my team ended the first half of the season in first place. This is quite a change from last year, when I think my team was trying to work its way out of last place at this point in the season. On the other hand, the season has been quite interesting from a middle blocker standpoint. It seems that the middle blocker position has been the most unstable position in the league this year, from pregnancies, to players not returning to Italy after Christmas, to serious injuries, to players that are just plain unhappy with their team, so they decide to leave and go to another team or country to play. You name it and it's happened this season. Fortunately, things are going relatively well on my end. I am working hard every day to improve as a player, and I've been very fortunate to play for a club this year that is very serious - financially and otherwise. The other two middle blockers on my team seem to have fallen into the middle blocker jinx. It's been crazy how things have been unlucky yet lucky for us at the same time. Both of the other middles, Iliyana and Marcela, have been injured throughout the season. Iliyana was not able to play because she was recovering from a knee operation, until Marcela got bit by a dog on her hitting hand and had to have almost immediate surgery. This forced Iliyana to have to return to play prematurely and the moment that the Marcela was released from her hand surgery, Iliyana was unable to play again, due to complications with her knee. Did I lose all of you with that confusion? The bottom line is that we have never had three middle blockers all season who were capable of playing. I have been the only one (knock on wood) that has been able to play every match and who has been 100% healthy. I hope this journal doesn't jinx me into the middle blocker jinx! Tomorrow we will start the second half of our season. This means that we begin the second round, playing each team for the second time and changing only whether the game is played home or away. At the moment I am writing this journal from the bus on the way to Santeramo (South Italy) and we will play Santeramo, which is 10th place in the standings, tomorrow evening. I guess that's all the good and bad news I can give you all at this point. First of all, keep your fingers crossed that I continue to stay healthy, which is the most important thing right now for me. Secondly, keep your fingers crossed that the second half of our season goes as well as the first half! Go Jesi! Ciao, Erin |