Nov. 19, 2012

Get an inside look at the Stanford women's volleyball team each week. In this edition, senior Karissa Cook talks about the team's trip to LA last week.

Forewarning, this blog entry is written by an engineering kid reading Hemingway: if you are a fan of grammar or transitional phrases don't put yourself through this.

WE ARE PAC 12 CHAMPIONS ONCE MORE!

That feels so good to say again. It wasn't a perfect weekend but we got it done. We remembered how much we all hate to lose at USC, and then we remembered how much we love to fight at UCLA, and we helped open the new Pauley Pavilion in style. For my last trip to southern California with the team, I couldn't have asked for a better trip.

The adventure started off pretty standard, with a solid team take-over of Whole Foods. I bought some alternative holiday beverage in the form of pumpkin spice coconut milk, we found this insanely delicious sugar cookie tea that tasted like Christmas in a cup, and there were lots of samples. We were satisfied. Then it was back to the hotel to finish up our remnants of homework before a whole glorious week of Thanksgiving week freedom. Hayley and I destroyed our statistics homework like two veterans in a freshman class (don't hate), and Madi owned her essay on Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling, a crazy-awesome book once our mutual favorite teacher Landy explains what on earth is going on. Carly was also spotted writing some baller poetry. And then it was pretty much a Facebook and Pinterest party.

Friday however, was not standard at all. When we hit Westwood things just got really "LA". I was going to say weird, but I'm from Santa Cruz where people are actually self proclaimed weird - I'm self proclaimed weird - but I get the notion that this is just a different breed of deviation from normal going on down here. We ate pregame meal at CPK, all is smooth, and then we notice a gentlemen in sweats presumably picking up takeout... And then proceeding to loiter within 15 feet of our team and the restaurant without actually doing anything... And eventually deciding to ask our assistant coach Denise if he could "ask someone on our team to go out on a date"... Right...

Then, we saw Janice Dickinson, and casually offered her a spot on the court, to which she replied, "I have no coordination," and demonstrated a wonderfully fluid mock underhand serve.

Then, we went in an adorable one size fits all store. Didn't last long. We aren't little.

Then, we saw "Gayley" street. Hayley: "It's like my name but with a G." Yes, it is. Welcome to your new nickname.

When we finally get to the gym, we realize that the women's basketball team is in the middle of their practice while we are supposed to be doing our serve and pass. It was more awkward than it sounds, and supposedly it was a miscommunication, but I'm confident that they were messing with us.

And, it was our radio guy Alec's birthday! And yes, we did embarrass him with our singing after we won.

J-Walk and Benj keep getting "Bandz A Make Her Dance" stuck in my head on the bus. It might be the best worst song ever.

Now, we are finally home! Fresh off the plane and headed for the weight room 'cause the fun never ends. Come to our games this week, they're running out and I'm about to have a premature life crisis after all this. You guys are the best.

Go Card!
Riss