October 23, 2001

Sara Sandrik Year: Senior Position: Middle Blocker Height: 6-1 Hometown: Pelham, AL High School: Pelham HS DIARY ARCHIVE • December 28, 2001 • December 12, 2001 • December 6, 2001 • November 26, 2001 • November 22, 2001 • November 12, 2001 • November 6, 2001 • October 23, 2001 • October 16, 2001 • October 9, 2001 • October 4, 2001 • September 25, 2001 • September 12, 2001 • September 3, 2001

They say that history repeats itself, and fortunately tonight that saying rang true as we defeated UOP in an intense five game match. There is a unique rivalry between our teams that has produced three close fifth game victories for our team in the past four years. Tonight the Tigers were playing off of a little extra emotion because of the fact that our awesome new coach was once their own. I'm just very excited that we were able to overcome and pick up another important victory. The matches last weekend against the Washington schools were a little less dramatic, but I was really proud of the way our team picked up the level of play from the first time we had faced them. In all three of our most recent matches we came out strong in the beginning, which is something we've been needing to improve upon.

So here we are now more than halfway through the season, and things are looking pretty good. We are gradually developing our strengths, reducing our weaknesses, and really coming together as a team. We've had some pretty incredible match experiences (including three fifth game victories), and I really believe that we are learning from and relying on those experiences as we go along. The rest of this season could be very exciting.

As a senior, it's just a little hard to believe that it is all so close to being over. I find myself thinking things like, "that is the last time I will ever play at UCLA," and it is almost unbelievable. I've been a part of this amazing team for the past three and a half years, and it's hard to imagine what life will be like after December 15 (the day of the national championship). Hopefully, I'll be thinking about championship ring designs as I celebrate the holidays with my family, but when I return to school things will definitely be a little different. I'll have to find some way to occupy my days now that practice, weights, and conditioning won't fill my schedule (it's a good thing I got into that golf class). But for now, I'm just going to take it one day at a time and appreciate this team, this sport, and this season.

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