433rd Airman plays on clean-sweeping vollyball team

Published Aug. 20, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Bethany Watson
433rd AW/PA

LACKLAND AFB, Tx -- Twenty-three women, seven days, two practices a day and one goal, to make the 2007 All-Air Force Women's Volleyball Team. Try-outs for the team were held in Hawaii, as if being chosen to try-out for the team wasn't exciting enough.

The entire trip to Hawaii was surreal because I can remember the pride I felt playing and wearing the Air Force uniform in 2004 and couldn't believe I was being given this amazing opportunity again.

After arriving and meeting the 22 other female athletes I was about to compete against for one of the 10 spots on this years roster. I was soon overwhelmed. It was as if we were all interviewing each other, "Did you play ball in college? What division? How long have you played? Have you made the Air Force team before?"

There were so many of us and the idea that only half of us were going to stay and the others were going to be sent home the day after cuts was unbelievable. If you were one of the lucky ones you were going to train two more weeks for the Armed Forces Volleyball Championships at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York.

The first week went by quickly and it was time for cuts. We were about to receive the answers we were looking for since day one.

We were sitting in a line outside of the coach's office watching as the girls came out one at a time. We were watching for a white piece of paper in their hands like on the show, American Idol. If they had it, they made the team, if not, they were going home.

I was the last one to sit in the hot seat. I came out with my eyes smiling with one of the coveted white pieces of paper in my left hand. That paper was the practice schedule for the rest of training camp. A sense of relief rushed through my entire body and a new goal was set for the 10 on the team, the one alternate, and two coaches - to win the gold.

After two weeks of training in Hawaii, a few days here and there for some fun in the sun and great memories made with new friends, we were on our way to New York to beat the Navy, Army and Marines to take the Gold.

We were nervous the first day of the tournament and it showed when we lost to the Army in four games. We came back fighting that afternoon to beat the Marines in three. Our goal of gold was still in plain sight and we knew it was ours for the taking when we beat the Navy the second day in three, leaving us with a record of 2-1.

The third day of the tournament we won a very important game against none other than the Army in a clean sweep of three games, knocking them out of the running for gold. This meant so much to me because in 2004, my last time with the team, we took silver behind Army.

Next, we also beat the Marines in three on the fourth day, giving us a record of 4 wins and 1 loss going into the final day of competition. The Navy was also 4 and 1 making the upcoming match between us crucial. Whoever won would take home the gold. After a good night's rest, we were ready to play the most pivotal game in the entire tournament.

As we warmed up we knew it wasn't going to be as easy to beat the Navy team this time, even though we'd swept them on day two. It was a brand new ball game because the gold was up for grabs. We lost the first game, won the next two and lost the fourth.

This made the fifth game of the championship match very suspenseful because it was only to 15 points instead of to 25 points like the other four games. As the ref blew his whistle to award each point, we held our breaths while on our tip-toes to see which team it was going to be one more point closer to the gold.

It all went by very fast, but I remember telling myself I had to make every serve over during the last couple of points, it was a necessity. The next thing I remember was winning 15-12 and jumping up and down in a huddle of blue, sweaty, exhilarated, athletes and coaches.

We just won the gold medal and to top it off the Air Force Men's team won their last match to take gold as well. The Air Force left the 2007 Armed Forces Volleyball Championship's with double gold.

The entire experience leaves me very proud to not only wear a uniform of a different type, but to wear it representing my service while playing a sport that I am so passionate about. Bringing home the gold for the Air Force is a great feeling but it also feels incredible to bring home the gold for my home station located at the 433 AW/PA, Lackland AFB, TX.