Family Weekend

This past weekend we welcomed our extended women's basketball Yellow Jacket family to campus for Family Weekend. Our players, along with their parents and siblings got together for some fun and great food before the football game. It was fun to catch up with some parents we haven't seen since the end of last season. Our social also gave the new parents a chance to get to know our returners' families.

Seeing everyone just ratcheted up the excitement level for the upcoming season! Fifteen days to the start of practice!

Summer Internships

Last week seniors Amanda Hiltunen and Lindsay Riesbeck attended a dinner for all of R-MC's summer interns and their supervisors. It was a time to reflect on their summer work and recognize their efforts. Amanda Hiltunen, last season's ODAC Women's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year and ODAC Second Team All-Conference, worked for Goodwill Industries of Central VA this summer. Her focus was in Marketing and Development. Lindsay Riesbeck, '07-'08 ODAC First Team All-Conference, worked for the American Diabetes Association, Central VA office. Lindsay's focus was event planning. Much of her time was dedicated toward organizing the Step Out to Fight Diabetes walk this Saturday beginning in Richmond's Monroe Park. We'll be sure to update you on how the walk goes this weekend. Hopefully the weather will cooperate!

National Hazing Prevention Week

In conjunction with National Hazing Prevention Week, all 15 R-MC athletic teams got together last night along with coaches, administrators, and other students for a presentation from Dr. Joel Fish. Dr. Fish is a sports psychologist and the Director of The Center for Sport Psychology in Philadelphia. He has worked with many professional and elite athletes as well as countless collegiate athletes across the country.

Dr. Fish explained that while rituals and traditions are a big part of the sports world, we all must ensure that they are carried out in a positive manner and never cross the line. He pointed out that one team in the ODAC will come together more than any other team; that team will have a special chemistry carrying it through the ups and downs of a season. That team will make positive teambuilding a priority and provide constant support for one another. He challenged us to be that team.

We will do our best; only time will tell.

Busy Weekend

This past weekend, campus was bustling with all of our fall sports playing in home contests. Volleyball, field hockey, men's and women's soccer, and football were all in action on Saturday. Our women's basketball players were spotted all over campus supporting our teams. Many of our players chipped in to help with the volleyball tournament Friday and Saturday. When their shifts were over on Saturday, many went out to watch the football game. The football team went to triple overtime but fell to Johns Hopkins. I was in the gym for the volleyball tournament, and students were going back and forth between the volleyball game and football game. It was fun to get the score updates from the football game.

One more month until the start of basketball practice!

First Week of Class

We've made it through the first week of class. It's great to see everyone back on campus. Our players seem to be settling in and getting into their routine. Our upperclassmen have been doing a great job of looking out for our new players and showing them the ropes. Players have been stopping by to chat about their summer and how excited they are about the upcoming season. Our whole team was in Crenshaw this week to watch the first home volleyball match. Many other sports teams were there as well. It's always nice to see teams support each other.

We have a lot of exciting things going on this season . . . more to come soon!