"We'll Put Some Pizzaz in it Because We're Being Videotaped," SOL Sectionals Wrap-up

SOL showed up to the Whitewater fields at 7:45 for the parking lot dance party. Turned up the jams in the 1996 Chrysler Concorde and got out the spray paint and stencils. We had quite the array of tats to choose from.

We were then informed that we were supposed to play at the fields that were typically for the mens tourney; no big thing. So we move fields and start our warm up.

SOL vs. Bella Donna (5-13)
Though the score was 13-5, the game was much closer than the score indicates. In nearly every point, SOL forced turns, got hand blocks, and played sick nasty D. We just couldn't get it done in the endzone. I may have turned the disc over 5,000 times too...I kept putting those hucks to wide open SOLmates off of quick transitions just a tad too far out of reach. (In all honesty, I cannot remember the last time that I threw the disc with zero wind. In Eau Claire, that just does not happen...) Bella pushed us hard, but came out on top.

SOL vs. Moxie (13-6)
Coming off a tough loss to the Bellas, SOL was a bit tired. SOL came out a little slow, and the first half was pretty close. After half, SOL got their act together and picked up the intensity and got it done. Steph Zinken took control of the offense and got the handlers to chill out, and emphasize the swing again. Our defense picked up and SOL started making super sick plays.

SOL vs. Blackcat (13-2)
SOL was ready to rumble...no, not WWF Thursday RAW is WAR style, but SOL domination style. The ladies of Eau Claire, we knew that we had to come out strong...Blackcat has some good handlers (Lexi Bond, Chloe Ries) and some athletic cutters who can huck the disc (Holly Lisowski, Alyssa Justesen). SOL starts off on D, with a sick pull, sprints down, and forces a quick turn, and a quick score. Roxie Schmidt really turned up her game vs. Blackcat. She saw when her defender was sleeping and busted quick deep. She made her transitions super fast, and took advantage of slower transitions from Blackcat. That's how the rest of the game went. 13-2, SOL.

SOL vs. Atropa (13-5)
It was a matchup of the two teams with the sickest jerseys in the section. In this game SOL came out quick, dominating the flow of the first half. Throwing several different defensive looks. After half, Atropa came out in a strong 4- man cup, and went on a mini-run. SOL took a time out, made some offensive changes and took the game from there on. 13-7 SOL win.

SOL vs. Schist (13-3)
SOL's fifth and final game of the day was against the brand new team from Wisconsin-Whitewater. It was a showdown of pink teams...and SOL came out on top. Schist has a good base to grow from. They have a good number of players, and some enthusiastic captains who are ready to build a program. SOL tried to help Schist out throughout the game with rules and explanations. All in all, it was a chill, fun game. Afterwards, we played an epic Rock Paper scissors battle royale, and some WAH! and got to know the ladies of the newest team in the Lake Superior Section.

SOL vs. Vici (13-1)
SOL got to the fields at 7:30 am, fired up about day 2. We knew that we had to get the game done fast, because the guys of Eauzone needed our support on the sidelines in their semi-final game vs. the Hodags. The first half lasted about 15 minutes, and was marked by hard defense, quick transitions, and chilly flow up the field. In another 15 minutes the game was done, and SOL quickly ran to the sidelines a few fields over to be loud and excited.

Bye Round and a half....
SOL raced up and down the sidelines, cheering on Eauzone as they gave the Hodags a run for their money. The Robyn Fennig highlights of the game include:
-Alex Kensgaard footblocking Animal with a pop up baseball slide.
-Kevin Skibicki out running and out laying out Hodags left and right.
-Tim McNeal, making sick layout D's and grabs.
-James Hron, well, just living up to his name.
Though Eauzone fell short, 15-8, they did it in a money fashion. Love our guys for that.

SOL watched the guys take on Stevens Point and the Bellas take on Schist...I also tackled Pat off of of my bucket...instilling fear into his heart.

SOL vs. Bella Donna (6-15)
What can be said about this game? My favorite point of the game, Bella has a sick pull, gets caught and thrown to Roxie Schmidt at 5 yards out of the endzone. Roxie gives me "the eye," I bust deep, catch the disc about 15 yards in front of the SOL endzone. I see Anna Hettler, torn ligament in her thumb and all, puts the disc in front of her, Anna has a shoulder high layout grab. It was SICK. SICK SICK SICK. God, I love Anna. Aftermath = HERE. (Thankfully, I did not nail Martha in the head with the disc...I was apprently ridiculously close to doing so, according to martha). SOL did not give up and battled hard throughout the whole game. We came out short, 6-15 loss.

Wrap Up
SOL went 5-2 on the weekend, got lots of complements on the numerous of hot pink spray paint tats, their spirit, and many words of thanks from some of the newer players on opposing teams and the sectional coordinator for helping teach the game and interpret rules.

We're looking forward to next weekend in Northfield, MN.

Final Standings
Lake Superior Sectional
1) Wisconsin Bella Donna (7-0)
2) Wisconsin-Eau Claire SOL (5-2)
3) Marquette Moxie (4-2)
4) Wisconsin B Atropa (4-3)
5) Wisconsin-Millwaukee Blackcat (3-4)
6) Wisconsin-Whitewater Schist (2-6)
7) Lawrence Vici (0-8) did not qualify for regionals

Northwoods Sectional
1) Carleton Syzygy
2) St. Olaf Durga
3) Minnesota Ninjas
4) Winona State Bad Monaz
5) St. Bens Ugly Hucklings
6) Duluth Lake Effecct
7) Macalester
8) Carleton B Eclipse (did not qualify for regionals)
9) Gustavus Outskirtz (did not qualify for regionals)

West Plains Sectional
1) Iowa State Women Scorned
2) Iowa Saucy Nancy
3) Luther
4) Grinnel Sticky Tongues (did not qualify for regionals)

<3 Robyn

Foody Call

Robyn and Martha go to the caf again. God, are they spoiled. But what says, "get ready for sectionals" more than eating a copious amount of ice cream? Martha and Robyn wanted to get everyone to bid on a UWEC Baseball player last night at the auction and make them do something ridiculous...but alas, no one brought their money to practice. Darn it.



Paula and Heather did a bomb job getting everyone pumped for sections with their photo session.

The Pre-Sectionals Wrap Up
This week of practice centered on a lot of scrimmaging. Our team is really coming together offensively, generating some flow upfield. We had some good wind all week, as well as little wind on Tuesday (I believe). Concentrating mostly on maintaining possession of the disc, and emphasizing the value of possession, look for a chill, much more possession-oriented SOL than has been seen thus far.

SOL is jones-ing for a chance to play outside again. The weather is looking great for the weekend.

Saturday: With five rounds of games, we're looking at 70 and sunny.
Sunday: Rainy, windy, and crappy. This is the weather we like to play in the most, definitely. Eau Claire's extreme wind, and horizontal-sleet we've seen many times this year, definitely has nothing on 50 and rainy. (Oh, the perks of living on top of a giant hill)

Fear not, Lake Superior Section, though you won't be seeing fluorescent hot pink hair from anyone on our team this year, but you can guarantee that you'll see more temporary tattoos and spray paint tats than you ever imagined possible. Plus all the dance moves on the sidelines....

See you at the fields,
Robyn

Sectional Info for SOL Players

T-minus 4 days til Sections.
Schedule = here
Tell your friends and family to come support us when we're playing! :)

If you have not responded to Roxie about:
1) If you intend on coming.
2) When you can leave on Friday.
3) If you can drive
4) Anything else....

then you should do so ASAP.

SIS Buddies
Make sure that you bring/do something to motivate your partner before our first game on Saturday!
Attending Sectionals
Lauren Novak (#00) and Rachel Culver (#33)
Jess Haller (#1) and Jen "J-Gro" Groshek (#17)
Anna Hettler (#2) and Taylor Jenkins (#42)
Roxie Schmidt (#3) and Martha Harris (#10)
Iañsa Zaldarriaga (#5) and Whit Esson (#25)
Amy Brown (#6) and Shannon Abbott (#13)
Steph Zinken (#7) and Brit Gartner (#12)
Cole Lence (#14) and Tracie Anderson (#45)
Kate Peot (#37) and Robyn Fennig (#44)
Heather Wroten (#41) and Paula Meyer (#72)

NOT ATTENDING
(Just because you aren't coming, doesn't mean you can slack!)
Ali Zellmer (#48) and Melissa Jordan (#23)
Beth Wright (#4) and Adele Christensen (#40)


Loooove,
Robyn

P.S. I miss the alums. Greetings to Miss Jaime Glader in Chicago, Katelyn Mater-tot in or around my mouth, Miss Heiman teaching her kids, and My Other Half in Boulder, CO. <3

Lake Superior Sectional Preview

So....I can't help but think about sections as I'm supposed to be tabulating my survey results for my research project. Here's the Robyn Fennig predictions for a 2 weeks from today:

University of Wisconsin Bella Donna
The Bellas are going to come out strong, all guns firing. The Georgia Bosscher/Calla-Court led team is full of people who can step up and make the plays. They've had some good transfers this year, and having multiple players with junior world's experience, certainly does not hurt. They work well together and play to their strengths....because they have few weaknesses. What to expect: Their chill offense, run through their dominant handlers (McCain, Sinicrope) and their cutters who are lightning fast. Versatility is huge on this team, making every player a threat at their position. They will exploit your weaknesses and run you to the ground. Prediction: They're finishing top 5 at nationals. After watching them a bit at Centex, they have grown since the fall, when I saw them last.

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire SOL
SOL has the sweet taste of revenge in their mouths from last year. They've got their eyes on the prize and picked up some clutch noobs. They will be missing some clutch people at sections, due to the fact that sectionals was NOT set until basically a week and a half ago. What to expect: New faces, new names taking the spotlight. Good flow up the field and cutters who are not afraid to huck the disc. Players who lay out for everything, and do not roll over and die, even if they're down 7-2 at half. They WILL come and make a run when you least expect them to. Predictions: 2nd in the section.

Marquette University Moxie
Moxie, led by Claire Dunlap, did lose some clutch players (i.e. Gina Matranga) from last year, but have gained some new players that have definitely developed in the ways they needed to. What to expect: A stronger team from last fall. They have performed quite well this spring (Chicago Invite) and are ready to make some plays. Moxie has some strong handlers, whose throws have developed well, with some good fakes to get you off balance. This opens the lanes a bit, to help make up for their short frames and get those throws off. Their handlers look to break the mark a lot, so a team with weak marks will be exploited. Their cutters = sneaky. Predictions: 3rd in the section.

University of Wisconsin Atropa
Atropa, Madison's new "B-team" if you can call them that. Led by Eileen Chou and ready to strike. Probably one of the best womens B teams around. Most of their players would be on the universe line on other teams. Former Bellas who are no longer elligble to compete in the series have been playing with them throughout the spring. I'm interested to see how this will effect the dynamic of the team without players, like Lucille Strawn, controlling the flow of the disc. Predictions: 4th in the section

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Blackcat
Blackcat is a pretty decent team when they have the numbers to play. In years past, they have had a very inconsistent roster and they could not always expect that girls would show up. Led by handlers Lexi Bond and Sara Poornour (sp?), these girls have some good deep looks. Holly Lisowski is especially athletic and can run all day, drink all night, and show up on Sunday equally as fresh as she was on Saturday morning. Holly also makes huge plays, and gives you hell if you're guarding her....because she doesn't stop running. I haven't had the chance to see them play this spring at all. I'm not sure how the rest of their players have developed/improved. Predictions: If they bring enough girls to run, they'll finish 5th.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Schist
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Whitewater's first series. I have fairly big hopes for them. Whitewater is known for attracting big athletes to attend their school. In comparison to the other D-III state schools, Whitewater has a huge pull of athletes to choose from. I'm interested to see how they've come together. All I've heard from them was from my boyfriend, Deebs, and UPA score reporter from Frostbite. Some unimpressive results at Frostbite, get special consideration for it being the team's first tourney ever. With some help from some of their stronger male players (from what I understand...Ari Davison) they should have some basics down. I think that they'll have good speed, however, they'll be lacking throws and big hucks that could help them. I would also assume that their girls are learning the game, and the field awareness is not quite there yet. I do hear that they have a good number of players, so they shouldn't be too tired. Predictions 6th in the section

Lawrence University Vici
Vici lost Kate Powell to the Bella Donnas...that's a huge loss for them. I'm not sure who will step up for them to provide leadership. It will be interesting to see how many girls they have and how they look. They do have that girl who looks so gosh darn cute in the kangaroo costume...so extra points for that. Prediction: 7th