Photo by: Chad Mosley
Side Out with Shanny: Gameday rituals
November 08, 2018 | Volleyball
Find out how the Badgers prepare for a match
MADISON, Wis. – Get an inside look at the eighth-ranked Badger volleyball team all season long as sophomore Nicole Shanahan writes a bi-weekly blog called Side Out with Shanny!
In her fourth blog, Shanahan, a 6-2 middle blocker from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, writes about how the Badgers prepare for game day!
When it comes to preparing for games, each person has a slightly different way they like to go about things. However, one part that is consistent for everyone is getting in a quick practice. This practice usually lasts about an hour and focuses mainly on serving and passing. That's right, even us middles get in some passing work- and if we're lucky we may even get to set a little! Practice is fairly light and gets us moving so we can get our minds right for the game.
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Once practice is over we watch film and head off to pregame meal. Our student-athlete dining hall is located inside Camp Randall. Pregame meal is served in a buffet style and the typical options include salad, fruit, chicken, pasta, and more. If we have an earlier game, we get to treat ourselves to brunch and the best omelet station on campus (YUM!).
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Following mealtime, some of my teammates go home to take a nap, while others work on homework assignments. I enjoy getting coffee with Dodd, Mal, Julia, and Whales at one of our local coffee shops in Madison. A couple hours prior to game time, we like to take it easy by hanging out in our team lounge or locker room to socialize. This is another time many people utilize to study for upcoming exams.
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Closer to warm-ups, everyone is just about ready to go and Clark becomes the DJ to fire us up. With the lights dimmed, the music blasting, and everyone ready to go, the best dance party you can imagine takes place. If you were to ask who the best dancers were on the team (besides myself, of course!), you would get a mix of people saying either Dodd or T.
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As the dance party concludes, we head to the film room as one and wait for the coaches to give us a final message before heading upstairs. Although everyone's pre-game ritual is slightly different, we are all on the same page when it comes time for warm-ups: TIME TO COMPETE AND LET IT RIP!
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As always, thanks for reading this week's journal, and be sure to tune in next time, as I will be introducing a vlog!
Â
On, Wisconsin!
Shanny
In her fourth blog, Shanahan, a 6-2 middle blocker from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, writes about how the Badgers prepare for game day!
When it comes to preparing for games, each person has a slightly different way they like to go about things. However, one part that is consistent for everyone is getting in a quick practice. This practice usually lasts about an hour and focuses mainly on serving and passing. That's right, even us middles get in some passing work- and if we're lucky we may even get to set a little! Practice is fairly light and gets us moving so we can get our minds right for the game.
Â
Once practice is over we watch film and head off to pregame meal. Our student-athlete dining hall is located inside Camp Randall. Pregame meal is served in a buffet style and the typical options include salad, fruit, chicken, pasta, and more. If we have an earlier game, we get to treat ourselves to brunch and the best omelet station on campus (YUM!).
Â
Following mealtime, some of my teammates go home to take a nap, while others work on homework assignments. I enjoy getting coffee with Dodd, Mal, Julia, and Whales at one of our local coffee shops in Madison. A couple hours prior to game time, we like to take it easy by hanging out in our team lounge or locker room to socialize. This is another time many people utilize to study for upcoming exams.
Â
Closer to warm-ups, everyone is just about ready to go and Clark becomes the DJ to fire us up. With the lights dimmed, the music blasting, and everyone ready to go, the best dance party you can imagine takes place. If you were to ask who the best dancers were on the team (besides myself, of course!), you would get a mix of people saying either Dodd or T.
Â
As the dance party concludes, we head to the film room as one and wait for the coaches to give us a final message before heading upstairs. Although everyone's pre-game ritual is slightly different, we are all on the same page when it comes time for warm-ups: TIME TO COMPETE AND LET IT RIP!
Â
As always, thanks for reading this week's journal, and be sure to tune in next time, as I will be introducing a vlog!
Â
On, Wisconsin!
Shanny
Players Mentioned
MB
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