NCAA 1st Weekend: Team Travel Blog
UDPride sent a request to have a travel blog-kind of thing from the team during their trip. So we are just starting to get some stuff in. We thought this would be great from the 2 redshirt freshmen. That's setter Emory Hinkley who hails from Fort Worth, TX and MB India Gnatt from San Antonio, TX. We will also be posting some video they provided later today and more entries as they provide them to us. Enjoy a look into some behind the scenes insight as the team takes in their first weekend of NCAA action.
I had heard the NCAA Travel Policy required splitting the team into groups to save on airfare was a requirement -- and that's what Dayton had to do. Plus when Emory says, "bright and early" I know they had to leave at 5:30 am - so it was truly a long day one.
Day One: by Emory Hinckley, #11, Freshman Setter.
We started our travel day to Washington State bright and early Wednesday morning. First, we had a bus ride to the Columbus airport where we split into our two travel groups. My group got through security and made sure to grab Starbucks on the way to our gate. Dayton Volleyball runs on Starbucks and is a must have at all times. We then boarded our plane to Phoenix, Arizona. Although this flight was long, we all enjoyed the rest we were able to get on the plane and time to do homework. We landed in Phoenix, where it was a warm 72°, and then made it to our next gate for our flight to Spokane, Washington. Although this flight was delayed, we made the best out of it by hanging out at the gate with just our team, playing games, cracking jokes, and enjoying each other’s company. We were then able to board the plane and we took off to Spokane. We were greeted with cold weather when we landed, but the most beautiful frost-covered trees I'd ever seen. Our travel group met up with the other half of the team at lunch and everyone was so excited to see each other, acting as if it had been weeks since we last saw each other. Following lunch, we drove to Gonzaga and grinded out a team practice. Practice was a great opportunity for us to shake off the long day of travel and get our minds and bodies right. We are so grateful Gonzaga let us use their gym. It was close to the airport and a perfect stop before making the drive to Pullman. After practice, we drove to Washington State and picked up delicious pizza for dinner. Once at the hotel, we ate dinner and had team leadership. Leadership was a great way to end the day because it made us switch our brains into game mode and prepare for the tournament ahead of us.
And on a personal note to Emory - great job. This is so fun for the fans and exactly the kind of things they don't get to experience and "see" from the team they love to support. Keep up the great work.
I had heard the NCAA Travel Policy required splitting the team into groups to save on airfare was a requirement -- and that's what Dayton had to do. Plus when Emory says, "bright and early" I know they had to leave at 5:30 am - so it was truly a long day one.
Day One: by Emory Hinckley, #11, Freshman Setter.
We started our travel day to Washington State bright and early Wednesday morning. First, we had a bus ride to the Columbus airport where we split into our two travel groups. My group got through security and made sure to grab Starbucks on the way to our gate. Dayton Volleyball runs on Starbucks and is a must have at all times. We then boarded our plane to Phoenix, Arizona. Although this flight was long, we all enjoyed the rest we were able to get on the plane and time to do homework. We landed in Phoenix, where it was a warm 72°, and then made it to our next gate for our flight to Spokane, Washington. Although this flight was delayed, we made the best out of it by hanging out at the gate with just our team, playing games, cracking jokes, and enjoying each other’s company. We were then able to board the plane and we took off to Spokane. We were greeted with cold weather when we landed, but the most beautiful frost-covered trees I'd ever seen. Our travel group met up with the other half of the team at lunch and everyone was so excited to see each other, acting as if it had been weeks since we last saw each other. Following lunch, we drove to Gonzaga and grinded out a team practice. Practice was a great opportunity for us to shake off the long day of travel and get our minds and bodies right. We are so grateful Gonzaga let us use their gym. It was close to the airport and a perfect stop before making the drive to Pullman. After practice, we drove to Washington State and picked up delicious pizza for dinner. Once at the hotel, we ate dinner and had team leadership. Leadership was a great way to end the day because it made us switch our brains into game mode and prepare for the tournament ahead of us.
And on a personal note to Emory - great job. This is so fun for the fans and exactly the kind of things they don't get to experience and "see" from the team they love to support. Keep up the great work.