Small town, big upset

February 28, 2013, 5:06 pm

CEV Championships (Round 1 of 2):
Muszyna 3, Istanbul 2 (26-24, 26-24, 19-25, 23-25, 15-11)

Two weeks ago, we walked through the snow to a small gym in a small mountain town in southern Poland, right on the Slovakian border.

Courtney Thompson, playing
professionally for Lodz, Poland,
during a time out against Muszyna.
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Jack Hamann

Last night, the volleyball world witnessed an eye-opening upset in that same little gym.

In the first (of two) round of the 2013 CEV Volleyball Cup, mighty Istanbul fell to Polish league regular season champ Muszyna 3-2. The teams will play one more time—Saturday in Turkey—to determine the 2013 CEV Cup champion. The CEV Cup is considered the second-most prestigious professional European volleyball tournament.

What’s so mighty about Istanbul? The Turkish League professional team features the best two international players from the past half-decade, Brazil’s Paula (full name: Paula Renata Marques Pequeno) and Korea’s Kim Yeon-Koung. It also includes Lindsey Berg, the starting setter for the USA’s silver medal team at the London Olympics.

The other setter from that US Olympic team is Seattle’s Courtney Thompson, who happens to be playing professionally this season for the Polish Premier League team in the intriguing city of Łódź.

On February 17, Volleyblog Seattle was in Muszyna with Thompson as she led her team to a 2-0 advantage, before dropping a 2-3 decision. Muszyna’s stars are less heralded than Istanbul’s, but—like most great teams at all levels—they serve and pass well when the match is on the line. That’s how they beat Łódź; that’s also how they beat Istanbul.

Istantbul's Kim Yeon-Koung grimaces after a Muszyna point

What was Volleyblog Seattle doing in Poland? We’re just back from a month traveling with Thompson, the centerpiece of a one-hour volleyball documentary we’re producing in time for the 2013 NCAA D1 Volleyball Championships this December in Seattle’s Key Arena. We’ve got lots to share from our trip, both on the blog and in the documentary.

Stay tuned.

↧

David defeats Goliath

March 4, 2013, 10:42 am

≫ Next: NCAA Championships in Seattle/Tacoma: A Rare Event

≪ Previous: Small town, big upset

A small-town team shows it can beat an opponent studded with Olympic stars

CEV Cup Championship: Muszyna 3, Istanbul 2 (25-18, 1-25, 25-15, 22-25, 15-11)

In large swaths of Central and Eastern Europe, professional volleyball is a big deal.

Most major cities have either a men’s or women’s team, sometimes both. Crowds are often big (men’s matches can draw 12,000; women’s 6,000) and rowdy—think face-painted, drum-beating soccer fans at an indoor arena.

Brazil's Paula (headband) attacks against Muszyna in the CEV Cup finals in Istanbul

At the moment, however, the big story on the European women’s pro circuit springs from a very small town. That little club just snagged a prestigious trophy away from a team featuring three high-profile Olympians.

In most European leagues, particularly in Russia, Poland, Turkey, Italy and Azerbaijan, teams carry as many as three foreign players, including many from the United States. Former University of Washington All-American Courtney Thompson stars for Łódź in the Polish Premiere League; her former Husky teammate Tama Miyashiro is a libero for Azerbaijan’s Lokomotiv Baku (where she is a teammate of former UCLA setter Nellie Spicer.)

The big guns of the women’s European circuit, however, are in Turkey, where the team from Istanbul features a trio of imposing stars. Their marquee hitter is South Korea’s Kim Yeon-Koung, widely regarded the world’s best player. Another hitter is Brazil’s Paula, the sport’s dominant player before Kim ascended. And Istanbul’s setter is America’s Lindsey Berg, Courtney Thompson’s teammate at the London Olympics.

Just like in international soccer, championships are often two-match, home-and-home affairs. If tied (in wins and total points) after those two contests, the teams play a decisive “golden set” for the championship.

Last week, Muszyna pulled a 3-2 upset at home, setting up Saturday’s final in Turkey. Instanbul’s 6,000-seat arena was sold out; one Polish sportswriter described fans as “vulgar and fanatical.” Another Polish paper called playing before the partisan crowd “hell.” The Polish media claimed that the referee had to continually overrule the line judges, who allegedly kept making wrong calls in the home team’s favor.

And yet, Muszyna won. From press reports, it seems they allowed Kim to get her kills, but kept Istanbul at bay with pinpoint serving (including one 8-0 run) and inspired defense. There’s a lesson there, no matter what level of volleyball you might play or coach or watch.

There are a few more twists to Muszyna’s story. They club was started by a guy who was little more than a local club coach who loved volleyball. After spending years mentoring local kids, he helped launch a second-division professional club that has relentlessly climbed up the Polish League. With financial backing from a local bank and the wealthy owner of a water-bottling company, Muszyna climbed to the first division, then to the league championship (their final regular season match was a 3-2 win at home against Courtney Thompson’s Łódź team), and now to the second most prestigious European championship, the CEV Cup (the Champions League is tops.) It’s the first European Cup ever won by a women’s team from Poland.

Much like soccer, professional volleyball clubs can qualify for several tournaments. Muszyna now plays Krakow for the Polish Cup title (Courtney Thompson’s team barely lost to Krakow in the semifinals.) In two weeks, the Polish Premiere League playoffs begin, with Muszyna the clear favorite (and Thompson’s team among the contenders.)

↧

NCAA Championships in Seattle/Tacoma: A Rare Event

April 17, 2013, 2:46 pm

≫ Next: Courtney Thompson featured on this week’s The Net Live podcast

≪ Previous: David defeats Goliath

2013 Women’s Volleyball Final Four will be just the 18^th D1 Championship, and the 4^th for women

When the 2013 D1 NCAA Volleyball Championship comes to Key Arena this December, it will be an opportunity more rare than those in Western Washington may think.

This will be just the 18^th NCAA D1 Championship ever held in Seattle/Tacoma, and just the fourth-ever for women.

6 of the previous 17 championships were all held on the University of Washington campus between 1949 and 1971. After a 13 year hiatus, Seattle/Tacoma saw its NCAA heyday, hosting 8 championships in 11 years, in men’s soccer and in men’s & women’s basketball. Each of those competitions were held in either the Kingdome or the Tacoma Dome.

The 1995 men’s basketball Final Four in the Kingdome was the last truly big NCAA event in our region.

Want your kids to see a national championship? Better not wait for the next ones to roll around …

VOLLEYBALL DOCUMENTARY UPDATE

“Court & Spark,” a one-hour volleyball documentary premiering during Seattle’s 2013 Final Four, is wrapping up production in the next few weeks, with shoots at the USA Training Center in Anaheim and at the 2013 Emerald City Classic at the University of Washington.

A preview video is now available, highlighting some of the sights and sounds of our location shoots with Courtney Thompson in Poland. Let us know what you think.

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Courtney Thompson featured on this week’s The Net Live podcast

June 10, 2013, 8:22 pm

≫ Next: Volleyball is tops in 19 states; track, soccer, basketball and soccer trail

≪ Previous: NCAA Championships in Seattle/Tacoma: A Rare Event

USA Olympian and documentary guide Thompson talks volleyball

Courtney Thompson, the central figure in the upcoming documentary Court & Spark, is a guest on this week’s The Net Live podcast.

Courtney Thompson, on the team bus in Poland
-Volleyblog Seattle photo by Brett Hamann

Among the topics covered:

What it’s like to work with new head coach Karch Kiraly
Lessons learned from winning the silver medal at the London Olympics
Her growth as a team leader
Her interest in coaching some day

Courtney surprises the hosts when she g

ives a shout-out to fellow Washington alum and new US National Team member Jenna Hagglund. “But she’s a setter, your own position!” they said.

It’s an interesting dynamic on the National Team. We’re all good friends, but we’re also competing.
You want everyone to play their best. Obviously, I want to be the one playing and getting playing time. But I want to beat people out when they’re at their best. Because it makes the program better.
We’ve all kind of bought into that. USA Volleyball’s bigger than all of us. And we’re fortunate to be part of it. And, of course, I want to be the one running the team in 2016, and every tournament up until that. But I also want us to be the best in the world.

The Net Live is a weekly volleyball radio broadcast, hosted this week by Olympian Kevin Barnett, with AVP broadcasters Chris McGee and DJ Roueche.

You can listen to each week’s podcast at the Volleyball Magazine website. Courtney’s interview begins at (83.07) on the 6/10/13 podcast.

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Volleyball is tops in 19 states; track, soccer, basketball and soccer trail

June 21, 2013, 4:19 pm

≫ Next: Watching hockey, thinking about volleyball

≪ Previous: Courtney Thompson featured on this week’s The Net Live podcast

Volleyball is the most popular high school girls sport in more states than any other single sport

Other high school girls’ sports get plenty of attention, but volleyball has moved to the head of the playing field.

The latest reportfrom the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) shows more girls playing volleyball than any other sport in 19 states. Track & field is second, leading in 14 states. soccer (10), basketball (5) and softball (2) round out the list:

[graphic by Volleyblog Seattle]
Source: 2011-12 Participation Report, National Federation of State High School Associations

Volleyball is first or second in half the states, and ranks in the top three in more than two-thirds of the nation.

[graphic by Volleyblog Seattle]
Source: 2011-12 Participation Report, National Federation of State High School Associations

USC's Mick Haley

"Every athlete—it doesn’t matter what sport they play—they also want to play volleyball," USC head volleyball coach Mick Haley tells us in a Court & Spark interview. "We are the most popular sport. No matter what the numbers say, you ask anybody out there."

Pennsylvania is the only state where volleyball is not in the top 5, ranking sixth (cross-country is fifth). That seems a bit odd, considering the Penn State women’s volleyball team is the most dominant college program of the past half-decade.

Texas—home of the reigning national champion Texas Longhorns—has the most total high school volleyball players (44,513), even though volleyball trails basketball and track in the Lone Star state. California—home to 2011 National Champion UCLA—has the second highest number (40,507), but trails track and soccer in total participants.

Washington, with 10,398 high school girls playing volleyball, ranks 10^th. It has the 13^th-highest population of the 50 states. Wisconsin may be the most volleyball-crazy state: It ranks seventh in number of participants (15,328), despite having the 20^th highest population.

Vermont is the only state not to offer girls’ high school volleyball.

For more numbers on volleyball’s popularity, see: Volleyball rising, basketball “stagnant”

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Watching hockey, thinking about volleyball

June 24, 2013, 11:21 pm

≫ Next: Staying undefeated

≪ Previous: Volleyball is tops in 19 states; track, soccer, basketball and soccer trail

Stanley Cup a reminder of two great things about sports

Not five minutes after the Boston Bruins had all but ensured the NHL championships would be extended to a seventh game, members of the Chicago Blackhawks were hugging … the Boston Bruins.

And therein lies two things we like … about volleyball.

Zdeno Chara and Jonathan Toews embrace after Chicago won the 2013 Stanley Cup

-NHL.com

With less than two minutes remaining on home ice, Boston led Chicago 2-1. In hockey, that’s a nearly insurmountable lead, especially given the talent of the Bruins’ gifted (and wonderfully-named) goalie, Tuukka Rask.

Following standard practice, the Hawks pulled their own goalie and sent 6 attackers into the Boston zone. In the improbable span of just 17 seconds, Chicago scored the tying, and then the winning goal, earning North American sports’ most iconic trophy, the Stanley Cup.

It was so amazing because it was so rare. In so many sports, late leads are all but insurmountable. Mario Rivera rarely blows a World Series save. Ray Lewis rarely misses a Super Bowl tackle. Tuukka Rask doesn’t give up two last-second desperate goals in the NHL Finals.

But in volleyball, late leads are often quite surmountable.

In volleyball, you have to score at least 25 points to earn just one set. And you can be down in the third set trailing 2 sets to none, and still have a reasonable chance to come back. The ever-present threat of late heroics is one of volleyball’s enduring appeals.

The NHL Final was exciting in a way that so many volleyball matches between top teams are exciting. It’s just that in volleyball, we see it more often.

And then there were those post-game hugs.

When our son and daughter were little, the mandatory post-game handshakes after soccer matches or Little League games were cute, even refreshing. But it was something we rarely saw at the major league or even collegiate level.

As those kids grew up, the ritual followed, and shaking hands with opponents is now common in most sports, except baseball. It’s certainly customary before and after every volleyball match at every level.

The Bruins/Blackhawks handshake, however, was special. Boston players had to be shocked, if not crushed. But in that post-game receiving line, the Chicago players were gracious. Few exchanges seemed obligatory; several involved hugs, condolences and congratulations. It was a class act by two classy teams.

We don’t watch much regular-season hockey in our house, but we love the NHL playoffs and the Winter Olympics. After tonight’s final few seconds, our respect for the game has grown.

↧

Staying undefeated

June 25, 2013, 3:44 pm

≫ Next: Courtney and Jerzey: In Poland, by way of England

≪ Previous: Watching hockey, thinking about volleyball

The Seattle Mariners’ Nick Franklin knows the difference between defeat and being defeated

In today’s Seattle Times, Seattle Mariners’ manager Eric Wedge describes his hot young second basemen, Nick Franklin:

“He’s not afraid to fail.’’

Nick Franklin of the Seattle Mariners
-Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Reporter Bob Condotta’sprofile of Franklin raises an important sports issue not much discussed: the importance of failure for those who succeed.

Condotta recounts Saturday’s game against the Oakland A’s. Although Franklin hit a popup to second base—a sure out—he nonetheless charged to first base without betraying any frustration. Just one inning later, Franklin knocked in what proved to be the winning runs.

“That’s what you’ve got to do,’’ Wedge said of Franklin’s ability to fail one inning and then succeed the next, saying that an important lesson for the young players on the Mariners is that “there is no perfection’’ in baseball.

Wedge, of course, understands that Franklin has learned a lesson that few athletes fully embrace: treating each setback not as a loss, but as an opportunity to learn. That’s a mantra we’ve often heard in conversations with volleyball’s elite coaches and mentors. We have no doubt it’s a philosophy shared by the best coaches in other sports, too.

US National Team coach Karch Kiraly
-photo by Leslie Hamann

“Losing offers a much better opportunity to learn than winning,” Karch Kiraly says. During our interview for Court & Spark, the US National Team head women’s volleyball coach says elite athletes understand that losses and mistakes offer and important opening “to bounce back, to face adversity.”

“There are ups and there are downs. And there are tough times. We want our kids to be able to handle those tough times with the right mindset. Not let it crush them, not have failure knock ‘em to the floor and not get back up.”

Condotta’s profile captures another lesson that the very best coaches teach: focusing only on things under your control.

“I don’t try to put things in my head that the other team is trying to do to me,’’ (Franklin) said. “I’m just going to worry about what I’ve got to do and my approach and how I’m going to attack them.’’

That philosophy has helped Courtney Thompson, too. As she told us during one of our interviews in Łódź, Poland, “It’s something (Washingtoncoach) Jim (McLaughlin) always preached in college. That you can control what you can control. And focus on yourself. And any minute you’re worried about how the other player’s playing, it’s distracting you from what you need to do.

“Which makes sense. But to get up every day and do that is really, really hard. Especially when you know what’s on the line.”

Make sure you read Bob Condotta’s full Nick Franklin profile: Nick Franklin is catching on quickly with Mariners.

↧

Courtney and Jerzey: In Poland, by way of England

July 9, 2013, 11:58 am

≫ Next: Washington to retire Courtney Thompson’s jersey

≪ Previous: Staying undefeated

Stars from Wimbledon and London shared the stage in Łódź, Poland

We tuned in to coverage of Wimbledon this weekend, and saw a familiar face. Jerzy Janowicz became the first Polish man to reach the semifinals of a tennis Grand Slam event (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, US Open.) Janowicz--a tall and fiery player--lost to eventual champion Andy Murray.

This past February, we were in the room as the city of Łódź, Poland honored Jerzy, a hometown boy, for his rise to the tennis world elite.

Also honored that afternoon: Courtney Thompson, the starting setter for the Łódź professional volleyball team and member of the silver-medal USA Volleyball Team at the 2012 London Olympic Games. The awards were part of an annual event, saluting the biggest sports stars of one of Poland's largest (and least-known) major cities.

Wimbledon semifinalist Jerzy Janowicz and Olympian Courtney Thompson at Lodz, Poland award ceremony
-video screengrab from Court & Spark, video by Leslie Hamann

A scene from the Łódź ceremony will be included in our forthcoming documentary, Court & Spark, premiering this December when Seattle hosts the NCAA Division 1 Final Four in Key Arena and the annual convention of the American Volleyball Coaches Association at the Washington State Convention Center.

↧

Washington to retire Courtney Thompson’s jersey

September 11, 2013, 11:07 am

≫ Next: Court & Spark documentary set to premiere during NCAA Volleyball Final Four

≪ Previous: Courtney and Jerzey: In Poland, by way of England

After more than 100 years of athletics, UW will retire a woman athlete’s jersey

In the six years since Courtney Thompson graduated from the University of Washington, she’s travelled the world playing volleyball, both professionally and with the US National Team, including the London Olympics. Whenever possible, however, she returns home to Seattle, and makes a point to stop by Alaska Airlines Arena.

University of Washington graduate Courtney Thompson will have her jersey retired November 3
-photo by Leslie Hamann

“Every time I go back there,” Thompson tells us, “it’s a huge recharge for me. It’s where I grew up, it’s where I learned so much. Every time I walk in that gym I feel incredibly inspired.”

In particular, she says, she is moved by the sight of the purple and gold banner hanging from the rafters, the only national championship sign in the arena. Thompson was captain of the volleyball team that won the 2005 title, a resounding 3-0 victory over favored Nebraska.

“You see that banner,” she says, “and you remember what it represents: everything we went through as a team to get there. You just smile.”

On November 3, during Washington’s Pac-12 match against Colorado, another banner will rise to the rafters: Thompson’s #3. It will be one of the first two women’s jerseys (softball All-American Danielle Lawrie will be the other) to be retired by the University of Washington in more than a century of fielding sports teams.

Courtney Thompson celebrates winning the
2005 National Championship in San Antonio

“I’m incredibly humbled,” she says.

“It’s huge,” says Washington coach Jim McLaughlin. “It says a lot about the university that they hold Court in that esteem.”

Stretching back to the early 1900s, Washington has only retired six jerseys: football players Chuck Carroll (#2), George Wilson(#33) and Roland Kirby (#44), plus men’s basketball players Bob Houbregs(#25) and Brandon Roy (#3), and baseball player Tim Lincecum (#14).

Thompson’s choice of jersey number 3 is a story in itself.

“It started in high school,” she says. “My favorite numbers were 7 and 13. My brother, Trevor, was always 13, so that was my number at Kentlake High. But my sophomore year, the team’s number 13 jersey was way too big for me. So my coach made me switch, and I became number 3. We won a state title and then I was number 3 in everything (volleyball, basketball, softball) because it was good luck.”

When Thompson arrived at Washington in the fall of 2003, she was handed a list of available jersey numbers. “Thankfully, number 3 was on there, so I jumped at the chance.”

Thompson’s teammates from an era that included Pac-10 championships and three straight Final Four appearances were thrilled. “I couldn’t be more excited,” says Carolyn Farney.

“Everyone told her she couldn’t do it, she was too short,” Farney remembers. “She just proved that, if you work hard and believe you can do it, she had the entire team—and arena—believing.”

Two other teammates from that period—University of Virginia assistant coach Stevie Mussie and UT-San Antonio assistant coach Sanja Tomasevic—spoke about Thompson for the upcoming documentary, Court & Spark.

“You look at her,” said Mussie, “and you would think, This girl, I can kill her. Oh, my God, I’m gonna beat her every time. And then you play against her, she touches every swing, she sets every ball, she wills her team to win.”

“Courtney Is one of my favorite players of all time,” said Tomasavic. “She could make you feel badin practice if you’re not feeling like practicing that day. Like, if you came out and tried to cruise through practice, she didn’t allow that. She never allowed that in the gym.”

Carolyn Farny (L) and Courtney Thompson during Washington's 2006 volleyball tour of China
-photo by Ashley Aratani

“She is one of the most comfortable human beings in her own skin that I’ve ever met,” Farney adds. “It doesn’t matter where you are, who you’re with, she’s just fun to be with.”

Thompson says she’s particularly happy that young girls will be able to look up to the rafters and see the jersey of a woman athlete.

“It’s surreal,” she says. “It’s an honor to be in a position where you can impact people. I’ve always felt like, the more you’ve been given, the more you give back. This is really a great way to continue to do this as women and as athletes at UW.

“What I hope people can think about when they see my jersey, and even our championship banner, is how many people went into that. I think about the coaching staff, the ushers, the (training table) people at the Conibear Shellhouse, my professors, and my academic advisors—all these people who took time out of their day to help me one way or another or to teach me something or challenge me in a different way.

“If you work hard, and you surround yourself with the right people, and you do your best, a lot of wonderful things can happen and dreams can come true.”

NOTES:

Thompson and three others—Lawrie, Lincecum and golfer Nick Taylor—will be honored during the September 28 Arizona @ Washington football game. Lincecum’s jersey was first retired a few years ago, but Washington’s Athletic Department has since formalized a new, more comprehensive policy for honoring it’s alums, and Lincecum is being acknowledged under that process.
John Otness, director of Washington’s Big W Club, tells us that, technically, the players’ “jerseys” are being retired, not their “numbers.” Modern teams, college and pro, tend to acknowledge that retiring too many numbers might someday create hardships when assigning jerseys. That said, the football numbers #33 (George Wilson) and #44 (Roland Kirby) are rarely, if ever, assigned at UW, even as #2 (Chuck Carroll) remains a relatively popular choice for subsequent athletes.

↧

Court & Spark documentary set to premiere during NCAA Volleyball Final Four

December 12, 2013, 10:22 am

≫ Next: Courtney Thompson to face off against Olympic teammate in European Champions League

≪ Previous: Washington to retire Courtney Thompson’s jersey

Two screenings at AVCA Convention plus opportunities to purchase a DVD; proceeds benefit volleyball

AVCA screenings: 2:30PM, December 20 | 2:00PM, December 21 | Washington State Convention Center
to purchase a DVD: Puget Sound Region of USA Volleyball (psrvb.org)

We marked this week on our calendars a long time ago.

available now at psrvb.org

Since 2004, we’ve traveled to—and reported from—every NCAA D1 Women’s Volleyball Championship except one. After memorable journeys to California (twice), Texas (twice), Missouri, Florida, Nebraska and Kentucky, the Final Four was coming home.

Well, to our home, anyway: Seattle’s Key Arena, just a few minutes from our neighborhood.

And just over a year ago, we were asked about doing something special to mark the occasion.

The people who nurture, promote, and celebrate much of Western Washington’s volleyball world are the directors and staff of the nonprofit Puget Sound Region of USA Volleyball (PSR). West of the Cascades, from the Peace Arch to Thurston County, these fine folks quietly coordinate countless thousands of events—youth, adult, indoor, sand, sitting and other volleyball variations—all with little fanfare and impressive results.

But, as Seattle’s turn to host the NCAA Final Four loomed, there were questions. Why, they wondered, don’t more people realize just what a big deal volleyball has become? What if PSR commissioned a documentary that shines light on a sport that was born in America, become wildly popular around the world, and is now inexorably becoming the major women’s team sport in the USA? (Want proof? In half the states—half the states!—more girls play high school volleyball than any other team sport—more than basketball, more than softball, even more than soccer.)

So PSR came to us. We produce documentaries. And we've had a fair amount of experience with volleyball. But we told PSR that any great story needs a knockout lead character. Someone like our very own Olympian, Courtney Thompson.

To make it work, we needed to probe the minds of many of the sport’s illustrious figures. And we needed to follow Courtney through the highs and lows, the good and bad of a year in her volleyball life.

One day, just weeks after the London Olympics, Courtney said yes. But she also insisted we spend time where most of America’s volleyball elite live and work: overseas. In Courtney’s case, that meant the heart of Europe in the dead of winter. A Polish city we’d never heard of—and now, will never forget—called Łódź (and pronounced “Woodge.”) It’s an eye-opening part of the documentary.

And so, we spent a frigid February with Courtney as her Polish team pushed toward the playoffs. We later enjoyed a comparatively balmy several weeks in Southern California, as she trained with the National Team. As we hoped, we captured moments of humor, pain, soul-searching and triumph. Our many conversations included coaches, athletes and administrators refreshingly willing to avoid clichés and strike directly at the heart of the how and why of their sport. You don’t have to know much about volleyball to appreciate their insight. And if you do know a lot about volleyball, you’ll still learn a thing or two. Or three.

In the end, we hope Court & Spark is a conversation starter. Once you’re introduced to Courtney’s world, you’ll realize just how many challenges she’s faced—and learn that many of those challenges are not all that different from what countless thousands of parents, coaches and athletes face every day. We hope folks watch Court & Spark with their parents, their kids, their coaches and their teammates, and that they’ll be inspired to continue the dialogue that Courtney so brilliantly begins in the documentary.

Once you've seen Court & Spark, we’d love to hear what you have to say. Please feel free to send a note to both us (nolittlethings@comcast.net) and to Puget Sound Region of USA Volleyball (office@psrvb.org). If you’d like, we’ll pass along your comments to Courtney and others featured in the program.

early praise for Court & Spark

None of this would have happened without the extraordinary support of our sponsors. The Floyd and Delores Jones Foundation has been a leader in our community to improve health care, education, civic engagement, the arts and the empowerment of women. This documentary would not have been produced without their vision and their generous support.

We also received significant support from Baden, a national manufacturer of leading-edge sporting equipment based here in our own community, and from premier volleyball organizations like the American Volleyball Coaches Association, USA Volleyball and Gold Medal Squared.

Finally, please know that all proceeds from the sale of DVDs will help further support and promote volleyball through the nonprofit Puget Sound Region of USA Volleyball. Please consider ordering copies—several even!—directly from their website, psrvb.org.

-Leslie & Jack

Brett Hamann (video, audio, post), Jack Hamann (co-producer, writer), Courtney Thompson, Leslie Hamann (co-producer, video, editor)
-courtesy Shutter Geeks Photography

↧

Courtney Thompson to face off against Olympic teammate in European Champions League

February 4, 2014, 7:50 pm

≫ Next: Acclaimed volleyball documentary now available via online streaming

≪ Previous: Court & Spark documentary set to premiere during NCAA Volleyball Final Four

Rival-turned-friend Jordan Larson-Burbach once again on the same court

Dinamo Kazan @ Voléro Zürich | February 6, 2014 | 11:00AM (Pacific Time)

When Courtney Thompson heard her coach call Jordan Larson-Burbach“the best passer in the world” this week, she smiled ... and stifled a fist pump.

Courtney Thompson serves for Volero Zurich

Thompson—now playing professionally in Zurich, Switzerland—faces Larson-Burbach’s St. Petersburg, Russia team Thursday in the European Champions League quarterfinals. The teams will play a second match February 11 in Russia.

“My first memory of Jordan,” Thompson tells Volleyblog Seattle, was at a club tournament (when both were in high school.) She was playing, like, three years up and jump serving people off the court... my team (Kent Juniors) included.”

A few years later, Thompson’s University of Washington team met Larson’s Nebraska team for the NCAA Division 1 championship. Washington won that match; Larson’s team won the title a year later. Soon after, both were members of the US National Team. Last summer, they were Olympicteammates in London.

“It’s surreal,” says Thompson. “How lucky I am to call her a teammate every summer. … now we’re playing against each other in a Champions League match.”

The Champions League is a big deal in the world of volleyball. After months of competition across Europe, only six elite professional clubs remain. Both Voléro Zürich and Dinamo Kazan are long-time European powerhouses, a fact not lost on Thompson.

“Playing for Volero has been one of the best opportunities I've had as a professional player, “Thompson says. “The club has an incredible tradition, and it's an honor to play for one of the best clubs in Europe. My first year with the National Team, Robyn Ah Mow-Santoswas the starting setter; she played for Volero for a few seasons. Robyn was a huge inspiration and role model for me, so knowing that I get to play somewhere that she played was really cool- and has made playing here even that much more special.”

Courtney Thompson (15) during Round of Eight action in the 2013-14 European Champions League

Elite professional volleyball clubs play schedules similar to professional soccer clubs, a combination of league matches and various national and international tournaments. Voléro Zürich leads the Swiss first division standings, winning 51 sets while dropping only 5.

“This club is professional in every sense of the word,” says Thompson, “and they demand a lot. But they take very good care of their athletes.

“I've realized that I am happiest as an athlete when I'm improving, and when I'm being challenged; and certainly both are happening here. You never quite know what you're getting into overseas, and I have been thankful every day I have been here. Zurich is an incredible city too- and I am surrounded my mountains... that definitely helps!”

NOTES:

As she did last year, when she played professionally in Lodz, Poland, Thompson stayed up late to watch the Super Bowl. This time, of course, her favorite team--the Seattle Seahawks--made the experience all the better. "I am so fired up," she says. "How cool for our city!"

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Acclaimed volleyball documentary now available via online streaming

March 27, 2014, 10:21 am

≫ Next: Courtney Thompson’s pro volleyball team reaches world semifinals

≪ Previous: Courtney Thompson to face off against Olympic teammate in European Champions League


featured this week in an Associated Press report by Anne M. Peterson, reprinted in newspapers around the nation, including:

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Courtney Thompson’s pro volleyball team reaches world semifinals

May 8, 2014, 3:18 pm

≫ Next: Courtney Thompson on the roster for rematch against Brazil

≪ Previous: Acclaimed volleyball documentary now available via online streaming

Voléro Zürich upsets Sao Paulo, aims for third trophy of 2014

While many of her US National Team teammates have begun 2014 training in Anaheim, Olympian Courtney Thompson’s professional team in Europe is still going strong.

Setter Courtney Thompson serves for Volero Zurich in a 3-0 Club World Championship victory over Petroliers

Thompson, a former Washington All-American, sets for Voléro Zürich, winners of both the Swiss League Championship and Swiss Cup competitions. A few hours ago, Volero reached the semifinals of the FIVB Women’s Club World Championship, sweeping African club champion Petroliers of Algeria 3-0 (25-15, 26-24, 25-13).

On Wednesday, Volero upset heavily-favored SESI Sao Paulo, the South American club champions, 3-2 (25-12, 25-18, 15-25, 15-25, 15-10). Sao Paulo's star middle blocker, Fabiana Claudino, captained Brazil's 2012 Olympic champion team in London. The FIVB press summary praised Thompson’s setting, saying “Thompson conducted her team with skillful combinations using (both) the front and backlines.”

The two victories send Volero into Saturday’s semifinals, where they’ll face either Brazil’s Molico/Osasco or powerhouse Dinamo Kazan of Russia. Dinamo won the European club championship earlier this year, defeating Volero in the quarterfinals.

Win or lose, Thompson returns to the US later this month for another summer session with the US team.

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Courtney Thompson on the roster for rematch against Brazil

July 2, 2014, 10:05 am

≫ Next: Court & Spark is an Official Selection to the 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

≪ Previous: Courtney Thompson’s pro volleyball team reaches world semifinals

Rematch of the 2012 Olympic Finals set for this weekend and next week

Olympians Courtney Thompson (L) and Nicole Davis will be on the roster
for all four matches against Brazil

Olympian and Court & Spark star Courtney Thompson will help lead Team USA in a four-match series featuring the world’s best two teams.

This Saturday at 7PM, #2 USA hosts #1 Brazil at UC Irvine. The same teams meet again Sunday at 7PM at USC’s Galen Center, then next Friday and Saturday at the University of Hawai’i.

Thompson is one of four Olympians on Karch Kiraly’s roster, joining Jordan Larson-Burbach, Foluke Akinradewo and Nicole Davis for the Brazil series. The Brazilians will feature nine players with Olympic experience, including stars like Fabiana Claudino, Jaque, Fe Garay and Dani Lins, among others.

Brazil won the last two Olympic gold medals, defeating the USA each time. Thompson was the American setter for the 2012 Olympic quarterfinals, and saw action in every match in London except the final, a 3-1 Brazil victory.

Thompson and fellow setter Alicia Glass will be among the 12 players on the roster for all four Brazil matches this weekend and next week, as will liberos Davis and Kayla Banwarth. Kiraly has already announced different lineups for the other 8 positions in each of the four matches.

U.S. Women’s National Team Roster for USA Volleyball Cup (see legend for corresponding matches)
# - Name (Position, Ht, World Championship App, Olympic App, Hometown, College)
1 – *^# Alisha Glass (S, 6-0, 11, 0, Leland, Mich., Penn State)
2 – *^# Kayla Banwarth (L, 5-10, 0, 0, Dubuque, Iowa, University of Nebraska)
3 – *^# Courtney Thompson (S, 5-8, 0, 8, Kent, Wash., University of Washington)
4 – *^ Lauren Paolini (MB, 6-4, 0, 0, Ann Arbor, Mich., University of Texas)
6 – *^# Nicole Davis (L, 5-4, 11, 16, Stockton, Calif., University of Southern California)
7 – *^# Cassidy Lichtman (OH, 6-1, 0, 0, Poway, Calif., Stanford University)
8 – *^# Lauren Gibbemeyer (MB, 6-2, 0, 0, St. Paul, Minn., University of Minnesota)
9 – *^ Kristin Hildebrand (OH, 6-1, 0, 0, Orem, Utah, Stanford University)
10 – *^# Jordan Larson-Burbach (OH, 6-2, 11, 8, Hooper, Neb., University of Nebraska)
12 - *^# Kelly Murphy (OPP, 6-2, 0, 0, Wilmington, Ill., University of Florida)
14 - # Nicole Fawcett (OPP, 6-4, 0, 0, Zanesfield, Ohio, Penn State)
15 - *# Kim Hill (OH, 6-4, 0, 0, Portland, Ore., Pepperdine University)
16 - *# Foluke Akinradewo (MB, 6-3, 11, 8, Plantation, Fla., Stanford University)
17 - *^ Alix Klineman (OPP, 6-5, 0, 0, Manhattan Beach, Calif., Stanford University)
22 - *^# Rachael Adams (MB, 6-2, 0, 0, Cincinnati, Ohio, University of Texas)
26 - ^# Kelsey Robinson (OH, 6-2, 0, 0, Bartlett, Ill., University of Nebraska)
28 - ^# Tori Dixon (MB, 6-3, 0, 0, Burnsville, Minn., University of Minnesota)
Legend: * = July 5 at UCI; ^ = July 6 at USC; # = July 11-12 at Hawaii

Head Coach: Karch Kiraly
Assistant Coaches: Jamie Morrison, Tom Black
Technical Coordinator: Joe Trinsey
Athletic Trainer: Jill Wosmek

Brazil Roster for Women’s USA Volleyball Cup
# - Name (Position, Ht, World Championship App, Olympic App, Club)
1 – Fabiana Claudino (MB, 6-4, 14, 13, SESI-SP)
3 – Danielle Lins (S, 5-11, 13, 7, Osasco/Molico)
4 – Ana Carolina Da Silva (MB, 6-0, 0, 0, Unilever)
5 – Adenizia Silva (MB, 6-1, 6, 7, Molico/Nestle)
6 – Thaisa Menezes (MB, 6-5, 14, 14, Molico/Nestle)
7 – Andreia Sforzin Laurence (OH, 6-0, 7, 0, Unilever)
8 – Jaqueline Pereira de Carvalho Endres (OH, 6-1, 13, 14, NA)
10 – Gabriela Braga Guimaraes (OH, 5-9, 0, 0, Unilever)
11 – Tandara Caixeta (OH, 6-0, 0, 7, Banana Boat/Praia Clube)
12 – Natalia Pereira (OH, 6-0, 14, 8, Unilever)
13 – Sheilla Castro (OPP, 6-1, 16, 14, VakifBank)
14 – Ana Tiemi (S, 6-2, 7, 0, Bursa B.B. SK)
15 – Monique Marinho Pavao (OPP, 5-10, 0, 0, SESI-SP)
16 – Fernanda Rodrigues (OH, 5-10, 0, 7, Dinamo Krasnodar)
17 – Josefa Fabiola Almeida De Sousa Alves (S, 6-0, 8, 0, Dinamo Krasnodar)
18 – Camila Brait (L, 5-7, 9, 0, Molico/Nestle)

Head Coach: Jose Roberto Lages Guimaraes
Assistant Coaches: Paulo do Rego Barros Junior, Claudio Lopes Pinheiro
Trainer: Fabio Correia
Statistician: Marco Antonio Di Bonifacio
Team Manager: Leonardo Gomes Pereira Cupertino Moraes

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Court & Spark is an Official Selection to the 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

August 13, 2014, 1:54 pm

≫ Next: USA Volleyball High Performance Program praises Court & Spark

≪ Previous: Courtney Thompson on the roster for rematch against Brazil

Documentary will screen October 17-19 in Colorado Springs

Award-winning documentary Court & Spark will be featured at another film festival. This time it’s the 2014 Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs. Hosted by the Independent Film Society of Colorado, the 7^th Annual Festival will be held October 17-19.

Colorado Springs is the home of USA Volleyball and the US Olympic Committee.

For festival ticket information, please visit the IndieSpirit Film Festival website.

Earlier this year, Court & Spark won a Sports Documentary Platinum Award(highest in category) at the 2014 Houston WorldFest Film Festival.

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USA Volleyball High Performance Program praises Court & Spark

September 10, 2014, 12:18 pm

≫ Next: Washington alum Courtney Thompson is home after Team USA wins World Championships

≪ Previous: Court & Spark is an Official Selection to the 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

Award-winning documentary will screen October 18 at 7^th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs

Some terrific feedback from Denise Sheldon, manager of USAVolleyball’s High Performance Program:

This summer, Court and Spark was viewed by more than 1000 Olympic hopefuls at USA Volleyball High Performance Programs and 300 more volleyball-enthusiast military kids in Germany. Every single girls' program had an evening scheduled to watch the Court and Spark video, from our 10 and 11 year old Future Select athletes all the way to the girls and young women on our U.S. Youth and Junior National Teams.

I can tell you that, at all levels, the response was terrific.Players were mesmerized and inspired by your journey and learned so much about the possibility of playing overseas and for Team USA. They saw the faces of our National Team athletes and staff and have new players to root for when they have the opportunity to watch Team USA play. The athletes and the coaches laughed with you and cried with Kristin and asked lots of intelligent questions about all things volleyball.

USA Women's Junior National Team

All I can say is that it was a huge success, and I really appreciate everything you all did to create this video and allow us to show it to all of our High Performance athletes.

Our deepest thanks to Denise and to all her staff, athletes and parents at USA Volleyball High Performance!

Court & Spark—winner of the Platinum Award at the 2014WorldFest Houston Film Festival—is an Official Selection at the 2014 Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs. Court & Sparkwill screen Saturday, October 18, at 1:15PM in the Summit Ballroom of the Colorado Springs Antler’s Hilton Hotel. Find more details at the Official Film Festival website.

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Washington alum Courtney Thompson is home after Team USA wins World Championships

October 30, 2014, 4:34 pm

≫ Next: Court & Spark honored at 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

≪ Previous: USA Volleyball High Performance Program praises Court & Spark

Star of “Court & Spark” is part of USA Women’s first-ever gold medal team

[This article, by Jack Hamann, first appeared in the October 17, 2014 Seattle Times]

Courtney Thompson of the U.S. serves during the Women’s World Championships final against China on Sunday.
Photo by Dino Panato / Getty Images

Courtney Thompson and her USA Volleyball teammates stood on the podium Sunday in Milan, Italy, flowers in their arms and medals around their necks. At the World Championships awards ceremony, they turned in unison for the raising of the colors. But, for the first time in one of the three major international women’s volleyball competitions — Olympics, World Cup and World Championships — the flag and anthem were from the USA.

“It was surreal,” says Thompson. “Gold medals and ‘The Star Spangled Banner’.”

Although volleyball was invented in America — and although American men have won several golds at their three international majors — the women had been frustrated for more than 50 years. They’d won plenty of silvers, including at the past two Olympics. Thompson, a former Washington All-American setter and captain of the 2005 NCAA championship team, has been on the USA roster since 2006. She was one of those who stood on the silver medal platform in London. The U.S. ended that competition listening to the Brazilian national anthem — again.

But not Sunday in Milan. “After the ceremony,” Thompson said, “we all went to the hotel and ordered pizza, lots of pizza. We were there for hours, all night long, toasting our teammates and coaches, telling stories, listening to music, dancing like crazy. Over and over, we talked about how humbling it was to be the first to get the gold. I mean, so many incredible athletes came before us and never had this chance.”

Assistant coach Marv Dunphy, a volleyball legend whose long resume includes coaching the 1988 men’s gold medal team in Seoul, gave the toast that moved Thompson most.

“Marv told us that those of us in that room now have a bond that we’ll never lose the rest of our lives,” she said. “He said many of us will go on to other great things, but there will never be a volleyball experience as special as that pizza all-nighter with those who know best how hard it was to get there.”

How hard was it? Despite winning its first seven matches of this 24-team, three-week tournament, USA lost to host Italy and Brazil, and was headed home unless the Italians could beat two-time defending champion Russia.

“It was the weirdest day ever,” Thompson remembers. “I was angry and frustrated that we put ourselves in that position.” Although the team had the match on TV at the hotel, Thompson couldn’t bear to watch, even as Italy prevailed.

But that “weird” day might have been key.

“Coming that close to being eliminated made us hungrier,” says Thompson. “I’m sure that was a big part of why we put it all together beating Brazil (in the semifinals) and China (in the finals).”

Thompson is back in Seattle, but for just a quiet day or two with family. That’s because volleyball is a full-time job. Like about two dozen former Washington players, she’s paid to play professionally overseas. Her entire team, Volero Zurich, drove to Milan to watch her win the gold. She’ll rejoin them in Switzerland early next week for a season that stretches to the next USA National Team season in June.

The next big test? That would be the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

Does Thompson expect the Brazilians to be fired up after losing to USA this week?

“I certainly hope so,” she says, chuckling. “We’ll be fired up, for sure. And what athlete doesn’t want to play their best when the competition is also playing their best?

“I can’t wait.”

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Court & Spark honored at 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

October 31, 2014, 4:04 pm

≫ Next: “Jam the Gym” blog features Courtney Thompson

≪ Previous: Washington alum Courtney Thompson is home after Team USA wins World Championships

Documentary wins Audience Award for Best Sports Feature

The screening had concluded. It was time for questions from the audience.

“How,” one man asked, “were you able to convince Courtney Thompson to let you do this documentary?”

At the 7^thAnnual Indie Spirit Film Festival in Colorado Springs, there were plenty of questions after Court & Spark’scredits rolled. Most centered on technical and creative details of producing the program in Poland and in California. Several others were about Courtney and her life as a professional and Olympic athlete.

In the end, we were honored that Court & Spark received the Audience Award as the festival’s Outstanding Sports Documentary. Our deepest thanks, and our continued gratitude to all who contributed to the documentary’s success.

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“Jam the Gym” blog features Courtney Thompson

November 20, 2014, 5:31 pm

≫ Next: National Team | Courtney Thompson is a two-time Olympian

≪ Previous: Court & Spark honored at 7th Annual Indie Spirit Film Festival

“Court & Spark celebrates volleyball and showcases Courtney’s effervescent personality”

This week’s Jam the Gymblog features an interview with Courtney Thompson. As co-producers of Court & Spark, we’re grateful for the nice shoutouts.

A few excerpts:

You can'twin without a Courtney Thompson. Courtney is the volleyball equivalent of the hockey "grinder", not afraid to go into the corner and take a hit to make a play, not afraid to take a beating in front of the net to screen the goaltender.

She was also the subject of a beautifully filmed documentary called "Court and Spark". "Court and Spark" celebrates volleyball and showcases Courtney's effervescent personality. It has been passed around our team this year to rave reviews!

Ellen and I are huge fans of Court and Spark! We just love how it was shot and how it celebrates volleyball and life.

Please see the entire interview at Jam the Gym.

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National Team | Courtney Thompson is a two-time Olympian

July 14, 2016, 3:30 pm

≫ Next: National Team | Karch Kiraly says Rio “will be the best volleyball Olympics ever”

≪ Previous: “Jam the Gym” blog features Courtney Thompson

Courtney Thompson is now a two-time Olympian as Karch Kiraly takes three setters on his roster

USA women are headed to Rio with a squad that includes four two-time Olympians

Courtney Thompson is returning to Rio.

Thompson, the most accomplished woman athlete in the history of Washington athletics, was one of 12 women who made coach Karch Kiraly’s final cut for the 2016 Olympic Games next month.

Here are the twelve women who will represent the USA in Rio:

OUTSIDE HITTERS: Jordan Larson (Nebraska), Kim Hill (Pepperdine), Kelsey Robinson (Tennessee/Nebraska)
MIDDLE BLOCKERS: Foluke Akinradewo (Stanford), Rachael Adams (Texas), Christa Dietzen (Penn State)
OPPOSITES: Karsta Lowe (UCLA), Kelly Murphy (Florida)
SETTERS: Alicia Glass (Penn State) Courtney Thompson (Washington), Carli Lloyd (California)
LIBEROS: Kayla Banwarth (Nebraska)

Courtney Thompson

Four players on the Rio roster were also on the 2012 silver medal team in London: Thompson, Larson, Akinradewo and Dietzen. Washington’s Tama Miyashiro, a libero, was also on the London roster, but was limited this Olympic quad by injuries.

Former Washington All-American Krista Vansant, an outside hitter, is one of eight players named as USA Olympic alternates.

Every player on the Olympic roster also plays professionally for top clubs overseas. During the past quad, Thompson has been a setter in Łódź, Poland, Zurich, Switzerland and for the top club in Rio de Janeiro.

Thompson was on the roster when USA won its first-ever World Championship in 2014. USA women have never won Olympic gold, earning silver in 1984, 2008 and 2012.

USA’s first match of 2016 Olympics is August 6 against Puerto Rico. Other teams in USA’s pool are Netherlands (August 8), Serbia (August 10), Italy (August 12) and China (August 14). Brazil and Russia are among the teams in the other half of the preliminary pool.

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