We played Costa Rica in our last match of pool play in the
PanAmerican Cup. We were the top team in the pool. They were the bottom. We hadn’t dropped a set
in the tournament. They had yet to win one. We killed them. And they…
...thanked us.
In the press conference after the match their coach thanked
us for playing with intensity. He said that’s something they always appreciate
about playing USA—we go hard, regardless of the opponent. Their captain smiled
despite the loss. Because her team was given the same respect as any of our
other opponents.
We’re currently the 2nd ranked team in the entire
world. We frequently get medals. We win the majority of the matches that we
play. And I’ll be honest with you—that’s really awesome. But what’s even more
awesome is that I can tell you that I, as an American, am proud to have this
group wearing the red, white and blue. I’m proud of the foundation we’re
building and what this team stands for and the way it comes out in how we play:
with respect, with passion, with discipline, with resilience and with love. And
I can’t think of a better way to represent our country and all it's people, than that…
