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September 2000
A new
volleyball season is about to start. Most of the players have
arrived and have already been training for a few weeks. There is
tension in the air while everyone waits for the uncertain
arrival of 2 Cuban players who will hopefully reinforce Team Despar
Sirio Perugia. For the team, their arrival signifies participation
in the play-offs and a shot at the Championship Cup. For some
players, their arrival means sitting the bench...or worse...
October 2000
The Cubans aren't coming.
"Chi c'è
c'è, chi non c'è non c'è" (Who's here is already here, who's
not here, s'not comin'). The Despar Perugia have to
make good with the players they have and the girls, ready to prove
themselves, start off strong winning the first two matches of the
season.
The team is stronger than was expected and the first
round passes in a hurry between well played matches won (Despar 3 -
Ravenna 0), and those, unexpectedly lost (Romanelli Firenze 3 - Despar
0). The Despar are "alle spalle delle grandi" (Up there with the big guns) writes Il Corriere
dell'Umbria.
After many long, hard training sessions and
matches, between The Italian Cup, The CEV Cup and League games, The Despar
take a short, well deserved break for Christmas and New Year's, to
recharge for the second round of the Championship, The Final Four of
the Italian Cup, and The Final Four of CEV Cup.
January 2001
Little after the beginning
of 2° Round of the Championship, Team Despar are already in
difficulty due to unexpected injuries and fatigue (characteristic of
the second half of the volleyball season), that the few days of rest
aren't able to relieve. A very strong match against Team Modena (Despar 3 - Modena
0) limits the damage caused by badly lost matches against
Team Napoli and Team Reggio Emilia, both teams who struggled in the
1° Round.
After a brief pause in 5° position, Team Despar
would rank 6° for the remainder of the Championship, behind a
threatening Team Vicenza who always seemed appear in the most
decisive moments for The Despar Perugia.
Championship 1° Round
Team Vicenza is ranked higher than Team Despar by only 2 points
Vicenza 3 - Despar 0
CEV Cup semi-final
Vicenza 3 - Despar 0
Championship 2°Round
Despar 3 - Vicenza 0
CEV Cup 2001-2002
Qualification Semi-Final
Vicenza 3 - Despar 0
And with that last match, The Despar Sirio
Perugia end another volleyball season. A year of many shining moments,
and others not so bright. We are not satisfied because there
will always be a "What if..." However, to give our
all, to do our best, is what they ask of us and all we ask of
ourselves.
My regrets for what I didn't do last season,
and my desire to do better in future Championships, are what drive me
to keep on playing this ever-changing game. I Love this
Game!!
See you next season,
Janis Kelly
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