Yeah, I know....the headline isn't very catchy but we have GREAT news nonetheles! Sting 17 Black MH, Richelle Ranney is heading to Western Michigan University to join the Broncos in 2011. WMU is an NCAA Division I institution located in Kalamazoo, MI. The city of Kalamazoo was originally the Village of Bronson. However, the eccentric Mr. Bronson apparently was once fined for stealing a cherry tree and they changed the name to Kalamazoo which is an Anglicized word from one of Michigans Native American cultures. That word is "Kikalamezo," meaning "Boiling Pot."

Etymology aside, all we really care about is that one of our own will call it home and we are very proud of you, Richelle. Great job!

After an important win at the Prep Volleyball Classic it would appear that our 14 Gold team was peaking at just the right time, and coming into the AAU Championships the number 5 seed overall we knew we were in for a fight. The girls continued their winning ways on Day 1 winning 3-2 set matches in almost a business like fashion. We knew it wouldn't get any easier than that, and the following days would prove to be some of the toughest challenges we've faced all year.

Day 2 we came out on top again holding our top spot in our pool, but doing so took 3-3 set matches. Day 3 started on a sour note and we put our backs against the wall losing to Delta Valley. With a little help from our Hawaiian friends we ended pool play that day in a 3 way tie for 2nd place and staring in the face of some challenge matches to see who would continue on the hunt for gold. First up, Hawaii, although many cell phone numbers were exchanged at the end of the tournament, our girls showed up and took care of business winning 25-16. Next, Delta Valley, the same team that had defensively wore us down earlier in the day. These girls looked this challenge dead in the eye (With our good luck charm Colleen donning her Martha Power wrist band) and came out on top 25-18. And so our hunt for Gold continues.

Day 4 and only 8 teams left in the hunt. Dave and Tracy had been telling the girls all season long to "Step Up" and they responded by scrambling to victory against a very solid OVA team in 3 sets 16-25, 25-23, 16-14 guaranteeing us some hardware and now it was just a matter of what color. The semi-final match was against Ponce Levoc of Puerto Rico, the overall 2 seed. We dominated the net play and dug all they could throw at us in set #1 winning 25-18. Sets 2 and 3 went Puerto Rico's way and we were proud to wear the Bronze Medals at the awards ceremony.

Everyone contributed in this complete Team Effort. Kelly, Jordan, Katherine, Michelle, Sydney, Rycki, Jo-Leigh, Jessica, Simone and Caitlyn played with such inspiring heart and determination. Coaches Dave and Tracy prepared this team physically and mentally and their success will be long remembered. A special congratulations to Simone Lee and Rycki Ebert for being named to the AAU All-American Team!

One last thing...AAU...WE'LL BE BACK!!!!!!!

Milwaukee Sting 17 Black headed back to Milwaukee with some hardware. After returning home from New Orleans earlier this season with 2nd place medals, 17 Black had one more goal to accomplish, and that was to return home from Orlando with another medal. After three months of practice, 17 Black accomplished this goal! Starting the tournament off the coaches made small goals each day to lead us to the ultimate goal.

These goals included winning our pool on day one, which we succeeded to do. The next goal was to win our pool on day 2, but we fell a bit short of this goal taking second in our pool behind Lions 17 Red (who also went on to make the gold bracket). Losing to them meant we all had to push one another and win our pool the next day against even tougher competition. Let's just say it was not the easiest pool, we started off the day facing Team Sting out of Alabama, and we really wanted to beat them because they had the same name as us! We took game one from them and had confidence going into game two, but we lost the second. We tried to battle our way to victory that third game but we lost by a few points. After that tough loss we had to face Wisconsin Juniors 17-1's right away. We played our hearts out, with the motto "win to stay in" and beat them in two games! With one more match win were guaranteed at least 2nd place in our pool, we just had to beat Legacy 17 Wave. As we all know 17 Black likes to make the match interesting and take every match to three games. We succeeded by beating Legacy in three games, knowing that if we beat them we would have to have a challenge match later in the day to make the gold bracket. BUT WAIT!!!! Wisconsin Juniors 17-1's had a major upset beating Team Sting in 3 games forcing a three way tie for 1st place!

After all our individual and team prayers, Scott came over to us telling us that we took 1st in our pool by 3/100ths of a point!! We were ecstatic to learn that for once we would be on the winning end of a tiebreaker scenario. Let's just say we were the loudest team in the gym and smiles were all across our faces, the coaches' faces, and the parents! We left the gym feeling pretty confident about the next day, and making our way to the sweet 16! Later that night we found out that we would face our own 17 White team in the first round of the gold bracket the following morning. We entered the gym treating them like any other team. Unfortunately after losing the first game, we all became nervous and knew we had to play as a team to win the next game. Playing as a team and making a few clutch plays led to a win by 2 points! One game to 15 points and we would be in the elite 8. We finished the match out strongly by winning 15-7!

Making it to the quarterfinals meant that we would play Team Momentum 17 Orange, which we knew nothing about! With the support of our fans; Pat and Colleen, 16 Black, and 17 White we took that match, also to three sets, and won! (Now you know we definitely like to get our money's worth and take every team to three games!!) Winning against Team Momentum guaranteed that we would be returning to Milwaukee with some hardware! In our next match, we fell short in semifinals to the #1 seed in the tournament, A5 out of Atlanta, but we were thrilled with our overall success and our place as one of the top finishers for Milwaukee Sting!

Knowing this quote, "A championship team is a Team of Champions," there is no doubt in my mind that Milwaukee Sting 17 Black returned to Milwaukee as Champions. Thank you for all your support fans and coaches! And most importantly... us 10 teammates could have not done it without one another! I know a lot of people are proud of us and we sure are a team of Champions!

Milwaukee Sting is proud to announce three new verbal commitments. Sting 17 White setter, Taylor Dunklau is heading east to New Hampshire in the fall of 2011. Sting 17 Black MH, Angie Bailey is also heading east to Tennessee where she will join the Pioneers of Tusculum College. Last but not least, Denver University is adding another Sting 17 Gold player to their roster in 2011. Frankie "You can call her FiFi" Carroll is heading to the mile high city.

When one has been around Milwaukee Sting for a long time, one learns things about our athletes. I would like to take a moment to share this little gem via YouTube. It's little FiFi Carroll doing her best impression of a lighter on her 2nd birthday. Oddly, that same bewildered look at 2 years of age is exactly the same as the one that can be seen from time to time at 17 years of age.

Congratulations to all three of you! We are very proud of you all.

The 2010 AAU National Championships wrapped up last Wednesday and when it was all said and done two Milwaukee Sting teams walked away with some hardware. First, in 14 Open, Sting 14 Gold took home the bronze hardware after a great run in Orlando. Sting 17 Black did the same in 17 Club. Congratulations to both teams! Hopefully, someone from those teams will submit pics and more in depth articles to be posted on the website....