Last year we asked two freshmen to blog about the NCAA trip out to Washington St. We wanted to continue that special addition article for UDPride again this year. We receive the blogs when the players can work them in due to travel, practice and things like math tests from the road. But here is the first one and we will hopefully get the second one this week. These are both about the team’s journey to Waco for the first two rounds.

Hello UD Pride!

My name is Ella Joesting and I am a freshman DS from Prior Lake, Minnesota. As you probably already know, this volleyball program is something extremely special. I knew that coming into this program, hence the reason I committed. Still, I had no idea just how incredible this group of women would be. They are the most talented, hardworking, and determined people I’ve ever known. In this blog, I will share the ins and outs of the selection show watch party held on December 1st, 2024. I hope to give you all the details you need so you feel as though you were there for that remarkable experience right along with us.

The journey to the selection show began months ago as the team had been putting in countless hours of hard work to ultimately have a shot at a run in the tournament. After a disappointing loss to Loyola Chicago in the A10 championship, the team had a wake up call and took the loss as motivation going into the tournament. Due to the team’s unwavering success throughout the regular season, we thankfully knew that we would get an at-large bid which eased some of the nerves. Now, let’s get into the details of this amazing selection show watch party experience. The watch party was held at our local pizza restaurant, Milano’s. After practice, we all hurried over. Everyone was full of excitement as we entered the restaurant. Tables were arranged in a big U shape to fit as many people as possible. Red tablecloths along with balloons and of course, snacks were arranged along the tables. It was more than just the team and coaches there—our amazing support staff joined us too. Managers, trainers, videographers, photographers, our strength coach, practice players, and even family members filled the room. As we walked into the restaurant, you could feel the energy—smiles all around and excitement in the air. It was the perfect gathering of all the people who helped us get to this special moment.

In terms of pre-show emotions, there was lots of excitement, thankfulness, and tons of anticipation. Every person walked into the restaurant with a smile and an eagerness to find out where we would be headed the next weekend. Overall, there was a thankfulness for the opportunity to experience such a surreal moment with the people who know you better than anyone else. We all were giddy with anticipation before the show even started. We enjoyed our pizza and conversations while eagerly awaiting the clock to hit 6pm and the show to begin. Some people made up games to pass the time. Each of the players made predictions as to where, and who we would be playing. My personal guess was that we’d play Minnesota at Minnesota. Many others guessed that we would play at Mizzou or Kentucky. As 6 o’clock rolled around, everyone’s attention was drawn to the TVs as highlights of Division I collegiate volleyball set the tone for the night that we all had been waiting for.

The announcers began to read off the teams one by one. The upper left quadrant filled… no sign of Dayton. Then the bottom left quadrant filled… still no Dayton (although we thought we could possibly be in a spot in this section). Upper right began and the team was getting slightly more anxious as we knew that our time to be called had to be on the verge. One by one, the announcers continued. With each announcement, came sighs of many emotions. We all had so much pent up excitement just waiting to burst out as soon as we heard our name. Eventually, South Carolina was called and we held our breaths… “Next up, the DAYTON FLYERS…”.

Excitement exploded all around. Karissa jumped out of her chair and Lexi and Alia hugged. Joyous smiles filled every person in the room. Now, we knew that we would be going to Waco, Texas to compete at Baylor University for the first two rounds of competition. Karissa said it best, “We can actually do this.” That was the most surreal moment of the night. All the girls knew the hard work and dedication it took to get to this point and now that we could see the road to our goal, we were so ready to get to work.

As a freshman, this was such an unforgettable experience. Sitting next to Sydney Barrett, another freshman, I couldn’t help but feel in awe of everything. This is just the beginning of our team’s NCAA journey, and we’re so ready to get to work. Our seniors have left an indelible legacy on this program, and as underclassmen, we’re determined to carry it forward in the years to come. This night filled our team with drive and determination to finish the season with everything we have. Thank You, UD Pride. To all of you who support UDVB: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your energy, passion, and unwavering encouragement mean more than words can express. We’re excited to represent you and will give everything we’ve got in the weeks to come.

Let’s go Flyers!!