Postcards From Asia: The Seed Is Planted

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Head Coach Log…

We are here in the Shanghai-PVG Airport, China. One hour to boarding. I look around and I see 20 young men from different backgrounds, with different academic interests, different abilities, talent, discipline and different primary reasons for making the agreement to operate as UC Irvine Men's Volleyball student-athletes. A few are napping. Two are sitting quietly. The majority are engaged in games of various sorts (one is trying desperately to figure out how to win in a four player game of Go Fish; five or so are laughing through a game of Skull; and three are rotating through the only Chessboard on the trip). A few others are spectating or providing color commentary. The energy is good. They know. This is a special group. This was an epic trip. And we are headed home.

Karl Apfelbach, Senior, Opposite

I can still vividly remember the first day as a member of the UCI men's volleyball family in September of 2014. Leaving Wisconsin, I had an idea of what I was getting into, but I had no idea how each season would impact the building of my character. I have had my ups and downs, but nothing makes you stronger than being down and then building yourself back up.

After five different seasons with five different starts, the image that comes to mind is of a seed, a small, fragile seed given the conditions and opportunities to grow. If it understands where it is starting, and the process to mature, it will immediately begin establishing roots before it tries to break the soil's surface. As the seed morphs into a surfaced plant, it feels like it is established enough to continue growing. But an unexpected drought hits, a setback that stunts its anticipated growth patterns. The young plant needs additional nurturing in order to reestablish and break through the ceiling that the drought created. It may take a season (or more) to figure out exactly what the new plant needs to continue growing, but when the ceiling finally breaks it will begin to grow and grow and grow.

Each season is a new beginning, and each season is another catalyst for more growth. Our mission statement "Cultivate Champions. Win Championships." is important. The order is important. Our time at Irvine is more than just volleyball. It's a time to find your limits and push them, fall down and get back up, shed some tears, die of laughter and most importantly appreciate those who gave you this opportunity to grow. As we close out our foreign tour through South Korea, Japan, and China, I want to say thank you for this experience. You couldn't experience a trip of this magnitude anywhere else. UC Irvine is a special place. Entering my fifth and final season no stone will be unturned and we will be challenged. We will have our ups and downs, but again ultimately establish new roots and grow as a team over the course of the next nine months. Everything will be left on the court, fighting for our common, collective objective of another UC Irvine men's volleyball National Championship.

Together We Zot,

Karl Apfelbach #16

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Postcards From Asia: The Seed Is Planted

Players Mentioned

Karl Apfelbach

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