Fråga mig...

It's been a tough start for Gislaved Volleyboll Klubb in the Elite Series. This year's team is vastly different from GVK Elites in the past. There are no expectations of championships, no pressures for one to be the league's best scorer. With such a young group of athletes, the focus lies on development. Every training session is an opportunity to get better: better touches, better movement, better confidence. Each match is a chance for us to be challenged, but also to challenge our opponents. The season opener was a wake-up. We are young, inexperienced in the elite series, but have a lot of potential. We cannot expect to overpower teams. Extensive scouting will do us no good. Our tactics must come from within. Control our side of the net. Know that our opponents can, and will, make mistakes. By minimizing our unforced errors, we can continue to whittle away point-by-point. 

Despite dropping two matches 0-3 against Svedala and Hylte/Halmstad, we have managed to gain respect in our opponent's eyes. And although we've lost our first three matches, we've continued an upward climb. Of course this year will not be without it's ups-and-downs. Patience is key. 

Jollan Åkerlund (7) and Mikaela Larsson (2) team up for a block
against Hylte/Halmstad's Danielle de Kovacs Lima 

ELITESERIES RANKINGS (as of 1 November):

1. Engelholm (3-0)

2. Lindesberg (3-0)

3. Svedala (2-0)

4. Hylte/Halmstad (2-1)

5. Sollentuna (1-2)

6. Katrineholm (1-2)

7. KFUM Göteborg (1-2)

8. RIG Falköping (1-1)

9. Örebro (0-3)

10. Gislaved (0-3)

GVK MATCH INFORMATION:

16 Oct against KFUM Göteborg, 2-3: 25-21, 25-19, 21-25, 23-25, 12-15.
MVP: Jollan Åkerlund

Stat Leaders: GVK Sanna Schultz (16 kills, 1 ace), Meghan Sherman (11 kills), Lisa Tannerfalk (4 kills, 4 blocks), Jollan Åkerlund (4 blocks, 1 kill); Göteborg Lisa Westby (15 kills, 2 aces), Ellinor Nilsson (9 kills, 1 block, 4 aces), Alma Skarrie (5 blocks)

18 Oct at Svedala, 0-3: 13-25, 16-25, 18-25.
MVP: Meghan Sherman

Stat Leaders: Svedala Holly Franks (19 kills, 2 blocks), Autumn Wedan (13 kills, 2 blocks), Marissa Collins (3 blocks); GVK Meghan Sherman (7 kills, 1 block, 1 ace), Lisa Tannerfalk (2 blocks, 1 kill, 1 ace)

25 Oct against Hylte/Halmstad, 0-3: 20-25, 22-25, 18-25
MVP: Meghan Sherman

Stat Leaders: GVK Sanna Schultz (9 kills, 1 ace), Jollan Åkerlund (4 aces, 2 blocks); HH Danielle Kovacs de Lima (12 kills, 2 aces, 2 blocks), Megan Devine (11 kills), Christina Alessi (10 kills, 2 blocks)

Meghan Sherman (6) attacks against KFUM Göteborg

GVK UPCOMING MATCHES:

*home matches in BOLD

5 November at Hylte/Halmstad

9 November at Lindesberg

12 November vs Svedala

15 November vs Engelholm

22 November at RIG Falköping

29 November vs KFUM Göteborg