Cottonwood volleyball standout enjoys Hawaii trip

It has been just more than a month, but Jacie Habron’s excitement is still strong.

In fact, it may be just as high as it was when she arrived back home from a week-long all-star volleyball trip to Hawaii.

“It was amazing,” said the Cottonwood senior.

“I was excited to go over there. It is a once-in-a lifetime experience.”

Habron was in Hawaii to compete in the United States National Volleyball Championships, which ran July 7-15 in Honolulu. She was the lone player from Alabama at the eight-team event, which showcased the top 11th grade players in the U.S.

Habron is a setter for the Lady Bears’ volleyball team, which opens its 2008 season today at Geneva.

Last year, Habron earned 282 assists, 101 aces, 100 digs and 44 kills in 31 matches to help Cottonwood advance to the Class 2A sub-state round.

Habron’s Hawaii trip was set in motion when Danielle Brown, last year’s coach at Cottonwood, nominated her for the event.

Upon receiving back paperwork, Brown informed Habron of the potential trip.

Habron recalled exactly her reaction to Brown’s news.

“Hawaii?,”  Habron said, raising her voice for the question. “Oh my goodness.”

Brown said Habron had to raise money to pay off fees and expenses in order to make the trip. She was able to obtain some sponsors to meet that requirement.

On the court, Habron’s team in Hawaii finished second at the event, going 4-2 overall with one loss in pool play and one in the championship match.

“I learned so much,” Habron said. “It was fun to go over there and be with players from all over the states.”

Habron earned a spot in her’s team starting rotation, a feat she was proud to accomplish.

“I started every match and I   was happy to do that because you have only one practice to show all your stuff,” Habron said.

Overall in the six matches, Habron was pleased with her performance.

“I felt I did pretty good,” Habron said. “I gave it my all.”

She was particularly pleased with how she played in the championship match.

“Probably the best one I had was when we played the team that hadn’t lost and I had several good serves and good aces,” Habron said.

Prior to going on the trip, Habron had never met any of the other players at the event.

“It was tough getting to know them in the rotation since I had never played with them, but we got used to each use,” Habron said.

“It was a fun playing with them, a good experience.”

Jacie and her teammates were presented with two medals, one for participating in the event, the other for finishing in second place. They also received a boxed gold coin depicting the State of Hawaii Classic Invitational 2008.

Habron was the lone player from the southeast on the team that featured players from Wisconsin, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas, New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.

“Everybody knew that I was from Alabama,” joked Habron,  mocking her Alabama accent.

But the experiences didn’t stop on the court.

Habron also had plenty of opportunities to mingle with other players while enjoying the scenery and culture of Hawaii.

“I learned to surf,” Habron proudly stated. “We got some of the locals to show us how to do it.

“It was the first time I had ever done it and it was a lot fun. I thought it was pretty easy.”

They also got to take in other parts of Hawaii’s unique atmosphere and landscape.

“We went to three luaus and learned all the different cultures and what they eat.”

They also got to sightsee other parts of the area, including a visit to a planation where some of Hawaii’s pineapples are made.