School has started!

Hello Bronco Fans!

Santa Clara University is back in full swing with today being the 1st day of classes for the fall quarter. We had a 'Welcome Weekend' Pep Rally for the freshmen to welcome them to SCU. It was a great start to the quarter as we had over 1,500 freshmen attend. Assistant Coach Leigh Gregory got the crowd fired up before the Women's Basketball team performed a dance routine that was inspired by their summer workouts with the Strength & Conditioning coach, Joe Siara. It was a huge hit with the new Santa Clara students!

Last time I updated you, J.R. had her baby and both are doing very well. With J.R. out for a little while, we have a new assistant coach that has come in to help us right away. Tamara Inoue (prounounced like 'in the way') comes to us from Austrailia where she spent the last 4 years coaching the Melbourne Roos. Tamara brings even more knowledge and energy to our great staff, along with some technology savvy and a fun accent (even though she is an American!)

With everything that has been going on, we managed to find time to organize a team retreat out in Capitola (near Santa Cruz). We got to stay at an amazing beach house that was right on the Capitola Pier and looked out directly upon the ocean. Tamara and Leigh organized our very own 'Amazing Race' where we divided the team up into 3 groups of 5 and gave them different clues/challenges throughout Capitola. Once we finished the race, I explained to the team we had done this challenge to show them that everyone plays a part in our team. Whether it was Lena serving up ice cream while everyone tried to find a reluctant customer or Alyssa, Liz, and Kimee racing out in the ocean to find a clue, we are all part of a team and each one of us is an 'Essential Piece' of the puzzle. That goes for all our friends, family members, teachers, and fans too. You are all an 'Essential Piece' to our season and we need you to come out and support us throughout the season.

Speaking of supporting us thoughout the season, we have finally released our schedule for the 2008-09 Season and are really excited for it. We are going to be facing some tough competition but it will help us come post-season play. Some of the non-conference schools we will be facing at home are Minnesota, Boise State, Nevada, and West Virginia. On the road we face Utah, UCSB, UC Davis and possibly the University of Miami in the Miami Tournament over Thanksgiving.

One last thing that I would like to mention is that Santa Clara University's very own Tracey Walker is playing professionally over in Iceland. Tracey joins Ashley Graham and Yasemine Kimyacioglu who are both currently playing professionally overseas. For more on Tracey, read here http://santaclarabroncos.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/spec-rel/090508aab.html

Hurry up and get involved in the 1st Annual Women's Basketball Golf Tournament! Only 2 weeks away! Contact Blake Malcolm for more detail or if you would like to join...408-554-5018