Twas the Night Before Christmas: A USC Beach Volleyball Story

By Emily Young MA ‘16

Sharing our USC Beach Team Christmas Greeting from our family to yours! 

Twas the Night Before Christmas Poem: 

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the dorms
Not a creature was stirring, it wasn’t the norm.
The trophies were hung by Emily Martin with care,
In hopes that Coach Anna would soon be there.

The students were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of National Championships danced in their heads.
And Ali in her ‘kerchief, and Dain in his cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter’s nap.

When out on Figueroa there arose such a clatter,
Kelly D. sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, Katie flew like a flash,
Fuller tore open the shutters and threw back the sash.

When, what to Jack’s wondering eyes should he see,
But a woman in a golf cart, followed by beach volleyball players from USC.

With a golf cart driver, so lively and quick,
Marco knew in a moment it must be coach coming quick.
More rapid than eagles her coursers they came,
And coach Anna hollered, and shouted, and called her players by name!

Now Pearl, now Abril, now Katrina and Becca

Now Lorna, Now Jo, now Jenna, now Marielle, and Terese

Now Sophie, Now Allie, now Nic, now Kelly, and Sara

Now Pagie, Now Alexa, now Zoe, and Emily

To the top of the net

To the stop of the wall

Smash away, smash away

Bang that ball

So to the Merle Norman Courts the players all ran,
followed by a golf cart driven by a jolly ol’ woman.
Coach Anna puffed out her chest and was turning around,
Down the court she came flying and shouting plays out loud.

She was dressed all in red, from her head to her foot,
And her clothes were all tarnished with blood, sweat and soot.
A bundle of volleyballs she had flung on her back,
And she looked like a peddler, just opening her pack.

Her eyes-how they twinkled! Her dimples how merry!
Her cheeks were like roses, her nose like a cherry!
Her droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And her face full of sunscreen was as white as the snow.

The stump of a whistle she held tight in her teeth,
And her thick visor encircled her head like a wreath.
She had a broad face and a thin little belly,
That shook when she laughed, like a bowl full of jelly!

She was happy and dancing, a right jolly ol’ coach,
And we laughed when we saw her approach!
A wink of her eye and a twist of her head,
Soon the team did know they had nothing to dread.

Coach Anna spoke not a word, but went straight to her work,
And filled all the playbooks, then turned with a jerk.
And laying her finger aside of her nose,
And giving a nod, up the NCAA standings she rose!

She sprang to her feet, to her team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, to the court like a missile.
But I heard her exclaim, as she drove her golf cart out of sight
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

Merry Christmas from the USC Beach Team!

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