2 for the Gold Olympics challenge: Cayden tries volleyball with the University of Tulsa women's team

2 for the Gold: Volleyball_20120730155221_JPG

Cayden and members of the TU women's volleyball team raise their hands together after a practice.
Photographer: Kiara Ealy
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

2 for the Gold: Volleyball_20120730155220_JPG

Cayden and members of the TU women's volleyball team share a laugh at Cayden's expense.
Photographer: Kiara Ealy
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

2 for the Gold: Volleyball_20120730155221_JPG

Cayden getting a lesson in volleyball from members of the TU women's team.
Photographer: Kiara Ealy
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Cayden plays volleyball with ORU girls


Photographer: KJRH
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Advertisement

Posted: 08/01/2012

Volleyball sounds like a nice leisurely game.

Just hit the ball over the net, and go back to the barbeque for a hot dog.

Yeah, not so much.

Whether it was on the beach, or in a gym class, just about all of us have played the game of volleyball. But not like the women of the University of Tulsa volleyball team.

That's who showed me the ropes - the two-time defending Conference USA champs.

Check out behind the scenes photos from our 2 for the Gold shoots. On your phone? Copy and paste bit.ly/bigalphotos into your browser.

Most of Team USA's roster has hitters that stand somewhere between 6-6 and 6-8, with vertical leaps  in excess of 40 inches.

Tulsa senior Tyler Henderson who stands, like me at just 5-11, says when it comes to being a big hitter, timing is everything.

"You know when to time it right, wherever the hitter is going to be at a certain point," Henderson told me. "That's how I'm able to jump over them if that's what you want to call it."

So how was my timing?

"It was a little rough," said Henderson.

Despite me being on the team, Henderson, a two-time conference player of the year, kept our team close, but I was of no help.

My final tally? Four shanks, two attack errors, and five less-than impressive kills.

As for the Olympic games, the USA men took gold in Beijing four years ago, upsetting top-ranked Brazil. They look to do so again in 2012.

And on the women's side, the Americans have never taken gold, but are ranked number one in the world right now, and favored to win it all in London.

Check out the video to see how I did. If you're reading this on your phone or iPad go to our Video section to watch us in action.

Also, don't forget to go to our Facebook page and vote for the event you'd like to see me or Big Al compete in.

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

  • Comments

Interactive Map for Isaac


  1. Tracking Isaac through the U.S.

    Tracking Isaac through the U.S.

    Isaac became a hurricane Tuesday as it's winds strengthened to 75 mph in the Gulf of Mexico. On Wednesday it was downgraded to a tropical storm as it proceeded over land. INSIDE | Interactive map, news, photo galleries, more

    Advertisement
     

    IMAGES of the Olympics


    1. London Olympics: Day 14

      London Olympics: Day 14

      Highlights of Day 14 of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

    2. Funny faces of Olympics divers

      Funny faces of Olympics divers

      Olympic divers concentrate on so many things during their routines - approach, execution, and elevation to name a few. And that focus shows on their faces. INSIDE | A look at the divers behind the faces of concentration.

    3. Hot bodies at the 2012 London Olympics

      Hot bodies at the 2012 London Olympics

      Olympians work hard and they have to the bodies to prove it. Check out photos of athletes competing at this summer’s Olympics.

    4. Day 13 at the Olympics

      Day 13 at the Olympics

      Diving, track & field, soccer and swimming makes a return, but not in the pool. Those events and more highlight Day 13 of the London Games.

    Also in the headlines


    1. 11 sets of twins at Afton Public Schools

      11 sets of twins at Afton Public Schools

      This year, Afton Public Schools had 11 sets of twins across its district. What makes this number interesting is there are just under 500 students at Afton, from grads PreK to 12th grade.

      • Some Lifeline phone customers face risk

        • 2nd possible homicide in Holdenville

          • Reward offered in bald eagle mutilation

            • 2013 Crawfest features Cajun cuisine

            • No injuries in multi-car accident

            Celebrity News


            1. Adam Sandler's maid rubbed…

              Adam Sandler's maid rubbed…

              ADAM SANDLER was recently horrified to discover his maid had been rubbing poison ivy all over his body as he slept as payback for having to handle the actor's dirty underwear.

              • Rooney Mara is new face of Calvin Klein

                • Billy Joel and Gloria Estefan to…

                  • Tim McGraw helps fainting fan at…

                    • Kim Kardashian fuels baby sex…