On the first weekend in November Simon (#8) traveled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia for the Mekong River International School Association (MRISA) Senior Volleyball Tournament. The Varsity boys and girls teams from SSIS joined seven other schools from Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand to compete for the MRISA championship.
Tim and Lisa also made the short trip to Cambodia to cheer on the team. The students were all billeted by the local students of the International School of Phnom Penh. The parents stayed in a hotel and had a fascinating ride to the school each morning in a Tuk-tuk with a Cambodian chauffeur.
Simon's team was undefeated throughout the round-robin and semifinal round. They were a fun team to watch and they played well together. Simon plays the front positions and because of a great setter and great passing, he often has opportunity to spike or tip the ball over the net. Unfortunately the SSIS team lost in the championship game to the host school, ISPP, for a 2nd place finish at the tournament. The girls team placed 4th overall.
We were very proud of this group of young men and women who supported each other, demonstrated the joy of playing volleyball, and were gracious in their defeat. We also appreciated the expert coaching and tireless efforts of the coaches throughout the season.
