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Post by Block Party on Nov 4, 2006 0:57:58 GMT -5
Must be having technical difficulties because it's one game apiece and they are just starting game three. Either that or this is their version of the infamous Heidi game - for us old school folks - lol |
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Post by Block Party on Nov 4, 2006 0:59:15 GMT -5
Game three
USA BRA
2 2
3 3
3 4
4 5
6 6
7 8 1st technical timeout
8 9
9 12
9 15 Lets go USA
9 17 Ouch
10 18
10 19
11 20
12 22
12 24
13 24
13 25 Brazil sweeps.
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Post by Block Party on Nov 4, 2006 1:32:04 GMT -5
From FIVB.org Match Description Brazilians down U.S. 3-0 Kobe, Japan, November 4, 2006 -- In a battle of the two unbeaten teams in Pool C on Saturday, Brazil came out on top with a convincing 3-0 victory over rivals the United States. Brazil looked comfortable throughout as they polished off the Americans 25-23, 25-21, 25-13 at Kobe's Green Arena. The Americans held the Brazilians off in the early stages thanks to some excellent blocking, but then the South Americans were sparked into action by a big Jaqueline Carvalho spike and a couple of U.S. errors, allowing Brazil to take an 8-6 lead into the first technical timeout. More U.S. errors allowed the Brazilians to increase their lead to 16-12 at the second TTO with Brazil's Sheilla Castro finding good early spiking form. The Americans closed the gap as they started to hold off Castro's big strikes with some outstanding defense, but with the scores at 23-23, Marianne Steinbrecher's fine crosscourt spike gave the Brazilians setpoint. Quick-thinking in the form of a first-time tipover by Carvalho after a long service reception by the Americans then wrapped up the set. The U.S. quickly fought back at the beginning of the second set with more inspired defense and a couple of big errors from Welissa Gonzaga and Carvalho. The U.S. pulled away to 12-8 but the introduction of Brazil's ailing captain Fafao steadied the Brazilian ship. Big spikes from Carvalho and good work by Gonzaga, as well as a strong serving spell by the same player, reversed the flow of the game and the Americans soon found themselves 13-17 down. Gonzaga and Castro then steered Brazil to safety and a 2-0 set lead. Gonzaga and Castro delivered a couple of monster spikes early in the third set, but the Americans were dogged in defense and only trailed by one point at the first TTO. That doubled to two after a thumping serve from Gonzaga and from that point on, the Brazilians were able to stretch their lead to 16-9 at the second TTO after the Americans started to get sloppy and had trouble dealing with Castro's serves. From then on, it was largely one-way traffic. Brazil captain Fafao's service into space gave her team matchpoint and Castro finished things off with another. www.fivb.org/vis_web/volley/WWCH2006/pdf/P2-043.pdfwww.fivb.org/vis_web/volley/WWCH2006/pdf/P3-043.pdf |
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Post by blastingsand on Nov 4, 2006 1:43:15 GMT -5
Aww. I'd feel more sad, but I truly do not know about 80% of the girls in our roster. So I'm not sure how good they really are.
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Post by roofed! on Nov 4, 2006 1:48:34 GMT -5
Not good when the OHs can't put the balls down!
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Post by cbrown1709 on Nov 4, 2006 1:50:33 GMT -5
Wow, we got our asses spanked in the 3rd set. Haneef only with 4 points. Our OHs really struggled throughout this one.
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Post by tnp101 on Nov 4, 2006 2:18:12 GMT -5
US just cannot pass anything. While down 23-24 in the first game, US overpassed the Brazilian serve and lost the point. 23-25.
The players are getting old, bring on the new ones. Brazil players are very young.
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Post by howdyhoes on Nov 4, 2006 3:53:39 GMT -5
maybe Brazil has a bunch of REALLY good volleyball players who are all pretty damn good on defense?
just a thought...
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Post by cardfan15 on Nov 4, 2006 4:05:50 GMT -5
Watched the game on CCTV5 in China, Brazil is good and America could be good too but we aren't. The outsides have to go. Crawford played the first game and did nothing...her sub was Wilkins. Wilkins came in and did...well...nothing. Its sort of embarrassing when your outsides look like well...college players. Even Haneef looks like she is in college compared to the likes of Sassa and Jacqueline. Sassa is so impressive to me. She is so explosive and plays with passion and fire.
Its too bad. USAVolleyball owes Bown, Ah Mow, and Scott a whole lot. If it weren't for them, wow, USA would be with the likes of Egypt and Korea. I never get enough of Bown. She always impresses with her presence on the court and doesn't look to be slowing down. I hope she will be in Beijing in 08. If the US can't get outsides that can pass and terminate, they will never do anything. Logan please come back!!!! LT would add so much to the team right now. If we had some outsides right now, we would be as dangerous as anyone.
As it is right now, the US is not a threat to the powerhouses of the world. In fact, I don't know if I would even consider the US in the top tier of teams anymore. Haneef, Wilkins, and Crawford must go. There is no other solution. I can understand how Lang Ping feels her hands are tied. In fact, during the telecast today, the camera panned over to a grimacing Lang Ping often. She has no other choice but to drop her head when USA plays like a bunch of collegiate players. In fact, the commentator made a comment today about the US team being composed of amatuers compared to Brazil.
On a side note, an interesting observation I made while watching the match. Lang Ping does not stay in the huddle after giving her comments...she leaves and the team shouts USA together. I think that is an interesting dynamic. Does anyone remember what Toshi did. I know these women are expected to be professional and it might not matter all that much, but it has to be a little weird when your coach won't stay in the huddle when you are shouting the name of the country you are representing. Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I thought her walking off at that time was a little awkward...
In simple terms, US can either get some outsides and have a chance of winning Olympic gold or keep Haneef, Wilkins, and Crawford and risk not making it out of group play...i hope we get some new OH's.
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Post by foreignball on Nov 4, 2006 4:21:36 GMT -5
e maybe Brazil has a bunch of REALLY good volleyball players who are all pretty damn good on defense? Brazilians are good in everything when it comes to vball. Just an example: their recent NT captain Valeskinha (worldclass MB 5’10”!) used to play primary passer for her club. BTW why it seems to me you guys are giving up on your girls? They lost against BRA (who are heavily favored to win the whole thing) and this is only a pool play. So far they got 2 wins against very tough teams (NED and KAZ) and are practically sure for the 2nd round. I got a chance to watch the game vs NED and I would say they did play well. Bown is really impressive (I think that right now she is playing even better than Scott), Haneef is also having good time, Metcalf and AhMow are also solid….the only issue that I saw was passing (sorry for beating the dead horse). Note when I say passing I mean the people who are supposed to do that with closed eyes (Drury and Davis). |
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Post by brybry on Nov 4, 2006 4:35:50 GMT -5
Who served as libero against Brazil? Drury. I'm not sure if she's the best serve receiver. Davis might be stronger. I wonder if she simply beat out Davis or if LP is mixing it up like she did w/ Lee and Davis in the last tournament.
Well, the US will need Tom, Willoughby and/or Barboza to join the team to be competitive w/ the top teams. However, I don't want to bag on Haneef to much. She's improved a lot since college. In no way should she be a primary passer, but she is out of necessity w/ all the one-dimensional players produced by the US. Ideally, Haneef and Metcalf would not be playing at the same time. So perhaps by the Olympics w/ the insertion of some strong outside hitters (hopefully), those two will be competing for OPP along w/ Ogonna.
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Post by tnp101 on Nov 4, 2006 4:42:19 GMT -5
In one long rally, Haneef looked tired and she couldn't even jump when hit. Just a little hop and hit over. She has no power compared to Gamova or Godina. She couldn't pass and they kept serving her. Lang Ping let her play all around. Really, the US should groom younger players now before the Olympics. They shouldn't stick with the veterans of this group. Or else they might not even make out of the first round.
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Post by MarsH on Nov 4, 2006 9:09:05 GMT -5
Lang Ping does not stay in the huddle after giving her comments...she leaves and the team shouts USA together. I think that is an interesting dynamic. Does anyone remember what Toshi did..... ...... Maybe I am reading too much into it, but I thought her walking off at that time was a little awkward... the US team under Toshi didn't really shout "USA" during timeouts. Usually, "Together", "Focus", "Finish", etc. But "USA"? Only at the start and end of the match with the team in the middle of the court. and yup. let's not overthink this  |
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Post by Ye Olde Dawg on Nov 4, 2006 9:52:49 GMT -5
The stats really point to troubles with serve receive. USA had 56% excellent (45 of 72 attempts); Brazil had 86%excellent (45 of 51). Haneef did somewhat better than Drury.
I didn't see any of the match. I would guess Brazil's serving was excellent -- and at the same time it sounds like the U.S. team needs to work on receiving serve.
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Post by cardfan15 on Nov 4, 2006 11:02:29 GMT -5
In one long rally, Haneef looked tired and she couldn't even jump when hit. Just a little hop and hit over. She has no power compared to Gamova or Godina. She couldn't pass and they kept serving her. Lang Ping let her play all around. Really, the US should groom younger players now before the Olympics. They shouldn't stick with the veterans of this group. Or else they might not even make out of the first round. I agree with the Haneef comment. Saw the rally...she ended up getting the rally-ending kill, but only because of a breakdown by the brazilian defense. Haneef hits with no power or placement. She just gets soft blocked, dug, then converted into a point for the other team. Haneef can't pass...she is not a threat. You have to have AT LEAST one threat on the outside and US has none. The way I look at it is this...there would be outrage...it would be completely unacceptable...for Haneef/Wilkins, Haneef/Crawford to be the OH combo for China, Brazil, Italy, Russia. Why is it acceptable for the US? Today Brazil not once looked/felt threatened by anything the US was doing. They would fall behind early by 4-5 points, but it was no big deal...why you ask...because just wait until Haneef is in the back row with Wilkins in the front, Haneef can't pass and Wilkins can't swing and Crawford is erratic. I think Bown and Scott are great. Bown is playing fantastic volleyball and Scott is no slouch either. Ah Mow is a capable setter. We do need to develop a better libero, but the real problem for the US is the OH position. Everyone knows it, every team exploits it, and until there is a change, we will be second tier. I haven't lost faith in team USA, just want them to be the world class team I know they can and SHOULD be. Bring back Logan for starters... |
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