Specialization in USA

[cardfan15]

John Cook just said it himself on the broadcast of the OU-NU match....he said the fact that Jordan Larson is a successful front row and back row player makes her UNIQUE in NCAA volleyball. An arguement for the terrible trend in american volleyball. Isn't an ability to play in the front row and back row a fundamental skill of volleyball??? Where did we go wrong?!?!

[GatorVball]

15 substitutions, for starters, though I do think the way he worded Unique makes it seem like there's only 1 player who plays well front and back. Are there as many who play well all around as in the past? Nope, but the rules changes in the sport have led to that. Libero is another rule change that has led to specialization.

[cardfan15]

It was just his phrasing...he didn't word it to say that Larson is a unique player for x reasons, but that her ability to play in the front row and back row, and be successful, makes her UNIQUE in the highest league of volleyball in the United States.

Why are we not teaching all our girls to play all the way around...its really sad that the coach of the No. 1 volleyball team in the nation, in the most competitive league in the country, makes a statement like this and the truth is he's right. America doesn't play volleyball the way volleyball should be played.

[roofed!]

Watching the USC vs Arizona on tv, the commentators (Watson, McPeak and Kiraly) commented how Rubio was heaping praises on Whitney Dosty...that she has a world-class built and by the time she graduates, she'll be among the top 5 players.

Sure, that girl can jump and bang the ball (when she gets a perfect set), but she couldn't pass. She isn't even in the passing rotation, and that they have to use th eOpp (Randy Goodenough) to pass, and Goodenough is doing the passing duty for the first time in her career!

So there you have it: an athletic player who can jump and hit but cannot pass.

Btw, if Rubio couldn't develop Glass who was a more all-around player, I doubt that he could develop other Arizona hitters.

[jordan]

Sorry, the Pac 10 is by far the most competitive conference in the nation. You'll see when a Pac 10 school knocks Nebraska out of a regional final. Now it's time to make the predictions.

[GatorVball]

If she transfers or they hire a new coach, she might develop into that type of player

[jgrout]

The last middle Stanford had who played solidly in all six rotations was Barbara Ifejika, nine years ago. I think one of the reasons we see so few middles with the skill set for international volleyball... being able to pass and hit and dig and block... is that they are converted to opposite or outside hitter. It may depend on the player... Kerri Walsh wanted to become a hitter and picked a school (Stanford) that let her do it. Jen Joines stayed a middle.

[Chance]

I'm confused... Is he saying Jordan Larson is the ONLY american player in college right now who is very effective in both the front and back rows?

[roy]

We discussed this in another thread about the national team. Larson is very unique and in ways, I think its a bit scary that we are so amazed at her game and that she is a sophomore. To clarify, she is probably one of the top 10 (possibly top 5) all around players in the college volleyball. That doesn't reflect well on the rest of the nation.

Back in 2003, there was the "trifecta" of outsides in Cruz, Ross, and Willoughby. All 3 had a soild all around game. I believe one coach said Willoughby was a strong "5 point player" or something similar to that. The coach said that Willoughby was strong at every facet of the game, in passing, digging, serving, hitting, and blocking. I believe that holds true of all 3 of those players. Truthfully, Ross's game was more geared to beach volleyball and Cruz wasn't going to play for the US national team. In any case, we saw how strong all 3 were in terms of playing an all around game. They were the standards that were set for all other outside hitters that year. In years past, we had players like Tom, Walsh, Cross, Porter, etc., who were all looked at as being the standard for the outside hitter (of course at specific points in their career). Now, we are not seeing that as clearly. Larson is definitely one standard and I feel Richards of Stanford is definitely another. But we don't have a clear picture as we did in years past.

One factor that really bothers me is that even top teams don't have those all around players anymore. Whether or not they are becoming harder to find remains to be seen. But Hawaii, for example, has only one solid all around player in Hittle (who is injuried). I feel Mason and Arnott are a step below her but that is not really critical for this thread. Hawaii is subbing out their right side hitter and Houston is a secondary passer. The only main passing ouside hitter is Mason. And I am not only seeing this from Hawaii. A lot of other players are moving their outside and opposite hitters in and out with DS on top teams. I remember a time when some of the top teams were not subbing out at all if they didn't need to. Their outsides and opposites stayed in and played back row to dig and pass because they had that skill set. Now, it seems that those players are becoming more rare.

[Deleted]

Coaches are in love with the offensive potential of incomplete volleyball players. Apparently, this includes the NT.

Of course, if the complete players don't want to play for the NT...

But I'll say it again: Change the rules and the majority of these incomplete players don't play volleyball.

[bucky415]

I am not too worried about the specialization, as it does get more people the opportunity to play and can improve the quality of play. Penn State would provide an example. Fawcett is a great hitter and good blocker, but not great in the back row. Thus, having a DS come in for her will probably make the team and the quality of play better. She might develop into a strong back row player and play there later in her career, but for now they are better off with someone else there after she serves. The only problem is that you can burn your subs that way; that is where a good all around outside is a great thing to have. Don't get me wrong, every team would love to have two of those players, but the hitter who can just jump over people and bound the ball down makes the game more exciting as well. It would be great if all players could be good all around, but that just might not be possible. If you have to make a choice, I think focusing on what you can do really well is a good idea. I do think the libero and let serve have been good for the sport. It might not help internationally, but I am primarily a college volleyball fan, so I can live with that. How many players are going to play internationally, anyway? The goal for most players is to have a good college career, realistically.

[Wolfgang]

Ogonna has to be one of the best all-time "incomplete" players to ever play the collegiate game. Single-handedly captured the national title in 2004.

[holidayhusker]

What makes Jordan and Barboza unique is their ability to play every single position on the court with excellence. Great servers, hitters, and passers. Both also have great defensive instincts. Both world class players.

[Chance]

I like the current set up. I like seeing different people play, and i like a team's depth being relevant.

I don't like how soccer is mostly just the same 11 people all game, and i wouldnt like volleyball just being the same 6 people (and a libero) the majority of the game either. That's how international volleyball is, right?

[foreignball]

chance said:

I don't like how soccer is mostly just the same 11 people all game, and i wouldnt like volleyball just being the same 6 people (and a libero) the majority of the game either. That's how international volleyball is, right?

That's because you keep thinking FOOTBALL even when you watch something else