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Post by miamiink on Nov 9, 2006 15:18:25 GMT -5
Why would I be joking? Plenty of players matching her ability have made the transition to any outside (please don't limit an outside attacker being on the left only) and have done very well. We are talking about pure ability and if you're an athlete then your body knows how to adapt to higher levels of play once you are exposed to that level. How do you think players get better? You think if USC played in the junior college circuit and then played in the PAC they would win? No the level of play improves game and overall ability. OUTSIDE? You're joking, right? |
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Post by Phaedrus on Nov 9, 2006 15:24:07 GMT -5
I think we need to keep in mind that ball control is wicked hard at an international level. The USA outsides that I have seen, albeit with the second team, didn't show me a whole lot of ball control for the international level AND they weren't hard enough hitters nor smart enough hitters to succeed at that level. I don't see too many college players ready to pass and hit at that level. Why is this so? I don't know, if I did USAV would be paying me beaucoup bucks to be their consultant. Well, maybe not.
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Post by USAFAN on Nov 9, 2006 16:39:34 GMT -5
I haven't seen her play much but does anyone see Shonda Cole being able to contribute once she graduates?
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Post by Gatorboy on Nov 9, 2006 16:58:10 GMT -5
Why would I be joking? Plenty of players matching her ability have made the transition to any outside (please don't limit an outside attacker being on the left only) and have done very well. We are talking about pure ability and if you're an athlete then your body knows how to adapt to higher levels of play once you are exposed to that level. How do you think players get better? You think if USC played in the junior college circuit and then played in the PAC they would win? No the level of play improves game and overall ability. OUTSIDE? You're joking, right? I think there are non-athletic people who can become skilled at volleyball, and players whose athleticism supercedes their volleyball skill. So if we're talking about pure ability to actually maneuver around the court, like you say, miamiink, then Adams isn't your girl. I don't know if her body has the ability to "adapt to higher levels of play." Genetics. |
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Post by miamiink on Nov 9, 2006 17:23:16 GMT -5
I can understand your point about some players. But to be fair can you tell me your knowledge of Emily Adams and how much have you seen her play through high school, club, anything really? This is not a challege in any way. I am just trying to say that I've had the pleasure of watching many of her matches. The progress made between the years has been pretty great. I think it's great to know that she gives her change away to the homeless too, but regarding volleyball I think you may have counted this player out when you may not really know how good she is and can be. And not to enlarge her ego in any way, but she may be a real talent for the USA. Her father performed at a very high level, as well as, her brother for Santa Barbara. The girl is a 3 time first teamer with two National Championships. Yes she shares those accolades with many, but doesn't that tell you something about potential? Why would I be joking? Plenty of players matching her ability have made the transition to any outside (please don't limit an outside attacker being on the left only) and have done very well. We are talking about pure ability and if you're an athlete then your body knows how to adapt to higher levels of play once you are exposed to that level. How do you think players get better? You think if USC played in the junior college circuit and then played in the PAC they would win? No the level of play improves game and overall ability. I think there are non-athletic people who can become skilled at volleyball, and players whose athleticism supercedes their volleyball skill. So if we're talking about pure ability to actually maneuver around the court, like you say, miamiink, then Adams isn't your girl. I don't know if her body has the ability to "adapt to higher levels of play." Genetics. |
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Post by ooreo46 on Nov 9, 2006 21:55:27 GMT -5
Whatever happened to Jane Collymore? And Kim Glass? I think they could do some damage on the outside. Good size, wingspan, and they both can play backrow. With a little training and conditioning, hell, that's a pretty good duo.
I think the chances that Kim and Logan coming to play for the national team is looking slim. I think Kim is totally in it for the money (I don't blame her) so she goes overseas to play in the pro leagues and Logan seems like she wants to try out new things (hence her appearance in beach volleyball) and break away from the same ol' routine.
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Post by blastingsand on Nov 9, 2006 22:05:43 GMT -5
I think its just hard for the US to really get these girls to join the team. Seeing that its not really promising. And the idea (that someone here had) to move the training center to Anaheim is the best thing the US team can do right now.
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Post by brybry on Nov 9, 2006 23:48:54 GMT -5
Whatever happened to Jane Collymore? And Kim Glass? I think they could do some damage on the outside. Good size, wingspan, and they both can play backrow. With a little training and conditioning, hell, that's a pretty good duo. I think the chances that Kim and Logan coming to play for the national team is looking slim. I think Kim is totally in it for the money (I don't blame her) so she goes overseas to play in the pro leagues and Logan seems like she wants to try out new things (hence her appearance in beach volleyball) and break away from the same ol' routine. Collymore was an option for the WC, but I believe Lang Ping elected to go w/ Wilkins. I'm not certain Collymore will be able to terminate at the highest level. Her ball control skills are already suspect. We'll have to see how Glass develops. It's doubtful that she'll become a premium ballhandler but at least she's competing in pro leagues. The best for the US (after Tom and Willoughby) would be Barboza and maybe Larson. They need to start training w/ the team this summer tho. I think we need to end this Emily Adams thread. She was a terrific collegiate player. She displayed some nice skills to go along w/ her hitting and blocking. She could set a nice ball. Had a nice serve. And could pick up some sweet digs. But come on. She is too slow for the international game, especially at the outside position. I could see Adams being brought in as a back up MB or RS. She would mostly then be used as a blocking sub for the setter late in the game. But middle blockers at the international level are super quick. Actually, everyone is super quick. There's only a few slowish players I can remember. Brazil had Erika "Filo" Bodziak playing at OH. The setters were smart enough to accommodate her and not set her unless she had ample time to get back to swing. Anyhow, doesn't Adams have political ambitions? |
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Post by OverAndUnder on Nov 10, 2006 10:34:17 GMT -5
The most important skill for any OH is the speed and agility to ADJUST to all the desperation sets they will be getting over there. Adams was an NCAA force, but the idea of putting her on the left side and expecting her to move fast enough to put the ball down at the international level...? oooookayyyy....
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Post by miamiink on Nov 10, 2006 13:19:59 GMT -5
Why is the OH position the only option? What about right side? She has really great hands and incredible ball control. She can bang the slide and is a great blocker. Anyway, none of you know Emily and her ability besides what you can see from her college career. Is it so hard to understand that being around a sport more than half of your life probably means she honed her other skills in the process? One of her matches back in high school she garnered 22 digs in a match. Yes it was high school, but to attain a number so high in a match I think you might have to have some ball control. In the end it's not even up to anyone here. Jenny knows what she is doing. I trust her judgement, but the USA program needs to keep all the top players in our country as an option to even make a chance at the Gold. The most important skill for any OH is the speed and agility to ADJUST to all the desperation sets they will be getting over there. Adams was an NCAA force, but the idea of putting her on the left side and expecting her to move fast enough to put the ball down at the international level...? oooookayyyy.... |
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Nov 10, 2006 14:31:45 GMT -5
emily adams (who fwiw i thought was an outstanding middle in college) at OH for the nat'l team simply contradicts all the talk that has gone on this thread of getting outside hitters with solid all-around games -- who can pass and hit at the highest int'l levels. if the current crop of outsides who are with the nat'l team aren't cutting it, then i'd certainly think that a converted middle (even an all-american middle) won't cut it either....
tom and willoughby for whatever their reasons have left or never gone to the nat'l team... part of me thinks that the egos need to be pocketed a little to get them in a U.S. uniform....
and in any case, beside tom and willoughby, there have been a number of outside hitters out of college that could potentially fill the roles needed on the team -- what of the likes of burdine, ross, kahumoku? there are definitely others, but you get the picture. it'd be interesting to know if there's been any effort to bring these players to the training center.
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Post by miamiink on Nov 10, 2006 14:42:59 GMT -5
Kahumoku? That must be a misprint. She was a good college player, but not in the international league of players in the least. Burdine is too small and is built for the beach. I think she'll do really well on the beach. Ross already had a chance with the national team, but left with Adams. emily adams (who fwiw i thought was an outstanding middle in college) at OH for the nat'l team simply contradicts all the talk that has gone on this thread of getting outside hitters with solid all-around games -- who can pass and hit at the highest int'l levels. if the current crop of outsides who are with the nat'l team aren't cutting it, then i'd certainly think that a converted middle (even an all-american middle) won't cut it either.... tom and willoughby for whatever their reasons have left or never gone to the nat'l team... part of me thinks that the egos need to be pocketed a little to get them in a U.S. uniform.... and in any case, beside tom and willoughby, there have been a number of outside hitters out of college that could potentially fill the roles needed on the team -- what of the likes of burdine, ross, kahumoku? there are definitely others, but you get the picture. it'd be interesting to know if there's been any effort to bring these players to the training center. |
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Post by Cubicle No More ... on Nov 10, 2006 15:06:00 GMT -5
Kahumoku? That must be a misprint. She was a good college player, but not in the international league of players in the least. Burdine is too small and is built for the beach. I think she'll do really well on the beach. Ross already had a chance with the national team, but left with Adams. emily adams (who fwiw i thought was an outstanding middle in college) at OH for the nat'l team simply contradicts all the talk that has gone on this thread of getting outside hitters with solid all-around games -- who can pass and hit at the highest int'l levels. if the current crop of outsides who are with the nat'l team aren't cutting it, then i'd certainly think that a converted middle (even an all-american middle) won't cut it either.... tom and willoughby for whatever their reasons have left or never gone to the nat'l team... part of me thinks that the egos need to be pocketed a little to get them in a U.S. uniform.... and in any case, beside tom and willoughby, there have been a number of outside hitters out of college that could potentially fill the roles needed on the team -- what of the likes of burdine, ross, kahumoku? there are definitely others, but you get the picture. it'd be interesting to know if there's been any effort to bring these players to the training center. it's really easy to say this player won't work or that player is not good enough. but how do we really know until the player has gone to the nat'l team... but not just go and train, but also to really stick it out? kahumoku has continued to play in various leagues abroad -- so it shows that she's certainly more than just a "good college player." as for burdine's size -- i'm not sure what to make of this comment -- i think she's a typical size for an OH (6'1"), and other countries have shown that even an undersized hitter can hack it at the int'l level. but all that is beside the point... my point in bringing up those names was that those players displayed the skills (in college) that can/has helped them keep playing (after college). i'd like to see them give significant time with the team, so we can see what they can do... and other players too, not just the ones mentioned above. what have we got to lose? at worst, we throw some good players into the mix and it doesn't work out. at best, we find some players who can handle the team's passing. |
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Post by roy on Nov 10, 2006 15:26:26 GMT -5
it's really easy to say this player won't work or that player is not good enough. but how do we really know until the player has gone to the nat'l team... but not just go and train, but also to really stick it out? kahumoku has continued to play in various leagues abroad -- so it shows that she's certainly more than just a "good college player." as for burdine's size -- i'm not sure what to make of this comment -- i think she's a typical size for an OH (6'1"), and other countries have shown that even an undersized hitter can hack it at the int'l level. but all that is beside the point... my point in bringing up those names was that those players displayed the skills (in college) that can/has helped them keep playing (after college). i'd like to see them give significant time with the team, so we can see what they can do... and other players too, not just the ones mentioned above. what have we got to lose? at worst, we throw some good players into the mix and it doesn't work out. at best, we find some players who can handle the team's passing. I agree with mia to some extend. Kahumoku was more than a "good" player. She is a 3 time AA. However I do agree that she probably isn't national team material. She is good, but I feel her game is better suited to the beach game. She has a great shot selections and some of her game translates better to pro beach than international indoors. I feel the same with Ross. Great player but her game just seems to look more comfortable on the beach. I think Burdine is actually a good choice to look at for the national team. Personally, I like her indoor game and I think if she trained hard, her game would translate better to an indoor game. But to each their own. As others have said, I think Willoughby is probably the best option aside from Tom. Those 2 are the only ones who I think could step in without a glaring weakness. Ogonna is great but isn't a passer. Others like Wilkins and Collymore may be ready with another year or 2 of international experience. Its a hard call because I haven't seen them since they played in college so its hard to tell how their game has developed. |
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Post by KO7 on Nov 10, 2006 15:38:12 GMT -5
Can someone fill me in as to why Penn State elected to use Alisha Glass as a setter instead of OH? Reason I ask is because I would've thought she would eventually be able to compete on the world stage as an OH.
Sorry for going slightly off-topic.
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