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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:32:44 GMT -5
Post by wiscvball on Nov 15, 2006 10:32:44 GMT -5
I just hope both teams play well... too often when these teams play in Madison one will hit .160 and the other .120 and it'll be an ugly 5-game match with lots of errors on both sides.
Dolgner's pretty much been on fire since her debacle (13k/13E) up in Minneapolis, so I'm sure she wants to have a better showing at home in front of the fans, and the team should have something to prove after getting swept there.
Keys will be 1) Wisconsin's serving... can they force the gopher's out of system with their long range bombs. They'll have plenty of room to back up and let it rip at the fieldhouse.
2) Can Wisconsin's middles play at least as well as Minnesota's? They weren't really close the last time.
3) Can Minnesota's outsides consistently terminate against the Badger block. They could in Mpls, especially Cumpston, but they have been inconsistent all season. If they have an off night, it could be over quick agaist the Badgers.
4) Wisconsin's outsides will need better production than they got in Minnesota. Dolgner can't have 13 hitting errors and needs to be smarter hitting the out of system shots against the Gophers - they are one of the rare teams that still puts up at least 1 blocker on out of system plays instead of everyone dropping off in transition.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:36:26 GMT -5
Post by ugopher on Nov 15, 2006 10:36:26 GMT -5
I'm hanging my hopes on "rarely"!
Although, MN did win at WI in 02 and 03, both 5 game matches. When WI won in 04 and 05 they needed 5 games to do so. So, MN has good reason to be optimistic as well.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:39:41 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 10:39:41 GMT -5
I think wiscvball's first point, about the serving, will be the most important one. The Gophers have struggled with the loooooooooooong float serves in the FH in the past.
I won't be surprised by any outcome _except_ a Badger blowout.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:40:49 GMT -5
Post by ugopher on Nov 15, 2006 10:40:49 GMT -5
MN's outsides will be key. If they can get points from their outsides it will force WI away from concentrating on the middles. Of course, passing will be big in this. Hartmann needs to be able to have options. It will also help if Nelson can rip off 18 straight points like she did against NW!!!
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:43:03 GMT -5
Post by wiscvball on Nov 15, 2006 10:43:03 GMT -5
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 10:48:25 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 10:48:25 GMT -5
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 11:35:29 GMT -5
Post by Gorf on Nov 15, 2006 11:35:29 GMT -5
I have my disguise ready. I'm still not sure if I'm Sven or Olaf at this point though. The tricky part is keeping (R)uffda! convinced that I'm giving him a ride to the bus launch location. When he finally notices that his clock has passed the time for the bus to leave the launch location he'll get the hint.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 11:37:13 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2006 11:37:13 GMT -5
I thought the bus was picking me up?!
You guys are SO mean!
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 12:14:15 GMT -5
Post by JT on Nov 15, 2006 12:14:15 GMT -5
If we get to game five, I'm going to track down Gorf, (R)uffda, Sven, and Olaf and send them off to talk to the bus driver!
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 12:20:13 GMT -5
Post by lions on Nov 15, 2006 12:20:13 GMT -5
I think UM wins this one in 4 games!
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 13:40:21 GMT -5
Post by Gorf on Nov 15, 2006 13:40:21 GMT -5
We're on the road to Moroc... ermmm... Madison.
The bus has been launched.
(R)uffda! Crosby and Gorf Hope have their disguises stashed and will not be part of the post game 2 intermission festivities.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 13:50:52 GMT -5
Post by VBCOACH on Nov 15, 2006 13:50:52 GMT -5
If this was a Hawaai thread, it would already be 14 pages long! ;D
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 13:53:00 GMT -5
Post by JHAM on Nov 15, 2006 13:53:00 GMT -5
We are heading down to Madison in about a half hour. Can't wait for tonights match....hope its another 5-gamer so the trip is worth it. (The trip would be worth it as long as the Gophs pull out a victory)
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 14:20:09 GMT -5
Post by wiscvball on Nov 15, 2006 14:20:09 GMT -5
This isn't specifically about the match tonight, but it relates to Wisconsin VB. Allison Wack, a 2007 recruit for UW, led her Westosha Central team to the Wisconsin Div I state championship last weekend. She had 59 kills in the final two matches of the tournament (total) and was named first team all-state and to the all-tournament team.
On the way to the title, Allison played Janelle Gabrielsen's (another 1st team all-state selection and 2008 Badger) Menomonee Falls team in the semi's and there were definitely some fireworks.
Westosha pulled it out in 5 games while Gabrielsen did everything she could to prevent her team from losing - she racked up 26 kills, 23 digs, and 25 assists. Wack, not to be outdone, racked up 30 kills and a .344 hitting %.
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MN @ WI
Nov 15, 2006 15:25:18 GMT -5
Post by bucky415 on Nov 15, 2006 15:25:18 GMT -5
I think the Badgers win this one (a shock, I know). I am guessing it will be in four, but a Badger sweep wouldn't surprise me, because it happened to Purdue, Penn State, and Ohio State. The Badgers just seem to find their game in time for these big matches, so I hope the trend continues. I think the service/passing game will be key, as at least two people have said earlier. Neither team wants to go all left side, as Minnesota shut down the Badgers that way in Minnesota, and that hasn't been the strength of the Gophers recently. I seriously doubt, though, that the Gophers would be able to block Dolgner as much as they did in Minnesota again. I think they blocked pretty much every shot from her that they were in position to block, which was impressive, but also annoying.
I also hope that the Badger middles come to play tonight. Bladow has disappeared in some matches, and that can't happen if the Badgers are to win tonight. On the good side, I do think she gets pumped for big matches, and she had a couple of huge blocks against PSU. I also hope Nelson is healthy but ineffective and that Jones is awful. She is like the Brain Cardinal of volleyball. Bowman is a bit of an x-factor; you know she will pass and defend well, but if her hitting is on, watch out. I still can't believe the Badgers managed to win in Madison two years ago with the match she had.
I hope that the Badgers are able to get Jeffers involved in the offense, but the big block on the left side for the Gophers makes that tough. I think the answer is to run her to the middle. She isn't hitting from the point of contact she was last year or in the spring due to her injuries, but that is still effective and, I believe, underutilized. If they do run that, though, they need to make sure to communicate. There were a couple of times against the Illini where Jeffers and Bladow ran to the same spot, forcing Simpson to go to the left side. Finally, I hope that someone tells Wack that Peniata is better than her about 27 times, because Wack didn't play her best last weekend. Unfortunately, I think the Gophers will able to spread out the Badger defense at times, and some big digs would help a lot. It should be a good match. I guess it won't be on tv anywhere, which sucks. I think it would be better than high school football tomorrow night.
Finally, to the busload of Gopher fans: if you have internet access at this point, I hope you have a nice trip to Madison until 7 PM. If you are getting something to eat, I would recommend New Orleans Takeout or Kipp's, right across Monroe or diagonal down Monroe to the Field House. Don't be doofs and eat at Subway. I don't want you having too much disappointment in the trip, just that you get from the match.
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