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Post by JHAM on Dec 14, 2006 14:00:33 GMT -5
OK, since I've already seen some threads about other teams next year I thought I'd wait until after the National Championship game but I guess MN fans can start sharing their thoughts now. I think it will be an interesting year which could either turn out to be one of rebuilding or reinventing, depending on how ready the Freshman class will be.
MN has a solid core in MB Jones, S Hartmann, OHs Roehrig and Vatterodt and DS/L Tan with a slew of other DS players. The other middle position will be a battle between Schmidt and Gibbmeyer but I see Lauren G winning that battle. The middles should be very solid and Hartmann has already worked at setting this position and hopefully will be more consistant in 07. Dieter has a chance to start as one of the OHs and could become the terminator that MN has been missing the last couple of years. I think the Frosh will make a big impact and see good things for this team. The only thing I'm worried about is that they only have 1 setter on the roster. I know that they were training Fallon as a backup but that seems a little risky if Hartmann were to be out for any length of time.
Anyway, when all is said and done I could see the starting line-up to look something like this:
S - Rachel Hartman OH - Katie Vatterodt OH - Brooke Deiter MB - Jessy Jones MB - Lauren Gibbmeyer RS/OP - Kyla Roehrig (Christine Tan) L - Hailey Cowles
The biggest reason I think they may keep Tan as a DS is that because of her height she doesn't have the ability to reach for alot of balls that a libero has to. I also think that Cowles will eventually be in that position because of her ball control and serve receive capabilities.
MN fans, what are your thoughts?
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Post by maninyellowhat on Dec 14, 2006 14:04:09 GMT -5
I am worried about serve receive/passing. If that isn't where it should be the setting will be bad. Hartmann is not one of those setters that can make a great set with anything that comes her way.
I also worry about serving.
Gibbmeyer will start at MB opposite Jones. Dieter is more of a question mark in my mind. I think Hagerty will have a spot at OH, depending on her shoulder.
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 14, 2006 14:05:04 GMT -5
I am ready to comment if and when there's a Mike Hebert quote.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 14:50:19 GMT -5
Look for a walk-on setter for backup.
TOUGH early schedule. What worries me (a little) is that they may need to go .500+ in the Big10 to qualify for the NCAAs. I don't _think_ that's going to be a problem, but you never can tell with this many new people and new roles.
Hagerty's shoulder should be better by next year (better than this year) one would hope.
Dieter and Cowles should help with passing, but that's scary, counting on the frosh. It'd be nice if Hagerty and/or KVodt can become at least capable in that role. Cumpston-like.
Anyhow, depth at setter and middle are my biggest concerns. I do think it'll be a fun team to watch, regardless.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 14:51:34 GMT -5
It'll also be interesting to see how long it takes Dieter to get up to speed as a DI hitter. She may not be there for 2007.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Dec 14, 2006 14:54:54 GMT -5
I think the Gophers should battle for the Big 10 title again. You bring back Simpson and a solid supporting cast... Reineke, Dolgner, Jeffers, Wack. You'll be in good hands next season.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 14:59:52 GMT -5
I think the Gophers should battle for the Big 10 title again. You bring back Simpson and a solid supporting cast... Reineke, Dolgner, Jeffers, Wack. You'll be in good hands next season. Is this sarcasm
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Post by maninyellowhat on Dec 14, 2006 15:02:51 GMT -5
I think the Gophers should battle for the Big 10 title again. You bring back Simpson and a solid supporting cast... Reineke, Dolgner, Jeffers, Wack. You'll be in good hands next season. I don't get it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 15:11:44 GMT -5
I like to call Reineke "The Muffler". What do you think?
Speaking of which, it's time to start working on the nicks for the 2007 class:
Charde is "Smooth Operator" of course.
Other than that, I'm drawing a blank.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 15:12:50 GMT -5
Sprockets?
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Post by maninyellowhat on Dec 14, 2006 15:13:54 GMT -5
Euell for Gibbmeyer?
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Post by ugopher on Dec 14, 2006 15:17:10 GMT -5
I think that the OH in the beginning of the year will be Hagerty and Vatterodt. It will be interesting to see if Gibbemeyer will be the M2 or if it will be Schmidt. I expect that Gibby will be the M2 by the end of the year. But with Ohio, Stanford, and San Diego the first or second weekend it could be tough for frosh to be ready for that challenge.
Could be tough for us fans to be ready for that challenge!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2006 15:20:09 GMT -5
Gibbemeyer may make the better M1 since she probably runs a better slide than Jones.
Will Roehrig be the opposite? Seems a no-brainer, but it's nice to have that block on the left, too.
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Post by maninyellowhat on Dec 14, 2006 15:31:57 GMT -5
I wouldn't be surprised to see Deiter on the right and have her play all the way around.
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Post by gogophers on Dec 14, 2006 16:22:57 GMT -5
Of the returnees, we have only Jones, Hartmann, Roehrig, and Tan who were regulars or semi-regulars, and, of that group, none were voted all-big ten. (I think Jones, coming closest, got an honorable mention.) Compare that to the freshman/sophomore juggernaut at PSU (yikes), or Wisconsin, and it spells "rebuilding year," in all probability. That could change if the freshmen make an impact first year out and the juniors step up. But I'm not counting on it. It pains me to say it, but I think Minn. will be hard-pressed to finish third in the big ten.
Our setter remains the same, except Rachel will have gained in experience. She was good, not great, as a sophomore. She was highly rated out of hs--#11, if memory serves--so she may have the native talent to step up to a Taatjes level setter. Wouldn't surprise me, though I don't see her as ever being as versatile as Taatjes, who could kill too when Kelly set. One worrisome thing: Rachel is talented, she did improve; but instead of a second year with players she got used to the year before, she's going to be trying to get in sync with a new bunch of starters. That makes it very possible to see a regression.
Outside hitting might even improve over this year. Roehrig has another year of experience, and I thought she was much better as a sophomore than a freshman. Still not good on defense and still prone to getting flustered, but with a lot of hitting and blocking talent. She could turn into a real offensive force in her last two years.
Haggerty and Vatterodt are the big question marks. Both were highly rated out of hs. Haggerty supposedly hits the ball like a sledgehammer. But she hardly played at all as a freshman. Vatterodt played early in the year, and then Hebert basically benched her. He must not have liked what he saw. But if these players can develop, . . . hey, Minnesota might have its best OH since 2004.
Serving is worrisome. Only Tan and Hartmann, among the returnees, were servers. Tan was pretty good, I thought; Hartmann mediocre. Much of the Gopher game plan this year was to try to upset opponents' rhythem with tough serving. I can't see that working next year.
Defense/serve reception. Another worry. I thought Tan was underrated as a freshman and will be a good one. But after her, who do we have? I'm not expecting much from Fallon or Wilbur. And losing versatile players like Bowman and Cumpston is really going to hurt. Roehrig and Haggerty might be big hitters, but neither has shown any aptitude for digging, as Cumpston did. Neither will be able to play back row. Better hope the freshmen step up.
MB. I think Jones is unrated and expect her to do an all-big ten job as mb as a senior. We'll see how good Gibbmeyer is as a freshman. But you can't expect a freshman to come in and be Meredith Nelson incarnate. So, here, too, I expect a downgrade from 2006.
In summary, I think outside hitting could be a pleasant surprise. Hartmann is a question mark. MB: lose Nelson, gain a highly ranked freshmen--not an even swap. Defense: we're in trouble. Serving: we're in worse trouble.
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