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Post by lilred on Dec 18, 2006 10:02:48 GMT -5
Promising
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chada
Sophomore
Posts: 171
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Post by chada on Dec 18, 2006 10:51:41 GMT -5
Who will be the starting second MB, Cooper or Gates? Can Cooper step up her blocking? Can Gates step up her offense?
Will we have co-player of the year's at the end of 2007... both from the same team?
What roles will Rachel Schwartz and Maggie Griffin play? Is one of them our future libero? Is the setter position Holloway's to keep or do we have another free for all to find the starting setter? Stay in a 5-1 or go 6-2?
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Post by letch0125 on Dec 18, 2006 11:03:07 GMT -5
I would assume Houghtelling will fill Mancuso's spot, and I'll bet they go back to a 6-2. The Cooper/Gates position is a nice problem to have - let them duke it out in the Spring and preseason and see who comes out on top. I think Swartz will be the next libero. They may be better next year than they were this year - scary thought for everyone else.
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Post by flatlander on Dec 18, 2006 11:30:17 GMT -5
I know the 6-2 is sexy for the firepower it brings and I know Cook is in love with NU's 2005 stats while running it, but I REALLY hope they don't go back to the 6-2. Having a setter in for only 3 rotations messes with rhythm, game flow, and chemistry.
Plus, I don't think NU passes well enough to sacrifice the attacking and blocking/jousting advantages that a good 5-1 setter brings.
Question: other than USC 2003/04, what other teams have won a NC using a 6-2? (Not being snarky here ... just wondering.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2006 11:34:30 GMT -5
I disagree on the 6-2 and I know Cook mentioned it. Holloway, first all american setter since Cepero, better hitting percentage, etc. Holloway runs the team, Griffin is a setter who is efficient. I think Cook will find a way to get Maggie on the court in some way, but not in a 6-2. Using a 6-2 then eliminates the use of a libero OR Pavan as a back row attacker. That was a huge advantage for the Huskers. Having her attack from the right side of the court vs. the middle was so difficult for others to defend. The Huskers made significant strides on floor defense this season, going back to the 6-2 just doesn't seem to be the best way to go. Holloway plays ok defense, Griffin plays horrible defense. It's a great problem/debate for the Husker coaching staff.
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Post by flatlander on Dec 18, 2006 11:41:16 GMT -5
Using a 6-2 then eliminates the use of a libero OR Pavan as a back row attacker. That was a huge advantage for the Huskers. Having her attack from the right side of the court vs. the middle was so difficult for others to defend. I agree 100%. I've said it in other threads, and I'll say it again. I really think Pavan is more efficient hitting out of the back row. She gets a great look at the block and the court, the set is higher by necessity, and, my God, those angles she can create.... NU definitely doesn't want to lose THAT advantage.
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Post by huskervbfan on Dec 18, 2006 12:03:33 GMT -5
My guess is it will depend on how well Lindsey Licht works out but I am guessing Cook will run the 6-2. She is also a 6-5 lefty who will be enrolling in January. If all goes well throughout Spring training, she will play opposite Pavan and sub out in the back row for Schwartz. The setters (Holloway and Griffin) will sub for the MBs and Houghtelling, Larson and Pavan will play all around. Stalls and Cooper will play MB.
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Post by lilred on Dec 18, 2006 12:19:26 GMT -5
My guess is it will depend on how well Lindsey Licht works out but I am guessing Cook will run the 6-2. She is also a 6-5 lefty who will be enrolling in January. If all goes well throughout Spring training, she will play opposite Pavan and sub out in the back row for Schwartz. The setters (Holloway and Griffin) will sub for the MBs and Houghtelling, Larson and Pavan will play all around. Stalls and Cooper will play MB. I actually like that idea, depending on how Licht turns out. Question though, would Schwartz still be considered a Libero if she isn't in the game for 3 rotations? Trying to figure out substitution rules.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 18, 2006 12:24:09 GMT -5
Why do you guys want to see the clearly better setter only play half time?? How does this make the Huskers stronger running a 6-2 when the two setters are far from equal??? I just don't see the benefits other than making Griffin happy.
Schwartz can be a libero if she plays one or all of the rotations, that doesn't matter at all. She could go in for an outside hitter who is struggling.
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Post by brybry2 on Dec 18, 2006 12:24:22 GMT -5
I think Nebraska will only go w/ a situational 6-2, maybe later in the game if they have a decent lead. It'll help bring along Licht and could lead to big scoring runs. I'm not sure if Griffin could be a libero. Busboom as a libero was a bit of an anomoly. Setters turned libero usually aren't such exceptional passers. I guess Busboom's experience as a hitter pre-college helped out some.
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Post by flatlander on Dec 18, 2006 12:28:23 GMT -5
Another option, depending on how the incoming freshmen develop, would be to put Mueller at OH2 and CH back at OPP, opposite Pavan.
That being said, I know NU is going to have a lot of talent next year, but, gosh, why mess with what worked so well this year? (Apart from Griffin, who I feel bad for, but she also knew the risks coming in....)
Boy, I hope they don't switch. I think the setter's rhythm is a big intangible that you can't account for with stats -- and the 6-2 completely screws it up.
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Post by SaltNPepper on Dec 18, 2006 14:09:42 GMT -5
Why do you guys want to see the clearly better setter only play half time?? How does this make the Huskers stronger running a 6-2 when the two setters are far from equal??? I just don't see the benefits other than making Griffin happy. I interpreted the topic of this thread as what I think will happen in 2007/ not necessarily what I "want" to happen - I'm pretty well sold right now that a 5-1 with Pavan opposite Holloway is probably going to be our best line-up but we're 8 months away from next fall. However, I think that Cook will spend a lot of time looking at the 6-2 in the spring and maybe into early fall with Licht/Pavan at RS; Houghtelling/Larson at OH; Holloway/Griffin at S (opposite the middles) and Stalls/Cooper or Gates at MB. Swartz at L for Licht in the backrow or anyone else that isn't playing well. And if the "numbers" seem to be pretty close, then I think he may stay with the 6-2 to get more players on the floor. How much of a gap between Griffin and Holloway will there be next year? Hard to tell, as we really haven't seem Maggie set much for a year. I mean, all we seemed to hear about on this board all preseason and during the first 2/3's of this fall was how you can't take a setter and convert her to a libero for her senior year and expect to make it to the final 4 and now the talk is about how tough it will be to replace Busboom. So anything can happen by next fall. Mainly, I trust that by the start of Big-12 play, that Cook will pick the system that gives us the best chance to make it to the Final 4 again.
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Post by lilred on Dec 18, 2006 14:29:06 GMT -5
Why do you guys want to see the clearly better setter only play half time?? How does this make the Huskers stronger running a 6-2 when the two setters are far from equal??? I just don't see the benefits other than making Griffin happy. Schwartz can be a libero if she plays one or all of the rotations, that doesn't matter at all. She could go in for an outside hitter who is struggling. Like SaltnPepper said I trust Cook to make the right decision. Although, it would be cool maybe to go with another suggestion which is a situational 6-2 (like Penn St. did) against teams we have a 2 game lead on in conference, just to get Maggie some playing time. I don't think the teammates would mind this. But you are right, Holloway was a HUGE reason we won this and stayed successful despite the loss of 3 AA's. This is most evident in the success of Stall and her hitting over .440 for the season. Elmer was criticized for not having as high a percentage but that was directly related to the setting. This is to take nothing away from Stalls own improvements as a player, but in 2005 you knew exactly when the middles were gonna get set, because it happened only when the ball was perfectly passed.
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Post by clivehusker on Dec 18, 2006 15:03:05 GMT -5
They may be better next year than they were this year - scary thought for everyone else. I agree, but there are quite a few teams poised to improve next year, so really scary all around. Scary and great for those of us that love great matches. We'll have to see about Lindsey Licht, but from what it sounds like, she's more a stronger blocker. As it stands now I'd love to see us stay in a 5-1. Our best rotation being: Front - Larsen, Stalls, Houghtelling Back - Pavan, Holloway, Schwartz(L) You have a strong front with Pavan still attacking out of the back. Thats just looking at what we have now, and not knowing how the incoming freshman will turn out. Sounds like at least 3 of them have a chance to get time on the court right away.
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chada
Sophomore
Posts: 171
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Post by chada on Dec 18, 2006 15:06:16 GMT -5
Question: other than USC 2003/04, what other teams have won a NC using a 6-2? (Not being snarky here ... just wondering.) I think Stanford used the 6-2 very successfuly in the mid 90s . Cary Wendell and Lisa Sharpley ran this system at Stanford on Stanford's '95 team and were the favorites that year, but were defeated by Texas in the semifinals. I swear that both were present and running the 6-2 in 1994 when they won the national title. I think they ran a pure 6-2, there were no subs. They set in the back row and hit in the front row.
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