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Post by tsunami on Dec 18, 2006 21:08:41 GMT -5
Personally, I think UCLA next year will be nowhere near the calibre of this years team. It was the Meriweather-Spicer combo that made a difference this year.
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 18, 2006 21:33:50 GMT -5
They will have a LOT of Juniors next year. Maybe their OHs would be mature by then and make up for the Meriweather difference. They still got Spicer and their original defensive players (without Lyman though).
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Post by rubyredslippers on Dec 18, 2006 21:34:27 GMT -5
Every year people love to say negative things about ucla... and they seem to always come through. Even if they don't go all the way to the final 4 they have a very good teams. And, the girls love playing together, they have a great group of girls. It was very obvious this year when playing with other teams that some of the girls just don't get along at all.
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 18, 2006 21:36:26 GMT -5
It was very obvious this year when playing with other teams that some of the girls just don't get along at all. Really? Like who? The team looks like they're all friends by the way they have fun when playing. |
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Post by rubyredslippers on Dec 18, 2006 23:04:24 GMT -5
Not ucla... other teams that they have played in the past this year. I personally don't think that the usc team gets along well. They is not much commraderry. ( however you spell it)
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Post by Wallyball on Dec 19, 2006 3:57:05 GMT -5
I really look for Daley and Sather to be the breakout stars of next year.
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Post by StanfordFan on Dec 19, 2006 7:17:08 GMT -5
Actually, I've always gotten the sense that Rachelle Johnson doesn't get along well with the rest of her team. She often has a surly look.
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Post by daynuh on Dec 20, 2006 1:09:37 GMT -5
I would have to disagree with you, StanfordFan. From what I've seen of Rachell all season, she gets along fine with her teamates. But of course, I wouldn't know for sure... neither would you.
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Post by bucky415 on Dec 20, 2006 1:17:46 GMT -5
I think Sather could be a star for them next year, but I don't see them having any hitters who are nearly the threat that Nana was this year. Lyman's passing and defense will also be a big loss. Carter had some big matches for them as well. I think the best thing will be that Spicer will make her hitters better, which will keep them from falling too far.
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Post by gobruins on Dec 20, 2006 4:08:02 GMT -5
You are all greatly underestimating UCLA. As long as Nellie Spicer is the setter, they will have a great team. She make the hitters great. Without Nellie, Nana would never have been an All-American. Just look at some of the past UCLA teams. Wiz Bachman has been on the National Team since she graduated. But at UCLA she was never a star because she didn't have a setter who could make her great.
Nellie will make Ali Daley and Kaitlin Sather into All-Americans. Rachell Johnson will move back to OH in Katie Carter's spot. Top-10 recruit Katie Mills will step into Nana's MB spot. Meghan Schoen will finally be healthy and will fill the other MB spot.
The Libero spot will be fought for by Jordan Smith, Becky Mehring, Jade Machado and possibly some of the incoming freshmen.
UCLA will certainly be in the top 5 next year.
OTOH, the team that will tumble next year in Washington. With Courtney Thompson gone, their All-Americans from this year (with the exception of Morrison) will be ordinary next year. You won't find Deesing or Swarbrick on any All-American teams next year without Courtney to set them. Morrison is still great, but she can't do it by herself. Washington will struggle to stay in the top 10.
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Post by w2l on Dec 20, 2006 7:22:37 GMT -5
Nellie Spicer is one heck of a setter, UCLA will be a good team next season, late in the season.
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Post by brybry2 on Dec 20, 2006 12:49:01 GMT -5
You are all greatly underestimating UCLA. As long as Nellie Spicer is the setter, they will have a great team. She make the hitters great. Without Nellie, Nana would never have been an All-American. Just look at some of the past UCLA teams. Wiz Bachman has been on the National Team since she graduated. But at UCLA she was never a star because she didn't have a setter who could make her great. Nellie will make Ali Daley and Kaitlin Sather into All-Americans. Rachell Johnson will move back to OH in Katie Carter's spot. Top-10 recruit Katie Mills will step into Nana's MB spot. Meghan Schoen will finally be healthy and will fill the other MB spot. The Libero spot will be fought for by Jordan Smith, Becky Mehring, Jade Machado and possibly some of the incoming freshmen. UCLA will certainly be in the top 5 next year. OTOH, the team that will tumble next year in Washington. With Courtney Thompson gone, their All-Americans from this year (with the exception of Morrison) will be ordinary next year. You won't find Deesing or Swarbrick on any All-American teams next year without Courtney to set them. Morrison is still great, but she can't do it by herself. Washington will struggle to stay in the top 10. Nana would have been an All American w/ almost any of the other top 10 teams at the least. Spicer is a phenomenal setter but Nana's athleticism and talent would have shone thru w/ any decent setter. I think Bachman did pretty well in her college years. Selsor was a decent setter. Bachman might have been overshadowed a tad w/ Kristee Porter. Her blocking was strong and she was great at hitting the slide, but she never possessed the same attributes as Nana. Also, back then I believe there were more star collegiate-level middle blockers. I could be wrong tho. For UCLA to stay up there in the rankings, Daley and Sather will have to pick up their game big time. The Bruins lack of stars on the outside is what has held them back for a decade. I was hoping they'd land Klineman. I think it's possible for UCLA to stay in the top 5 due to their returning all-around players, but they will have to pick up their games big time. |
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Post by abcd098 on Dec 20, 2006 13:18:54 GMT -5
After watching UCLA's Final Four match, I noticed that Jade Machado's serve is the same serve that Meghan Schoen used at Michigan State. It is really unorthodox, sorta like a jump floater/slide attack.
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Post by beachman on Dec 20, 2006 13:30:08 GMT -5
Nellie Spicer is the best setter in the country....as long as she is healthy UCLA will be a very formidable opponent, but not top 4-6 in my opinion....furthermore the only chance that daley has of ever making AA at UCLA is the fact that she has Spicer setting her.....and even at that I predict that she will NOT see AA at UCLA!  |
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 20, 2006 14:02:24 GMT -5
Yeah, I agree with beachman. UCLA will be good as long as they have Nellie Spicer. OH's should be better but the MB position will be the question mark for this team. Defense, Setting, Hitting shouldn't be any different but probably blocking will?  ....other than that, UCLA should be any where from being ranked 8-12 not in the top 5... |
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