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Post by tnp101 on Dec 20, 2006 9:36:25 GMT -5
I think during Don Show's era, Stanford has always been ranked in the top 10 in their blockings. Since Dunning took over, the blocking efficiency hasn't been that great. The team won because of talent of the players. But they could have done a lot better.
One note also it might have been because the departure of Kim Oden.
Is this something Dunning hasn't focused that much? Who is the blocking coach?
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Post by baywatcher on Dec 20, 2006 10:15:53 GMT -5
Stanford switched to swing blocking this year. I think blocking stats were down while the team adjusted. I wish there was a published stat for productive deflections, when the ball is soft blocked or deflected to where your team can get a transition play. It seems when Stanford is really moving they get lotsof those, as of course does any other productive team.
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Post by tnp101 on Dec 20, 2006 10:22:09 GMT -5
I think the blocking this year wasn't that bad. But in the past few years since Dunning took over, we haven't been in the top categories in any of the defensive categories.
Next year it should improve with digging and blocking (I hope). Blocking has always been very strong for Stanford during Don Shaw's era. I remember hardly anyone outblocked us. Not so for the 21st century...
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Post by Tiruray2004 on Dec 21, 2006 23:49:32 GMT -5
When Jen HArvey and Sara McGee were juniors on the Stanford team, I think they were tops in Pac-10 blocking.
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Post by Gorf on Dec 22, 2006 13:55:37 GMT -5
I believe Stanford averaged over 3 blocks per game this year - not what most would consider being down.
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Post by ooreo46 on Dec 22, 2006 14:18:37 GMT -5
Stanford will be a much more seasoned blocking team next year. Foluke and Franci will each have a year of experience. Look for improvement from Franci. Erin has proven to be a disciplined blocker and pretty much has estbalished herself on the right. I think Cyn can hold her own on the left. The question mark is on Alix. The tempo of the college game is a notch above high school ball and blocking will be much harder. We'll have to wait and see.
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Post by beachman on Dec 22, 2006 14:43:10 GMT -5
Both Stanford and Nebraska could find themselves in a "class of their own" next year!! Even PSU, Texas, and Florida, whom I suspect will be 3,4,and 5 in the early season polls next year may be a complete level below these two schools.....
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Post by brybry2 on Dec 22, 2006 16:28:16 GMT -5
I think it's a trade off for Stanford. They're getting much more offensive output from Girard and especially Foluke.
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Post by beachman on Dec 22, 2006 20:40:30 GMT -5
Stanford 2007 will be a much improved version of Stanford 2006...Nnamani was an AVERAGE PLAYER at best, and once John gets Okogbaa and Klinemann in the line-up this team will be, simply put, not only awesome but physically intimidating....one of the tallest teams in the country and they can jump
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Post by Reach on Dec 23, 2006 1:18:04 GMT -5
Where will okagbaa go? With Waller running the quick slide on the right so well, I don't think she will have a place. Tough spot for the No 2 recruit in the nation to be in. Maybe she will transfer to Hawaii.
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Post by letch0125 on Dec 23, 2006 10:15:16 GMT -5
I've never seen her play, but isn't it premature to assume Klineman will fill Richards' spot immediately? Maybe Okagbaa would be a better fit there?
I was disappointed that we didn't see more of Suitor in Omaha. I understand that supposedly Girard is a statistically better hitter. But after Suitor did so well in the UCLA match that Akinradewo sat out, I thought he would give her a go more often/quickly that he did ffor blocking.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 23, 2006 13:29:12 GMT -5
Well, Klineman is def a smarter outside hitter than Okagbaa. Not to say that Janet is not smart. She has just played more in the middle and rightside than on the OH. Klineman is savvy with many different shots. I will say that I don't think she will play backrow right away at Stanford. I think Fisher, if healthy, or Lichtman will play backrow for her. Okagbaa will challenge on the RS, she is a pretty impressive attacker once she and Bryn start to connect. And she is a solid blocker. I think she is a little timid about hand setting the second ball, and that may be one reason Waller took the spot. Although she proved her self pretty well by the end of the season. I do think Okagbaa could be a huge weapon on the RS even more so than Waller.
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Dec 23, 2006 14:36:07 GMT -5
Well, Klineman is def a smarter outside hitter than Okagbaa. Not to say that Janet is not smart. She has just played more in the middle and rightside than on the OH. Klineman is savvy with many different shots. I will say that I don't think she will play backrow right away at Stanford. I think Fisher, if healthy, or Lichtman will play backrow for her. Okagbaa will challenge on the RS, she is a pretty impressive attacker once she and Bryn start to connect. And she is a solid blocker. I think she is a little timid about hand setting the second ball, and that may be one reason Waller took the spot. Although she proved her self pretty well by the end of the season. I do think Okagbaa could be a huge weapon on the RS even more so than Waller. If Klineman is as great on offensive as everyone suggests, there is no way Dunning will take her out of the back row. That's just another lethal attack for Stanford and there would come a trade off. Besides, she played all the way around at the Junior World Championships back in 2005 - I don't think she'll be subbed out in the back.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Dec 25, 2006 3:35:03 GMT -5
Well, Klineman is def a smarter outside hitter than Okagbaa. Not to say that Janet is not smart. She has just played more in the middle and rightside than on the OH. Klineman is savvy with many different shots. I will say that I don't think she will play backrow right away at Stanford. I think Fisher, if healthy, or Lichtman will play backrow for her. Okagbaa will challenge on the RS, she is a pretty impressive attacker once she and Bryn start to connect. And she is a solid blocker. I think she is a little timid about hand setting the second ball, and that may be one reason Waller took the spot. Although she proved her self pretty well by the end of the season. I do think Okagbaa could be a huge weapon on the RS even more so than Waller. If Klineman is as great on offensive as everyone suggests, there is no way Dunning will take her out of the back row. That's just another lethal attack for Stanford and there would come a trade off. Besides, she played all the way around at the Junior World Championships back in 2005 - I don't think she'll be subbed out in the back. I guess that all depends on how strong the rest of the defense is. If they can have Klineman as somewhat of a liability on defense, then the rest have to be very strong to make up for that. But if Ailes or Fishburn are shaky, your really going to have problems.
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Post by beachman on Dec 25, 2006 16:09:30 GMT -5
Well if Okagbaa doesn't start seeing the starting line-up then she must have gone to Stanford for the academics and not volleyball. I know that LBS would LOVE to have her in their line-up.....kind of amazing that JD can't train her to the level that she can find playing time!
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