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Post by donneyp on Feb 27, 2007 21:31:31 GMT -5
Nebraska will be scary good but next year Stanford could have home court in the final four... Lets see if the Stanford marketing department can make it count.
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Post by Kampy on Feb 27, 2007 22:09:37 GMT -5
Nebraska will not repeat. Klineman of Stanford will make Sarah Pavan look like yesterdays news. bigfan, you are so "provocative". Your bombast is easier to take when the Huskers are the hunted rather than the hunter. And as the hunted, the level of play needs to be elevated even that much more, as you get everyone's best shot, and motivation needs to be manufactured so you can continually strive to improve. Winning a national championship is a great thing; but where do you go from there? Can you continue to improve or will you regress? And will that proposed 6-2, which I am not a fan of, maximize your team's talents?
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Post by vbuzz on Feb 27, 2007 22:38:07 GMT -5
I don't think there is a race for second. Nebraska and Stanford are the teams to beat this upcoming season. I think the real race will be for the 3rd and 4th best in the country. Penn State, Texas, and Florida are all candidates.
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Post by Keystonekid on Feb 27, 2007 23:33:03 GMT -5
I think Nebraska will field the best team in the country, but Stanford, PSU and Texas will have the horses to beat them. Florida just doesn't control the ball well enough in my opinion. First of all, Nebraska was really hungry. Will they be again? Stanford will want to avenge that loss, PSU has lots to prove, Texas is a rival match, which tends to nullify talent disparity in many cases.
Also, If you get into a game 5 against Hodge and Fawcett, or barboza/klineman you can get into real trouble fast. I may lay some money down on Nebraska, but I wouldn't be engraving any trophy's at this point.
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Feb 27, 2007 23:49:33 GMT -5
I think Stanford's chances rest on how fast Alix Klineman adapts to the collegiate speed. Stanford has three bona fide All-Americans already with Cynthia Barboza, Foluke Akinradewo, and Bryn Kehoe, but if Klineman can turn in a Kerri Walsh-like performance, than I wouldn't bet against them, no matter who they is across the net.
I also expect bigger and better things from Franci Girard. She really came into her own last year with increased offensive output and nice defense and I expect the same next year.
Ok, I lied - not only will Klineman have to be up to par with the collegiate level, but so will Gabi Ailes. She may be just as important as Klineman next year, providing much needed stability in the back row with her passing and defense - especially since Kristin Richards graduated. Jessica Fishburn had her moments, but is way too inconsistent. If Klineman and Ailes live up to their billing, then Stanford will definitely challenge Nebraska (barring any injuries, of course).
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Post by beachman on Feb 27, 2007 23:56:33 GMT -5
Pavan was a frickin stick her freshman year at Nebraska....I really believe that Klinemann is ahead of her at this stage of her career. Anyone who saw her play two weeks ago in Vegas would be the first to tell you that she carried her team to the championship....was probably head and shoulders above any other player there.....Saki you are playing this card far too cautiously.....next year it is a two horse race for the National Championship....anyone who just "presumes" that Nebraska is gonna win it is crazy....the road to the championship will definitely go through Stanford and I predict that this match will take place in the finals.....Nebraska would NOT be the first National Champion to NOT win a back to back.....how does the saying go? That's why they play the matches!
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Feb 28, 2007 0:15:51 GMT -5
Pavan was a frickin stick her freshman year at Nebraska....I really believe that Klinemann is ahead of her at this stage of her career. Anyone who saw her play two weeks ago in Vegas would be the first to tell you that she carried her team to the championship....was probably head and shoulders above any other player there.....Saki you are playing this card far too cautiously.....next year it is a two horse race for the National Championship....anyone who just "presumes" that Nebraska is gonna win it is crazy....the road to the championship will definitely go through Stanford and I predict that this match will take place in the finals.....Nebraska would NOT be the first National Champion to NOT win a back to back.....how does the saying go? That's why they play the matches! Like I said, if Klineman and Ailes adapt well to college (however fast that may be), then I like Stanford's chances. If they don't, than we fall back to the Penn State-Texas category, imho.
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Post by Reach on Feb 28, 2007 0:56:04 GMT -5
and don't forget the increadible improvement with Waller on the right and Okagbaa waiting for action on the bench. Whats the deal with that Okagbaa anyway. Will she see the court, is she injured, whats the deal. She always looked bored or nervous when I would see her standing on the bench. Looked as if she didn't get along with the team.
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Post by naitsric on Feb 28, 2007 3:03:15 GMT -5
I think a lot of people are sadly mistaken. I vote Hawaii all the way. Million dollar question: Will Dani be sufficient....Well, she trained under kanoe. A'ole Pilikia! The Wahine are going all the way. Mark my words!
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Post by brybry on Feb 28, 2007 3:11:40 GMT -5
Nebraska and Stanford will be really good. Texas has the potential to be up there w/ those two. Their star young players will have matured some, they gain more firepower, and Jennings and Kisner will improve their back court play. I don't have a ton of confidence in Penn State if they keep their serve receive scheme the same. They will not make it far if Rose does not commit to at least two strong ball handlers. And I don't know why Florida is even in this conversation. I don't know why everyone was talking about them last year.
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Post by brybry on Feb 28, 2007 3:12:30 GMT -5
Nebraska will not repeat. Klineman of Stanford will make Sarah Pavan look like yesterdays news. Bigfan, I haven't figured out who you root for? Which are your favorite teams?
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Post by flatlander on Feb 28, 2007 9:57:47 GMT -5
naw, Nebraska will go back to that idiotic 6-2 and minimize their potential with a subpar setter half the time, Stanford will win it all... unfortunately. You're right on the conclusion but only partly right on the reasoning. Putting Pavan in middle back and moving her out of right back will do two things: (1) re-create NU as a suspect ball-handling team, reversing all of the strides that NU made in vastly improving its ball-handling, defense, setting, and offensive choices, which is what won them the title in 2006; and (2) reduce the effectiveness (OK, sheer magic) of Pavan's back-row attacking. So, Cook runs that stupid 6-2, Nebraska's ball-handling and defense goes in the tank, and Stanford wins it all, assuming Gabi Ailes makes the adjustment quickly. Stanford has more talent and more depth at more positions than does Nebraska, and Ailes on the court addresses their biggest weakness from last year.
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Post by Gelatinous Mass on Feb 28, 2007 10:14:29 GMT -5
"Stanford has more talent and more depth at more positions than does Nebraska, and Ailes on the court addresses their biggest weakness from last year."
Really? Having seen them both live last year, they are the top 2 teams...but more talent than Nebraska...I don't see that.
Barboza - Larson Klineman - Houghtelling Foluke - Stalls Waller - Pavan Kehoe - Holloway
Both teams have question marks at Libero regardless of who Stanford plays there...I think they are the teams to beat but saying that Stanford has better players is a little far-fetched.
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Post by HOLIDAY on Feb 28, 2007 10:17:03 GMT -5
naw, Nebraska will go back to that idiotic 6-2 and minimize their potential with a subpar setter half the time, Stanford will win it all... unfortunately. You're right on the conclusion but only partly right on the reasoning. Putting Pavan in middle back and moving her out of right back will do two things: (1) re-create NU as a suspect ball-handling team, reversing all of the strides that NU made in vastly improving its ball-handling, defense, setting, and offensive choices, which is what won them the title in 2006; and (2) reduce the effectiveness (OK, sheer magic) of Pavan's back-row attacking. So, Cook runs that stupid 6-2, Nebraska's ball-handling and defense goes in the tank, and Stanford wins it all, assuming Gabi Ailes makes the adjustment quickly. Stanford has more talent and more depth at more positions than does Nebraska, and Ailes on the court addresses their biggest weakness from last year. "More talent and more depth in more positions? " Are you trying to talk yourself into that statement. Nebraska exploited every weakness Stanford's game had and then some. Did you watch the championship? No one in the nation has more firepower than the Huskers in 07. Let me remind you that NU has had Stanfords number in the last two years of competition.
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Post by flatlander on Feb 28, 2007 10:20:54 GMT -5
You failed to address the depth portion of my comment. My point was not head-to-head starter match-ups.
Importance of depth: Exhihibit A, Nebraska vs Washington, 2005 final where only Saleamua had outstanding all-around match and Pavan, while good offensively, struggled in the back row. Nebraska had no bench to go to for help.
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