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Post by tsunami on Mar 12, 2007 1:01:00 GMT -5
Although Nnamai was very good in that Championship match, I believe it was Teee Williams with the best vertical in the NCAA. She was only 5-10 and touched 10-10. Nnamani is about 6-1 or 6-2. Another player with amazing vertical was Long Beach State's Nichelle Burton, she was also 5-10. Umm, Ogonna Nnamani is 6'0" But with the new talents we have now, there are so many players with amazing jumping abilities---- Destinee Hooker of TEXAS, Jamie Houston of HAWAII, Angie Pressey of Cal-Berkeley to name a few. It just amazes me at how physical the kids are today compared to that of yesteryear. Amazing jumping abilities but how effective are they? Good jumping abilities are a plus to any volleyball player, they can change the direction of where to hit the ball. They can see the block. For players like Teee Williams, she can do a lot with her vertical, not to mention that she was an incredible all-around player. Nnamani is 6-1. She was a good hitter, but was a never a good all-around player.
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Post by VolleyTX on Mar 12, 2007 9:18:06 GMT -5
As someone mentioned earlier, if you want to see players (jumpers) who make Ogonna look weak.... watch footage of the cubans in the 90s.... especially M. Luis. She wasn't tall either... maybe 5'9".... 5'10"? Unbelievable point of contact.
The one US player who can hit over virtually any block in the world right now is Haneef. I've seen her in some recent matches where her timing is down... she is getting to the ball on time.... and she is just unstoppable. Unfortunately, she doesn't consistently play this way.
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Post by Tex_VB_Fan on Mar 12, 2007 10:22:14 GMT -5
As someone mentioned earlier, if you want to see players (jumpers) who make Ogonna look weak.... watch footage of the cubans in the 90s.... especially M. Luis. She wasn't tall either... maybe 5'9".... 5'10"? Unbelievable point of contact. The one US player who can hit over virtually any block in the world right now is Haneef. I've seen her in some recent matches where her timing is down... she is getting to the ball on time.... and she is just unstoppable. Unfortunately, she doesn't consistently play this way. At 6'9" and with that wing span you would expect Haneef to hit over blocks.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Mar 12, 2007 15:57:34 GMT -5
As someone mentioned earlier, if you want to see players (jumpers) who make Ogonna look weak.... watch footage of the cubans in the 90s.... especially M. Luis. She wasn't tall either... maybe 5'9".... 5'10"? Unbelievable point of contact. The one US player who can hit over virtually any block in the world right now is Haneef. I've seen her in some recent matches where her timing is down... she is getting to the ball on time.... and she is just unstoppable. Unfortunately, she doesn't consistently play this way. At 6'9" and with that wing span you would expect Haneef to hit over blocks. When did she grow 2"? She does hit over blocks.
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Post by bunnywailer on Mar 12, 2007 17:20:32 GMT -5
At 6'9" and with that wing span you would expect Haneef to hit over blocks. When did she grow 2"? She does hit over blocks. ....and gets dug alot. Haneef is a classic high-ball hitter, and when the set is delivered in a good location and she gets a full approach, she is able to hit deep balls with a flat trajectory that often go over the top of the opposing block. However, she doesn't put alot of heat on these shots and hits alot of them into the center of the backrow. These get dug. There haven't been a whole lot of volleyball players of either gender that could put alot of heat on high, flat, deep attacks. For the USA, Kemner definitely, Flo Hyman probably, and Folkl maybe. Nobody currently on the women's side in the USA. Alot of players can drive a ball straight down with heat, but that means lowering the trajectory of the attack back down into the block.
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Post by beachman on Mar 12, 2007 18:37:56 GMT -5
At 6'9" and with that wing span you would expect Haneef to hit over blocks. When did she grow 2"? She does hit over blocks. Yes she does, and she has developed a pretty wicked jump serve to boot!
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Post by fingrbustr on Mar 12, 2007 23:35:05 GMT -5
Even if Ogonna could touch 10'10, I have a hard time buying she ATTACKS the ball at that height. Maybe a full-extension tip...I'd give her that. That's just about 34 inches above the men's net. Let's not be ridiculous now in our admiration. Oh dear, didn't you see her dismantle the teams she played against in the 2004 NCAA? She consistently hit (not tip) over the block! Now, isn't that blind admiration? I was actually at the championship match in LB, and I did watch her play a bunch. No way she was hitting with any authority though 3.5 feet over the net. I could see her hitting over the block...but no way the block was anywhere near 10'10". Nope.
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Post by fingrbustr on Mar 12, 2007 23:36:41 GMT -5
I believe Mireya Luis was an actual 5'7"...and I read before she dunked a BASKETBALL at 13 yrs old. You are completely correct...I vividly rewinding the VCR (haha...old school) to check her Olympic feats. Incredible.
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Post by gstring on Mar 13, 2007 0:43:31 GMT -5
I believe Mireya Luis was an actual 5'7"...and I read before she dunked a BASKETBALL at 13 yrs old. You are completely correct...I vividly rewinding the VCR (haha...old school) to check her Olympic feats. Incredible. i remember in 95 when the gran prix came to hawaii...i was still at UH and working at the stan sherriff center. I remember watching the cuban team warming up...i was in such awe watching luis hit...it was so effortless....her swing kinda looked like a round house type of arm swing...like a whip...she was so high in the air...
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Post by VolleyTX on Mar 13, 2007 8:23:52 GMT -5
You probably haven't seen Haneef play recently. No, she doesn't pack the most heat, but her shots are very effective. She has learned to hit high and deep shots to the back line.... very similar to Gamova of Russia..... who just happens to be one of the best (most effective) outside hitters in the world. Both Haneef and Gamova hit such a high and rather flat shot that it is very difficult to dig. I've seen some of the best defensive players in the world shank balls that are hit directly at them. They just are not used to hitting flat balls hit at them at that trajectory.
Haneef and Gamova may not be the most fun and exciting hitters..... but they are very effective. I'm not talking about Haneef in her Long Beach State years.... I'm talking about her now. Haneef has gotten MUCH better.
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Post by tsunami on Mar 13, 2007 8:42:49 GMT -5
Oh yeah. There's a big difference between Haneef now and when she was playing college ball. She's much better now as a player, and I think she knows how to use her height to her advantage now.
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Post by sexy on Mar 13, 2007 17:57:58 GMT -5
IdahoPappy, Not to change the subject...been away on a trip...but from your sign-in pictures I assume you are the proud new father of a baby boy? If so, congratulations to both you and your mrs!!! That's a hootl......when would he ever find the time to do that?? He spends all of his time on VolleyTalk....... he might be a 'minute man'
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Post by bunnywailer on Mar 13, 2007 18:26:58 GMT -5
You probably haven't seen Haneef play recently. No, she doesn't pack the most heat, but her shots are very effective. She has learned to hit high and deep shots to the back line.... very similar to Gamova of Russia..... who just happens to be one of the best (most effective) outside hitters in the world. Both Haneef and Gamova hit such a high and rather flat shot that it is very difficult to dig. I've seen some of the best defensive players in the world shank balls that are hit directly at them. They just are not used to hitting flat balls hit at them at that trajectory. Haneef and Gamova may not be the most fun and exciting hitters..... but they are very effective. I'm not talking about Haneef in her Long Beach State years.... I'm talking about her now. Haneef has gotten MUCH better. There is a huge difference between Haneef and Gamova. Yes, Haneef has gotten alot better, but there is no way she can be compared to Gamova.
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Post by adrimich on Mar 13, 2007 18:40:31 GMT -5
Come 2008 Olympics I think Haneef will have improved alot and will be on the same page as Gamova. And she is not just a high deep hitter, ive seen her pound some nice shots even around Russias two huge blockers. And I believe that Haneef is one up on Gamova when it comes to passing, shes turned out to be a decent passer. Granted its not amazing, but shes getting the job done, and the future holds great things for her.
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Post by Gorf on Mar 13, 2007 19:51:27 GMT -5
She's going to improve more in the next year (plus perhaps a few months) than she has over the past 4-5+ years?
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