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Post by VBCOACH on Oct 25, 2007 21:19:20 GMT -5
I saw an old friend at the Northwestern-Michigan State Match yesterday. We used to play on the same team at one time...back in the day. He got busy with life, and hadn't seen an indoor match in about 15 years. After watching warm-ups and the first few points of the first game, he said, "Is this as hard as they hit now?" He remembered the "good old days" when everyone hit harder that todays players.
I not only agreed with him, but was actually planning to make a post of this nature anyway.
My observation was that even the shorter players of the past hit MUCH harder than the 6' - 6'3" outside hitters of today.
Just off the top of my head: 5' 9": Christine Romero of Long Beach State and Dawn Reig of Northwestern.
5' 8": Debbie Brown, current coach of Notre Dame and former National Team Player.
5' 7": Julie Maginot of Pacific and Nikki Kozak of Northen Illinois.
If I dig out my old rosters from the 80's and 90's I could list dozens more.
The only recent player in that catagory (in my opinion) that I have seen in person is 5' 10" (not 6' as claimed) Kim Willoughby of Hawwai.
Those of you here that go back that far, do you remember these and other short players? What do you think?
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Post by sideoutnow on Oct 25, 2007 21:31:55 GMT -5
Stacey Gordon of Ohio State, who also wasn't very tall, is another one of the heaviest hitters of recent.
Kim Glass, one of the taller OHs, also had a powerful swing.
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Post by sideoutnow on Oct 25, 2007 21:34:36 GMT -5
I remember in a match between Arizona and Hawaii, Glass floored Maja Gustin with a hammer to the head. It literally was a knock down blow. Poor Maja (one of my favorite wahines of all time) had to check her jaw if it was dislocated. Yes, Glass was an iron-armed stud.
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Post by VBCOACH on Oct 25, 2007 21:39:52 GMT -5
Stacey Gordon of Ohio State, who also wasn't very tall, is another one of the heaviest hitters of recent. Kim Glass, one of the taller OHs, also had a powerful swing. Agree on both. I knew that there would be players who I forgot if I didn't take the time to gather my thoughts before posting, but, hey, I knew that others would bring them up. But still, my main thesis is that the taller hitters of today, as a whole, don't hit nearly as hard as the shorter hitters of yore, as a group. Still seeking the opinions of people here who have seen both groups, in person.
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Post by gstring on Oct 25, 2007 21:40:40 GMT -5
kee williams hawaii...i remember a game against santa barbara and she completely smashed the ball off of boyle the setter...she looked so dazed after that elsa stagamen pacific
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Post by lonewolf on Oct 25, 2007 21:54:21 GMT -5
Speaking of Hawaii. Kim Willoughby is one of the taller players that could absolutely destroy the ball. When you think about it (from a geometry perspective) shorter players would need to hit the ball to floor quicker since they have less angle and less court to hit (on average); a taller player can has better angles and more court to hit around the defenders.
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Post by sideoutnow on Oct 25, 2007 22:29:54 GMT -5
Yes, Elsa of Pacific was a memorable heavy hitter. She's actually very similar in built to S. Gordon.
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Post by bunnywailer on Oct 25, 2007 23:38:17 GMT -5
Bleh. You're friend is on crack. You all didn't hit the ball as hard as you thought you did.
As far as women who hit the ball hard, there's only ever been 2 that could hit the ball hard:
1. Caren Kemner
2. The entire Cuban Women's National Team from the late 80's/early 90's.
Okay, so #2 is actually a group and not one single person. But no other women in the history of women's volleyball has ever hit a ball hard.
Honorable mentions to Kristin Folkl and Paula Weishoff.
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Post by IdahoBoy on Oct 25, 2007 23:47:36 GMT -5
Kristee Porter was able to put some heat on, but I've not seen anyone hit as hard as Kim Willoughby.
Maja Gustin, was also capable of hitting a heavy ball.
Houston does reasonably.
Pippi: Sarah Silvernail hit a heavy ball.
I thought Lina Yanchulova hit a hard ball, but that was before I had a lot of comparisons... I still think she did real good.
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Post by pineapple on Oct 26, 2007 0:32:47 GMT -5
Speaking of Hawaii. Kim Willoughby is one of the taller players that could absolutely destroy the ball. When you think about it (from a geometry perspective) shorter players would need to hit the ball to floor quicker since they have less angle and less court to hit (on average); a taller player can has better angles and more court to hit around the defenders. Kim willoughby was NOT one of the taller players. She was listed at 5'11" but in an interview she said she was 5'10 1/2". Teee Williams Hawaii's 2 time POV was 5'11". Dave shoji said Aneli otinero hawaii's current OH2 is the teams hardest hitter. She's listed as 5'11', but she is more 5'9" or 5'10.
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Post by pineapple on Oct 26, 2007 0:35:47 GMT -5
kee williams hawaii...i remember a game against santa barbara and she completely smashed the ball off of boyle the setter...she looked so dazed after that elsa stagamen pacific Kee Williams, not to be confused with Teee Williams, was the hardest hitter Hawaii ever had. She was listed as 5'11". She was the mike tyson of womens VB.
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duh2
Sophomore
Posts: 168
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Post by duh2 on Oct 26, 2007 0:41:56 GMT -5
The difference between then and now is the block...I am sure that these girls hit the shizzle out of tachikara (or whatever ball they used then) but they certainly didn't have the 6 foot 2 plus block in their face like today's game. If you are smaller and can bang that's awesome but when you have a 6-foot triple block in your face the ball's going come back pretty quick. Today's game is played higher above the net. The little firey ones like Pressey are fun to watch though:)
Another one to add Demetria Sance of Texas? She could bang.
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Post by khitt on Oct 26, 2007 0:47:08 GMT -5
Kee Willaims actually played in the high school league I coached in. I saw her knock over my middle blocker after hitting the ball into her arms.... Kee hit the ball so hard it took my middle's arms behind her head and knocked her down. The two hardest hitting females I have witnessed live are:
Kee Williams Monique Adams
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Post by baywatcher on Oct 26, 2007 0:57:05 GMT -5
Hana Cutera at Cal hits very hard; I never saw any of the older ladies talked about. At the Cal scrimmage this fall Hana took turns treating the new frosh DS's like bowling pins; welcome to D1 ball. I would agree about the block; I think hitters have to think and plan against more teams now with talent more abundant and spread out in the taller ladies.
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Post by brybry on Oct 26, 2007 1:26:14 GMT -5
The difference between then and now is the block...I am sure that these girls hit the shizzle out of tachikara (or whatever ball they used then) but they certainly didn't have the 6 foot 2 plus block in their face like today's game. If you are smaller and can bang that's awesome but when you have a 6-foot triple block in your face the ball's going come back pretty quick. Today's game is played higher above the net. The little firey ones like Pressey are fun to watch though:) Another one to add Demetria Sance of Texas? She could bang. Well, if the blockers are taller doesn't that mean the hitters are also taller? I would think that would be a wash. Or are we saying there is a correlation to height and spiking power? Or is this purely a discussion on different eras? I wonder if the difference might be early instruction of technique. A lot of the US players have really crappy arm swing technique compared to their international counter parts. Even some of the hard hitters of the last ten years like Folkl, Sance, and Weaver have imperfect arm swings.
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