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Post by WahineFan44 on Sept 7, 2014 19:38:40 GMT -5
After the Penn State and Illinois games I will give my two cents about the near-term future. Although the team has been winning thus far, there is much room for improvement. Burgess should put the top-spin jump serve on the backburner. She can perfect it during practice, not while playing the #1 team. I was critical of Burgess' hitting the start of last season. She improved substantially during mid-season and was teeing off on every hittable set by the end of the season. I will wait to see how she progresses. Did anyone see volunteer assistant coach 6'6" Kasey Crider talking to Lutz during timeouts in the Illinois match? She makes Crider look like a short person. Lutz did some good things during the Illinois match. She has a surprisingly strong wrist snap when hitting. I think it is still too early to make a decision about MB2. Either player may improve during pre-conference with more experience. Hopefully by conference it will be clear who gets the starting position. I would like to see more of Brown as a sub for serving. I predict Stanford will lose at least two matches during the regular season; possibly more and possibly when everyone least expects it. Here is a two minute video for Stanford fans who couldn't watch the Penn State game. It may take 10 seconds for the video to start. www.gostanford.com/mediaPortal/player.dbml?id=3384483Some quotes after the Penn State game: Quote from Morgan Boukather about her early season success: “ I’ve been around for a while. You learn from your experiences.” Quote from Russ Rose on Inky: “ If the game’s close, Inky can win it. No shocker there.” Quote from Inky: “ The point of preseason and the games we play is to learn a lot. We have a lot of room for improvement. It wasn’t a great game on either side of the net.” Quote from Dunning: “ Some of the things we did since the start of fall camp did not work tonight at all. So we’ve got to go back to the drawing board and figure out what the next thing is.” Good reporting PA. I think what we learned at today's Illini match, is that Lutz almost has to be Stanford's MB2. Her ability to hit the front-one set effectively is just the juice Stanford needs to balance out their weak pin hitting. And, of course, her blocking, while a work in progress, is showing much promise. Getting her into games so she can get "real" blocking reps will be an important key to Stanford's NCAA push. McGehee is so talented, but I feel like lutz is way ahead of her. It's sad because she would start at so many top programs, but Stanford is just way to competitve
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Post by volleylearner on Sept 7, 2014 19:52:41 GMT -5
McGehee is so talented, but I feel like lutz is way ahead of her. It's sad because she would start at so many top programs, but Stanford is just way to competitve Sad? No. Not ideal either, but she knew the possibilities when she made the decision and is (hopefully) getting a great college experience no matter what. Probably many players in a similar situation at other schools.
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Post by Cruz'n on Sept 7, 2014 21:57:44 GMT -5
It was great to see Merete have her break-out game. She is definitely the MB2 now. Megan might see some playing time against teams that run a quick offense to the outsides. But against teams that set highs outside, Merete will do great.
Madi has a great serve when she doesn't hit it ten feet long, but Sidney probably has the best serve on the team. She just has to have the confidence to go 100% every serve, rather than take so much off late in games or in tight games.
Morgan is playing great. I'm so happy for her. Her back row hitting is the most consistent on the team. She is not so quick on defense, and can't cover dinks, but I don't feel she is a liability. Anyway, several times Dunning has subbed in defensive players for her when needed. Her serve is good, too.
I am optimistic about Brittany. Last year she would get gassed towards end of long matches, would lose her spring. Well, we just had two 5-setters, and she was certainly NOT gassed at all. She is in fine shape. She might not be terminating at a high percentage, but she is make good shots, taking good swings, and not making errors.
It's still early, but I am EXCITED about this team!
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Post by hammer on Sept 8, 2014 19:20:11 GMT -5
Too bad Stone isn't considering Stanford. She is a dominant player and will continue to be so for the next 2 years. Who I am hoping Stanford will get in 2016 is Kathryn Plummer, a 6'5 setter/opposite out of SoCal and from Tstreet volleyball club. She is fun to watch. She will be a special player I am telling you. Definitely top 5 on that class. I won't be surprised though if she commits to Pepperdine or USC though, as she is more inclined with programs that has strong Sand volleyball programs. Earlier, we talked about potential recruits and I think for 2016, aside from Fitzmorris and Hentz, Stanford might be looking for an MB from Oregon. She has the potential to be a dominant MB but her development has been hampered as she sat out for more than a year due to a concussion. From what I heard, she is slowly getting back to her top form and will continue to improve over the next 2 years. She visited a couple of Pac12 powerhouses already (Stanford and SC). Stanford needs to reload for 2016 in all positions as the 2014 and 2015 classes are quiet although getting Hodson is clearly a wonderful news. It sounds like Plummer made a visit to Stanford this past weekend. I think we are in good shape if she joins the 2016 recruit class. Any further status on Sun in 2017? What about the setter position ... I know we have Humphries in 2016, but after that who sets?
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Post by Sbilo on Sept 9, 2014 1:44:46 GMT -5
Hammer, bingo!
Payton Chang, a 5'10 setter from Laguna Beach just committed to Stanford. She is a 2015 I believe.
And yes, Plummer visited Stanford this weekend together with Hodson, Chang and Raquel - all Stanford commits for 2015. Mirkovic was also there. Bodes well for the Cards I guess.
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Post by Sbilo on Sept 9, 2014 8:13:56 GMT -5
Here is Payton Chang's highlight video.
I don't know where she is ranked at the prep volleyball senior aces as I don't have a subscription but she seems like a very good setter. Three setters next year? Maybe she can be a DS/Libero ala Justine Wong Orantes of Nebraska.
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Post by baywatcher on Sept 9, 2014 11:42:11 GMT -5
Who is Raquel (2015 commit, according to above; is that a last name?)
Coaches must go nuts watching recruiting videos. I watch the one for Chang and what I see is an OH absolutely burying the ball on a regular basis.
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Post by baywatcher on Sept 9, 2014 11:44:01 GMT -5
I do have a subscription and will report if/when Chang's name comes up. No Stanford names to date, nor any no choices, so I suspect she will be on the next 150 (after 100), unless a top 30 recruit.
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Post by hammer on Sept 9, 2014 13:32:18 GMT -5
Hammer, bingo! Payton Chang, a 5'10 setter from Laguna Beach just committed to Stanford. She is a 2015 I believe. And yes, Plummer visited Stanford this weekend together with Hodson, Chang and Raquel - all Stanford commits for 2015. Mirkovic was also there. Bodes well for the Cards I guess. Ok, she was with her dad on Friday night and initially was sitting very close to me behind the Stanford bench. When she located Hayley she went over and sat next to her. I looked at the video and like her footwork, hands, and squaring up to the ball when setting to the left side. Pipes, ones, D's, RS sets are harder to judge due to the camera angle, number of data points, but I would grade them slightly above average on a first look. Her serving needs work ... too much of a lollipop IMO. I saw sone nice bump sets from her ... is she playing some beach out at Laguna or Corona? Since she is 5'10" and we have another setter coming in, it seems like Stanford might be headed to 6-2 land beyond 2015?
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Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 9, 2014 13:33:57 GMT -5
Stanford should be putting together a pretty nasty sand team soon, esp. if they get Plummer/Mirkovic. Is there a separate staff being hired?
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Post by hammer on Sept 9, 2014 13:59:50 GMT -5
Stanford should be putting together a pretty nasty sand team soon, esp. if they get Plummer/Mirkovic. Is there a separate staff being hired? Their are rumors. I know who I would like, but she is still competing and hopefully bringing home gold in 2016.
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Post by trydelt10 on Sept 9, 2014 14:08:23 GMT -5
Who is Raquel (2015 commit, according to above; is that a last name?) Coaches must go nuts watching recruiting videos. I watch the one for Chang and what I see is an OH absolutely burying the ball on a regular basis. Yes Catherine Raquel, she's a TStreet setter...if I recall correctly?
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Post by bayarea on Sept 9, 2014 14:09:42 GMT -5
Here is Payton Chang's highlight video. I don't know where she is ranked at the prep volleyball senior aces as I don't have a subscription but she seems like a very good setter. Three setters next year? Maybe she can be a DS/Libero ala Justine Wong Orantes of Nebraska. Maybe it's just me, but I don't consider Payton Chang a Stanford-caliber scholarship setter...in the mold of elite setters they have used in the past. Maybe a walk-on? She does play sand, though.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Sept 9, 2014 14:35:16 GMT -5
Who is Raquel (2015 commit, according to above; is that a last name?) Coaches must go nuts watching recruiting videos. I watch the one for Chang and what I see is an OH absolutely burying the ball on a regular basis. Yes Catherine Raquel, she's a TStreet setter...if I recall correctly? Wait, I'm pretty sure Raquel graduated from high school last spring. I would guess she's at Stanford as a student as opposed to a student-athlete. Glad to hear Payton was admitted to Stanford - it's been my understanding that was her dream school for quite some time. Great kid, good player (solid on the beach as well). I'd imagine she'll be a walk-on.
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Post by cardcounter on Sept 9, 2014 14:41:24 GMT -5
It shows on TStreet site Raquel is a 2014 graduate. She is probably planning to start school at Stanford in two weeks. If true, she must be a sand player (scholarship?) or got admitted through the normal application process and not planning to play volleyball.
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