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Post by newbee on Dec 12, 2011 17:23:23 GMT -5
What's the scoop? How do they match up? I haven't watched much of the Big10 matches this year, curious for the insight of fellow VT posters from the Big10 to share their observation.
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Post by illinivb on Dec 12, 2011 17:29:56 GMT -5
I think Illinois is pretty inconsistent compared to USC. But if they can fire on all cylinders, they can beat Jupiter.
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Post by gopherlover94 on Dec 12, 2011 17:30:43 GMT -5
Well, if Ward plays as good as she did against florida onsaturday, USC has another 5 set match coming their way. Illinois is pretty inconsistent though, so this match will be interesting. I'd still expect a USC win though, regardless.
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Post by beachman on Dec 12, 2011 17:34:48 GMT -5
Illinois is gonna get spanked!
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Post by newbee on Dec 12, 2011 17:38:07 GMT -5
Illinois is gonna get spanked! Oh geez, who did u pick to win the Hawaii/USC match? I was warned about the "beachman curse". I hope it's not true.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 12, 2011 17:41:11 GMT -5
Illinois has the talent to surprise, but I think USC will pull it through. They got absolutely terrible offensive play from their middles and Shaw (who have produced quite a bit this year) and still made it through the toughest/2nd toughest regional. Assuming they get even average production out of those slots, they can afford an off-night from Jupiter.
How have the Illini been passing this year against tough serving teams? I don't think Bartsch/Ward/repeat is gonna score points, so they'll need to pass to get the middles (who looked good offensively) involved.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 12, 2011 17:42:49 GMT -5
I'm calling Illinois in 4. IMO, Colleen Ward is the best outside hitter in the country this year. In addition, I don't think I've ever seen a rightside blocker who instills as much fear into opposing hitters as McMahon does (and I've seen Illinois play quite a few times).
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Post by haw2991 on Dec 12, 2011 17:43:27 GMT -5
USC should pull it out in 4 sets.
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Post by illinivb on Dec 12, 2011 17:46:19 GMT -5
Illinois has great serve receive. That's why they basically dominated Florida. Florida became predictable when they could only set the outside. Illinois was passing dimes all night.
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Post by mikegarrison on Dec 12, 2011 17:53:26 GMT -5
How many people here actually have seen both USC and Illinois play in person this year?
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Post by wally838 on Dec 12, 2011 18:04:10 GMT -5
Having watched both teams play multiple times this season, they have a similar "feel" to me. Both have strong, physical players at all positions and tall blockers at every position except setters. Both setters set fairly high balls to their outsides and rely on the physical abilities of their hitters to get the ball down, which results in a slower feel to the game. And both teams have active, aggressive liberos who are team leaders despite their underclassman status.
I give an edge to USC because they have a "big three" in Jupiter, Fuller, and Williams (most of the time) who can reliably provide kills. Ward was a force against Florida and Bartsch is steady and effective, but Illinois's third option--McMahon? Johnson?--strike me as being a little more shaky than USC's. Dorn looked very impressive against Florida on both offense and defense, but she, along with McMahon and Johnson, are less seasoned than USC's starters. I also think that Bateman is a much more consistent setter than Luhrsen and provides a steady presence for her team. Luhrsen has seemed to me to be a little erratic this season.
This being said, Illinois is playing well at the right time of year, and the value in having two big terminators for outside hitters can't be understated. Should be a good match.
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Post by mikegarrison on Dec 12, 2011 18:32:27 GMT -5
Having watched both teams play multiple times this season, they have a similar "feel" to me. Both have strong, physical players at all positions and tall blockers at every position except setters. Both setters set fairly high balls to their outsides and rely on the physical abilities of their hitters to get the ball down, which results in a slower feel to the game. And both teams have active, aggressive liberos who are team leaders despite their underclassman status. I give an edge to USC because they have a "big three" in Jupiter, Fuller, and Williams (most of the time) who can reliably provide kills. Ward was a force against Florida and Bartsch is steady and effective, but Illinois's third option--McMahon? Johnson?--strike me as being a little more shaky than USC's. Dorn looked very impressive against Florida on both offense and defense, but she, along with McMahon and Johnson, are less seasoned than USC's starters. I also think that Bateman is a much more consistent setter than Luhrsen and provides a steady presence for her team. Luhrsen has seemed to me to be a little erratic this season. This being said, Illinois is playing well at the right time of year, and the value in having two big terminators for outside hitters can't be understated. Should be a good match. Thanks Wally. That's much more helpful than just saying "USC in 4" or "Illinois in 4." I was tempted to predict USC would win, but mainly that was only because I've seen USC and not Illinois. Obviously that's not a rational reason for predicting the outcome.
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Post by Courtside5 on Dec 12, 2011 21:41:46 GMT -5
USC is gonna sweep Illini. Sorry Illinois..
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Post by gilles13 on Dec 12, 2011 22:35:31 GMT -5
USC in 4...if USC can survive the assault that Croson and Danielson put on them, a team as left side dependent as Illinois is doomed.
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Post by zuzu1227 on Dec 12, 2011 22:44:07 GMT -5
AS bad as Lauren Williams played over the weekend, USC still won, I dont think she will have three bad night in a row. The key to this match will be the play of the middle. Both Olgard and Williams are big and can match both Illinois middles. I watch both of Illinois matches over the weekend, and there middles are good, but we will see how they match up againt bigger middle blockers like USC has.
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