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Post by rocwest on Apr 9, 2012 17:06:44 GMT -5
Why so cynical? I think in spite of all this doom and gloom this team will do just fine. Heard they beat Kansas and two hitters came on strong, front and back row. Nope, not a cynic at all. You're replacing two 1st team AA's (on someone's team) with two (essentially) RS freshmen, although Criswell played a little last year. I see a drop off, that's all. Doom and gloom, nah. |
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Post by smiley on Apr 10, 2012 2:21:11 GMT -5
I think it's a reasonable assumption there's going to be a drop off. How big a drop off is the question. IMO it won't be a big drop off but any drop off in the B1G usually leads to problems. Remember the rest of the team is back.
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Post by smiley on Apr 13, 2012 17:06:52 GMT -5
This weekend: Illinois To Host Tianjin April 17
Match-up against Chinese Professional team posts another test
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Jocelynn Birks is one of those players looking to replace departing All-Americans Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward in the Illinois line-up in 2012.
Jocelynn Birks is one of those players looking to replace departing All-Americans Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward in the Illinois line-up in 2012.
April 13, 2012
Champaign, Ill. - Last year Illinois fans got a glimpse of just how good the fall version of the Illini team could be in an April exhibition match. Granted star freshman Liz McMahon wasn't yet on the roster. Still the team's five-set victory over eventual Chinese professional champion, Tianjin, was impressive. Illinois went on to make the Final Four and finish as the national runner-up. After its 2011 United States tour, Tianjin won its second straight Chinese Volleyball Association (CVA) title, downing Guangdong Hengda in the best-of-three series finals.
The Illini hit .360 on the night and rallied from a 19-15 deficit in the fourth set to send the match into the fifth and deciding frame. All-Americans Colleen Ward and Michelle Bartsch had 23 and 21 kills, respectively.
On Tuesday, April 17, fans will get another glimpse of the future with a match against Tianjin. Much is different this go-around. Bartsch and Ward are gone with the likes of freshmen outside hitters Jocelynn Birks, Ali Stark and Morganne Criswell playing those spots. McMahon has had a full spring training session and has played some left side in the competitions so far.
Tuesday's match against Tianjin at Huff Hall begins at 7 p.m. Cost is $1 with proceeds going to the Illini Networkers, the booster club for Illinois volleyball. The match is the final for Illinois during the spring season.
Last year Tianjin played its first match of its United States tour against the Illini. This year, however, Tianjin joins Illinois and several other Midwest schools at the Great Lakes Center Tournament on Saturday. Illinois meets UM-Milwaukee at 8 a.m., DePaul at 9:40 a.m., and Missouri State at 12:10 p.m. in abbreviated matches. Illinois will also play at 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Opponents for the afternoon matches have not yet been determined. The Great Lakes Center is also the home of Sports Performance Volleyball Club, where many of the Illini players competed, and is located at 579 North Oakhurst Drive, Aurora.
Also FYI Liz MacMahon has grown an inch and is now 6'7".
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Post by eweeyeewesee on Apr 16, 2012 12:39:45 GMT -5
I'll see them scrimmage tonight. I'll try to post any observations that I can remember.
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Post by Hank Scorpio on Apr 16, 2012 13:16:17 GMT -5
Anyone know if Julia Conard is going to be red-shirting next year?? She's crazy good but Beltran has clearly earned her spot. Are the new OH's good enough to play all 6 rotations? Just curious if Kevin's plan with her is long term or for right now.
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Post by smiley on Apr 16, 2012 14:52:30 GMT -5
I will be there tonight also.
As far as I know Conard will not redshirt. Just guessing but I imagine she'll take Feldman's spot till Beltran graduates and then be the Libero,
All the LS's play 6 rotations. McMahon has been playing all 6 also. Plus some LS but I can't see her moving there. Her blocking there is too valuable.
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Post by smiley on Apr 16, 2012 18:18:36 GMT -5
Here early watching Tianjin warming up. I understand these are supposedly younger players than last year. This might very wellbe the slowest, low key warm up I've seen in watching VB for 20+ years. They look tall and athletic so we'll see.
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Post by smiley on Apr 16, 2012 19:35:26 GMT -5
Well Tianjin played a lot better than they warmed up but ILstill 25-20.
IL passing leaves a lot to be desired but the line up is being juggled.
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Post by smiley on Apr 16, 2012 20:00:36 GMT -5
Set 2 IL 25-21. Both teams playing a little better. Still too many mistakes.
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Post by smiley on Apr 16, 2012 20:19:26 GMT -5
With all 3 new LS's IL loses 22-25. Johnson not playing.
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Post by smiley on Apr 17, 2012 8:21:10 GMT -5
Tianjin wins in 5. About half way through the fourth set a rather obvious fact hit me. How young we are.. Luhrson and Beltran were the only 2 upperclassmen playing. Had all 4 freshmen on the court for most of the match. All playing back row. And looking like freshman all to often. But playing is how you get better. Sometimes we looked really good and sometimes not. Nice that all 4 seniors were there. Too bad they couldn't play but then how could the "babies" learn?
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fbjr
Freshman
Posts: 66
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Post by fbjr on Apr 17, 2012 8:50:22 GMT -5
I think you are very critical of your own team. I dont like to judge any team this early because their chemistry is not there yet,seeing they have only had a short time to play together -and yes they are young. BUT I think YOUR forgetting that they have a starting middle on the bench which leads to the back row getting hammered without a touch or a block...and yesterday the libero struggled,which leads to setting issues obviously- and she normally is quite amazing so I think we should allow her a bad day.As you stated yourself the line up is being "juggled" so they need some time, it is only spring after all..... Im still amazed that your a "fan."
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Post by smiley on Apr 17, 2012 9:09:52 GMT -5
And I'm amazed that you think my reporting what happened as meaning I'm anything less of a "fan". I think having stuck with them since 1987 through both good and bad times pretty much classifies me as a fan. Being on the booster board for 20+ years might just show I'm serious about it. By pointing out how young they are and the problems they have because of that is hardly being critical. And I don't believe I said anything bad about Beltrans play. Your basically saying the same things I did yet you're slamming me as a "fan".
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Post by gopherfan on Apr 17, 2012 9:47:11 GMT -5
I think you are very critical of your own team. I dont like to judge any team this early because their chemistry is not there yet,seeing they have only had a short time to play together -and yes they are young. BUT I think YOUR forgetting that they have a starting middle on the bench which leads to the back row getting hammered without a touch or a block...and yesterday the libero struggled,which leads to setting issues obviously- and she normally is quite amazing so I think we should allow her a bad day.As you stated yourself the line up is being "juggled" so they need some time, it is only spring after all..... Im still amazed that your a "fan." YOU'RE = YOU ARE YOUR = opposite of MY Which did you mean to use? As it stands, your post doesn't really make any sense at all. |
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fbjr
Freshman
Posts: 66
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Post by fbjr on Apr 17, 2012 9:58:13 GMT -5
Gopher thanks for the spell check but Im pretty sure he understood...and smiley - Im just sayin theyre young ,give it some time...I believe I understand why there are minimal posts on Illinois now ...lol. Have a good day boys.
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