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Post by ay2013 on Aug 28, 2012 15:41:18 GMT -5
I dont see how never having lost a match will impact this year. It is also important to note that 2 of the four matches they won were at Stanford. Certainly they will beat Florida, they are probably better at every position. What is it about Stanford that makes you feel they will play better than last weekend? Do you not think PSU and Stanford are pretty equal, and that PSU playing at home isnt an advantage? What impact do you think flying to Hawaii, and then Flying to St College will have? There are challenges that Stanford will have to overcome. Obviously, travel may be a factor. Dunning will also have to figure out a lineup that will give the Cardinal its best chance for success. Does he start the rotation that blitzed Hawai'i in game 1 (Spelman, Ajanaku, Howard, Williams, Wopat, Cook, Gilbert?) or does he put a lineup on the floor that allows Stanford to utilize its best talent (Williams, Ajanaku, Howard, Burgess, Wopat, Cook, Gilbert/Benjamin?) I believe Stanford has more talent than PSU (but that was also the case against Hawai'i) and Penn State playing at home should be an advantage for the Nittany Lions but it is an advantage because they are playing at home and will be the better rested team. Stanford just played at the SSC in front of 6,000 plus fans. I really don't see the intimidation factor of Rec Hall after this, and I don't believe there will be one as far as the Cardinal are concerned.Despite its youth I believe Stanford will be more prepared to play Penn State than Penn State will be to play Stanford. While Penn State was beating up on Morehead State, Western Kentucky, and Louisville, Stanford was battling Saint Mary's and Hawai'i, much tougher competition. Plus Kevin Wong and the Hawai'i Coaching Staff were able to scout Stanford for 2 nights to come up with a gameplan to defeat the Cardinal, Penn State's coaching staff will not have that luxury. Hawai'i was also able to frustrate Stanford with its floor defense and transition game, I just don't see Penn State being able to replicate that. I think Hancock will be able to score some points off of her serve but not enough to make a difference in the match (Stanford has to be better at receiving serve as they struggled against Hawai'i) Stanford has to be be smarting over their loss to Hawai'i in a match that many Stanford fans (on VT) have stated was one of Karrisa Cook's worst setting matches ever. I don't know if I believe that (although I don't think she was great against Hawai'i) but you have to think that she will be better, probably much better. I do believe Stanford's freshman will shine, they are a talented bunch. -Seems to be a false link by suggesting that Stanford WAS intimidated by the large crowd in Hawaii but 5 days later they won't be intimated by an equally challenging home court advantage at Penn State. Rec Hall has hosted and beat just as many top teams in recent years as the Stan Sherriff. It may not be the same number of people but the environment is just as challenging...You may not understand this because Hawaii almost never plays a top non west coast team on the road, but Rec Hall is a more intimate arena and it gets loud, plus a far greater portion of the crowd are jeering students. logically I think it's fair to suggest that if a tough environment can rattle this Stanford team, 5 days later, they still will probably be rattled by a tough environment. -It's funny how after one week of playing you can use the Team A is more prepared because they play better competition than team B, but every year come post season you and many Hawaii fans rebuke other posters claims that Hawaii hasn't faced enough quality competition for months and they won't be prepared to handle the competition from the big conference programs because of their inferior conference schedule. -You are right in claiming that Wong has 2 days to come up with a game plan to beat Stanford, but now PSU has 5+ days to come up with a game plan to beat Stanford PLUS they have video of a team actually doing it! So wouldn't that then make the Penn State coaching staff having the advantage in identifying Stanford's weaknesses meanwhile the Stanford coaching staff just has whatever footage of PSU beating up on cupcakes? Some of you argument as to why the PSU matchup could work in Stanford's favor makes sense, such as the not being able to replicate the floor defense (though I do think the PSU block will present a much bigger challenge than anything Hawaii threw at Stanford), but it just seems like you are reaching (sometimes to the point of hypocrisy). (I await your insults....though I do hope we can keep this line of convo civil and focused on volleyball) |
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Post by ay2013 on Aug 28, 2012 15:43:00 GMT -5
you also must factor in the 'since my team beat you I need you to beat everyone else so my win looks even more impressive' factor when trying to understand why it is certain posters are so confident. Stanford will be significantly better by season's end (as will Hawai'i.) The Wahine victory over Stanford is great but I don't think it will be as significant down the road. While what you say may be true sometimes, It's not the motivating factor here. I was able to see this Stanford team play 3 nights in a row, I know what they are capable of. fair enough. |
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Post by ay2013 on Aug 28, 2012 15:44:21 GMT -5
personally I think both teams have a good shot at winning. Both are talented and working on things in their lineup. I HOPE for a Stanford win because I'm Pac-12 first and foremost, but PSU has some big guns and it's a tough place to get a W. I just want a good match.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 28, 2012 15:49:12 GMT -5
I picked Stanford in the PtW mostly out of Pac-12 homerism, but I think PSU's gonna take it. Stanford this year is PSU last year with a better middle attack. Highly talented and capable of wowing, but with the volatility of youth and serious instability in the back row.
I pick PSU in 4.
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Post by po'okela on Aug 28, 2012 15:57:18 GMT -5
k. cook's setting - it wasn't horrible.
stanford just couldn't pass or dig up balls (consistently) in the last 2 sets. even the GREAT j. burgess was aced once and had a bunch of really bad passes. from what i remember, b. howard passed better than j. burgess in that match and stood out to me as the better player.
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 28, 2012 16:08:19 GMT -5
-Seems to be a false link by suggesting that Stanford WAS intimidated by the large crowd in Hawaii but 5 days later they won't be intimated by an equally challenging home court advantage at Penn State. Rec Hall has hosted and beat just as many top teams in recent years as the Stan Sherriff. It may not be the same number of people but the environment is just as challenging...You may not understand this because Hawaii almost never plays a top non west coast team on the road, but Rec Hall is a more intimate arena and it gets loud, plus a far greater portion of the crowd are jeering students. logically I think it's fair to suggest that if a tough environment can rattle this Stanford team, 5 days later, they still will probably be rattled by a tough environment. Equally challenging homecourt? Surely you jest! Penn State has been successful in Rec Hall because they have had great teams, let's stop pretending that the crowd was a factor in those victories. It's Rec Hall, not the Coliseum. -It's funny how after one week of playing you can use the Team A is more prepared because they play better competition than team B, but every year come post season you and many Hawaii fans rebuke other posters claims that Hawaii hasn't faced enough quality competition for months and they won't be prepared to handle the competition from the big conference programs because of their inferior conference schedule. We are not talking about the post season, we are talking about the preseason, when teams are just starting to get their game legs under them. Furthermore, Hawaii's 20 plus years of success in the NCAA tourney invalidates the argument that Hawai'i isn't prepared to handle competition from the big conferences. When searching for the truth, take a look at the evidence. You are right in claiming that Wong has 2 days to come up with a game plan to beat Stanford, but now PSU has 5+ days to come up with a game plan to beat Stanford PLUS they have video of a team actually doing it! So wouldn't that then make the Penn State coaching staff having the advantage in identifying Stanford's weaknesses meanwhile the Stanford coaching staff just has whatever footage of PSU beating up on cupcakes? Wong was able to scout Stanford on the floor behind the end line for two straight days. Are you trying to tell me that scouting via video clips is comparable or even advantageous? Poppycock. Some of you argument as to why the PSU matchup could work in Stanford's favor makes sense, such as the not being able to replicate the floor defense (though I do think the PSU block will present a much bigger challenge than anything Hawaii threw at Stanford), but it just seems like you are reaching (sometimes to the point of hypocrisy). (I await your insults....though I do hope we can keep this line of convo civil and focused on volleyball) Well PSU's block may present a bigger challenge for Stanford but Penn State is not going to beat Stanford by blocking them off of the court. |
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Post by carouselambra on Aug 28, 2012 16:22:35 GMT -5
Well PSU's block may present a bigger challenge for Stanford but Penn State is not going to beat Stanford by blocking them off of the court. In last year's match Stanford was able to score very effectively using roll shots and tips over the top of Penn State's block. |
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Post by po'okela on Aug 28, 2012 16:31:01 GMT -5
stanford 2012 > stanford 2011 PSU 2012 = PSU 2011 therefore stanford 2012 > PSU 2012, gosh i love math.  |
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Post by MTC on Aug 28, 2012 16:50:36 GMT -5
I think Penn State is very fortunate to be playing Stanford at home. With such great talent on the Cardinal team it is hard to imagine how they could have lost to Hawaii. Dunning needs to figure out who to play.
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Post by paloalto on Aug 28, 2012 16:59:02 GMT -5
Stanford plays 9 matches in the first 16 days of the season. It may take some time in the practice gym to absorb what needs to be worked on before we see the final product.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 28, 2012 17:16:59 GMT -5
-Seems to be a false link by suggesting that Stanford WAS intimidated by the large crowd in Hawaii but 5 days later they won't be intimated by an equally challenging home court advantage at Penn State. Rec Hall has hosted and beat just as many top teams in recent years as the Stan Sherriff. It may not be the same number of people but the environment is just as challenging...You may not understand this because Hawaii almost never plays a top non west coast team on the road, but Rec Hall is a more intimate arena and it gets loud, plus a far greater portion of the crowd are jeering students. logically I think it's fair to suggest that if a tough environment can rattle this Stanford team, 5 days later, they still will probably be rattled by a tough environment. Equally challenging homecourt? Surely you jest! Penn State has been successful in Rec Hall because they have had great teams, let's stop pretending that the crowd was a factor in those victories. It's Rec Hall, not the Coliseum. We are not talking about the post season, we are talking about the preseason, when teams are just starting to get their game legs under them. Furthermore, Hawaii's 20 plus years of success in the NCAA tourney invalidates the argument that Hawai'i isn't prepared to handle competition from the big conferences. When searching for the truth, take a look at the evidence. Wong was able to scout Stanford on the floor behind the end line for two straight days. Are you trying to tell me that scouting via video clips is comparable or even advantageous? Poppycock. Some of you argument as to why the PSU matchup could work in Stanford's favor makes sense, such as the not being able to replicate the floor defense (though I do think the PSU block will present a much bigger challenge than anything Hawaii threw at Stanford), but it just seems like you are reaching (sometimes to the point of hypocrisy). (I await your insults....though I do hope we can keep this line of convo civil and focused on volleyball) Well PSU's block may present a bigger challenge for Stanford but Penn State is not going to beat Stanford by blocking them off of the court. A couple of thoughts, while Wong was scouting from the baselline, Im sure there was also a tape exchange among participating teams or an agreement to video all matches. Its pretty customary particularly among coaches who get a long. Having video and being able to poor over it repeatedly is a significant advantage over things written on paper, or a coaches memory. I think any coach would agree with that. I will also ask you if you have ever been to a big match at Rec Hall? If you havent, it really wouldnt be fair for you to speak to how difficult it is or isnt to play there. Im sure they will have 3,000 plus at that match, it is a smaller venue than Hawaii's and it has a high percentage of students. While it may not be Hawaii or the Coliseum it is an incredibly tough place to play for opponents.You mention that PSU has beaten great teams at home because they were great teams, and not their home environment. Are you suggesting Hawaii has been succesful with average teams because of their environment? Yes SSC is tough, but those are some pretty damn good Hawaii teams as well. Lastly, There are ways that Hawaii stressed stanford that PSU will not be able to do, but there are ways PSU will stress Stanford that Hawaii most certainly could not. I dont await your insults, because two people should be able to disagree like adults, I believe you are. |
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Post by setterdump on Aug 28, 2012 17:34:42 GMT -5
Williams hitting negative was a function of her coming in stone cold on the right side in game 4. I'm not sure she even took reps in practice running through all Stanford's plays on the right, let alone ever played it (they have a specialized formation where she stays on the right side on serve receive in rotation 6... that goes back to CB... but I don't think they run their whole offense through that formation). Rachel Williams has definitely played Right-side before for Stanford in full matches, specifically in their games in China last year. In fact, you can watch 3 complete sets where she played as a 6-rotation OPP: Set 1: v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjc3MDQwNzY4.htmlSet 2: v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjc3MTI4OTc2.htmlSet 3: v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjc3MTQwNDM2.htmlBai and S. Wopat played left side, with Rachel on the right in most of their China matches. Even though Stanford never tried Rachel full-time on the right during last season, I'm sure it was always a potential back-up option in Dunning's mind, and that Rachel has continued to get some reps at RS in practice from time to time. However, in set 4 of the Hawaii match, it was clear that Rachel was rusty when hitting on the RS and was not used to playing consistently as a 6-rotation OPP. I do feel that with extra practice she could be a very good 6-rotation OPP, and that this may allow for Stanford's best lineup with Howard and Burgess on the left. |
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Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Aug 28, 2012 17:50:05 GMT -5
Equally challenging homecourt? Surely you jest! Penn State has been successful in Rec Hall because they have had great teams, let's stop pretending that the crowd was a factor in those victories. It's Rec Hall, not the Coliseum. We are not talking about the post season, we are talking about the preseason, when teams are just starting to get their game legs under them. Furthermore, Hawaii's 20 plus years of success in the NCAA tourney invalidates the argument that Hawai'i isn't prepared to handle competition from the big conferences. When searching for the truth, take a look at the evidence. Wong was able to scout Stanford on the floor behind the end line for two straight days. Are you trying to tell me that scouting via video clips is comparable or even advantageous? Poppycock. Well PSU's block may present a bigger challenge for Stanford but Penn State is not going to beat Stanford by blocking them off of the court. A couple of thoughts, while Wong was scouting from the baselline, Im sure there was also a tape exchange among participating teams or an agreement to video all matches. Its pretty customary particularly among coaches who get a long. Having video and being able to poor over it repeatedly is a significant advantage over things written on paper, or a coaches memory. I think any coach would agree with that. I will also ask you if you have ever been to a big match at Rec Hall? If you havent, it really wouldnt be fair for you to speak to how difficult it is or isnt to play there. Im sure they will have 3,000 plus at that match, it is a smaller venue than Hawaii's and it has a high percentage of students. While it may not be Hawaii or the Coliseum it is an incredibly tough place to play for opponents.You mention that PSU has beaten great teams at home because they were great teams, and not their home environment. Are you suggesting Hawaii has been succesful with average teams because of their environment? Yes SSC is tough, but those are some pretty damn good Hawaii teams as well. Lastly, There are ways that Hawaii stressed stanford that PSU will not be able to do, but there are ways PSU will stress Stanford that Hawaii most certainly could not. I dont await your insults, because two people should be able to disagree like adults, I believe you are. Why would you assume I would start off with insults?  I save those for the special few who annoy me the most. You are not one of them. I don't doubt there was a tape exchange, and yes you have video to pour over and over again but do you really see everything that you would see scouting from the baseline?Perhaps but I'm not so sure. Will playing at Rec Hall be the difference in the match for PSU? I don't know I think Stanford will be ready after playing in Hawai'i. Yes it is a different environment with more student spectators but it is not the SSC or the Coliseum. Stanford's biggest problem will be choosing a lineup. The Cardinal are deep.They can put a lot of different players on the court but multiple changes not only mess the chemistry of the players on the court but as mentioned in this thread, can disrupt the rythm of a player (like it may have done to Williams.) There are other challenges: Stanford has to block and play defense behind the block better than they did against Hawai'i in the latter games. They cannot afford to allow Penn State to hit for a high percentage against them like they did with Hawai'i, and the setting has to get better. Cook has to connect better with her hitters. Finally somebody on this Cardinal team needs to step up and take charge when the going gets rough. I know the Cardinal are playing for Sam this year so I hope they can get it together. Will Penn State pose challenges that Hawai'i did (or could) not? Yes but it remains to be seen what affect those challenges have on the outcome of the match. |
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Post by jagdpanther on Aug 28, 2012 19:45:03 GMT -5
I said PSU over Stanford last night, but I am reconsidering that now. I think I jinxed PSU. >_>
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Post by USAVolley on Aug 28, 2012 19:48:42 GMT -5
Both teams have great talent, PSU's talent is more experienced... however, IMO, I never thought for a second that Howard, Burgess, or Inky were intimidated at Hawaii, which I liked very much, so don't think they will be at PSU... It was the older girls that seemed to struggle... Stanford is still trying to put all of the pieces together, and they're getting tested.. they still have to go home and play the team from China before Pac 12! All good experience.
I'll predict the match goes 5.. and because I'm a fan (and I believe in their talent) I'll say Stanford, but logically the 5th set would be Penn State's advantage.
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