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Post by bballnut90 on Dec 31, 2013 0:51:34 GMT -5
will morales be replaced with a bigger and more effective pin hitter? she was huge for wisconsin in the tournament and i would hate to see her replaced with a bigger and more effective recruit Well, I think that if there is a more effective player than Deme, then that player probably earns the starting L2 spot. The question is whether Bates, Fricano, or Graff will be more effective than Deme. I think we have to keep Thomas on the court in some capacity. She proved invaluable this year in handling sets when LC had the first touch. However, with Mikaelsen coming back, does she play on the right and Thomas moves to the left? Then in that case we have Bates, Chapman, Fricano, Graff, and Morales competing for one OH spot (Thomas has the other), and Mikaelsen playing opposite. Maybe Mikaelsen plays RS and Morales subs for her in the back row? If healthy, these players are locks to play: Setter-Carlini Middle-Thompson Middle-Nelson Outside-Chapman Right side or outside-Thomas Ds/Libero-Morey Outside/ds/libero-Morales No way any starters from this year's national runner up team don't see court time next season unless the Badgers have a rough stretch. This leaves one position open for Wisconsin, either an L2/right side spot or a DS position. Thomas will be on the court for the Badgers next year, most likely as a right side as she has played this position for 2 of her three seasons at UW. Mikaelson might see some playing time throughout the season, but I have a hard time believing she'll beat out Thomas unless Courtnr is really mediocre as a hitter next year. If Thomas solidifies herself at right side, the only open position is the second outside hitter spot. Morales is the obvious favorite coming into next year after such a strong finish this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see her at libero though with Hickey graduating. If that's the case, it'll leave the L2 position open for Bates/Graff/Mikaelson/Fricano. Of those 4, you have an undersized freshman outside in Bates, an athletic redshirt in Fricano, a lefty in Mikaelson, and the Badgers go to hitter in 2011 in Graff. If healthy, I think Graff is clearly the best option here as she can pass all 6 rotations, plays good defense and can terminate in the front row. She has been injury riddled all three seasons though and I have no clue if she'll still be at the level she was as a freshman. I also like Fricano at the L2 spot because she gives great height and puts up a big block. I don't see Bates playing as an outside next year, and it still is unknown if Mikaelson will be 100% next season. Lots of options for Kelly to work with, looking forward to seeing the Badgers play next season.
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Post by tjkbay on Dec 31, 2013 1:43:17 GMT -5
will morales be replaced with a bigger and more effective pin hitter? she was huge for wisconsin in the tournament and i would hate to see her replaced with a bigger and more effective recruit If she's less effective, why would you hate seeing her replaced? because she was fun to watch and had some huge moments for the badgers. even if her hitting eff. wasnt the greatest she was a crucial emotional component for wisconsin.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 31, 2013 7:56:43 GMT -5
Well, I think that if there is a more effective player than Deme, then that player probably earns the starting L2 spot. The question is whether Bates, Fricano, or Graff will be more effective than Deme. I think we have to keep Thomas on the court in some capacity. She proved invaluable this year in handling sets when LC had the first touch. However, with Mikaelsen coming back, does she play on the right and Thomas moves to the left? Then in that case we have Bates, Chapman, Fricano, Graff, and Morales competing for one OH spot (Thomas has the other), and Mikaelsen playing opposite. Maybe Mikaelsen plays RS and Morales subs for her in the back row? If healthy, these players are locks to play: Setter-Carlini Middle-Thompson Middle-Nelson Outside-Chapman Right side or outside-Thomas Ds/Libero-Morey Outside/ds/libero-Morales No way any starters from this year's national runner up team don't see court time next season unless the Badgers have a rough stretch. This leaves one position open for Wisconsin, either an L2/right side spot or a DS position. Thomas will be on the court for the Badgers next year, most likely as a right side as she has played this position for 2 of her three seasons at UW. Mikaelson might see some playing time throughout the season, but I have a hard time believing she'll beat out Thomas unless Courtnr is really mediocre as a hitter next year. If Thomas solidifies herself at right side, the only open position is the second outside hitter spot. Morales is the obvious favorite coming into next year after such a strong finish this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see her at libero though with Hickey graduating. If that's the case, it'll leave the L2 position open for Bates/Graff/Mikaelson/Fricano. Of those 4, you have an undersized freshman outside in Bates, an athletic redshirt in Fricano, a lefty in Mikaelson, and the Badgers go to hitter in 2011 in Graff. If healthy, I think Graff is clearly the best option here as she can pass all 6 rotations, plays good defense and can terminate in the front row. She has been injury riddled all three seasons though and I have no clue if she'll still be at the level she was as a freshman. I also like Fricano at the L2 spot because she gives great height and puts up a big block. I don't see Bates playing as an outside next year, and it still is unknown if Mikaelson will be 100% next season. Lots of options for Kelly to work with, looking forward to seeing the Badgers play next season. I have a hard time believing that Sheffield would take his OH who was named to the national championship all-tournament team and put the libero jersey on her. Deme is a great passer, but... I just don't see it. She's too much of a hitter now to bottle that all back up. I think we see Morey at libero for the next two years. That is why she transferred here. She'll get more reps this spring and it'll be all good. We do need to think about a libero going forward, though. I am concerned about Graff. To date, she has been injured for more of her career than she has been well. I really hope she can shake it off and play fearlessly. There is a deadline by which you have to apply for a medical hardship, right?
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 31, 2013 11:16:08 GMT -5
I wouldn't count on Graff being healthy next season.
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Post by Badger Alum on Dec 31, 2013 11:27:56 GMT -5
I think Morales would be a great back row player that attacks the ball. The Badgers didn't utilize a lot of back row attacks this year. Thomas did some, but it wasn't a standard part of the offense.
I could see Morales as an integral part of the offense from the back row. Especially when Nelson is at the MB spot and/or when Carlini is in the front row. Give Carlini another option. Make the block respect another "regular" hitter.
That wasn't a part of the offense last year and it could be a valuable role next year.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 31, 2013 11:57:51 GMT -5
I think Morales would be a great back row player that attacks the ball. The Badgers didn't utilize a lot of back row attacks this year. Thomas did some, but it wasn't a standard part of the offense. I could see Morales as an integral part of the offense from the back row. Especially when Nelson is at the MB spot and/or when Carlini is in the front row. Give Carlini another option. Make the block respect another "regular" hitter. That wasn't a part of the offense last year and it could be a valuable role next year. If it didn't happen this season it's not happening next season.
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Post by volleymom1532 on Dec 31, 2013 12:04:34 GMT -5
I wonder if Blake will transfer? I don't see her playing much. She had opportunity this year with 22 sets and only 5 kills. Any thoughts?
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Post by Wiswell on Dec 31, 2013 12:20:23 GMT -5
I wonder if Blake will transfer? I don't see her playing much. She had opportunity this year with 22 sets and only 5 kills. Any thoughts? I think she will get more opportunities. She was concussed I believe on two separate occasions. She appears to have good foot speed and is a good blocker.
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Post by bucky415 on Dec 31, 2013 12:44:45 GMT -5
Blake wasn't available for quite a few matches due to the concussions and also was held back because the Badgers weren't able to have too many matches that they had in hand to be able to sub in their limited healthy options. I think she played in the majority of the matches in which she was available late in the season prior to the tournament.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2013 13:08:47 GMT -5
I think Morales would be a great back row player that attacks the ball. The Badgers didn't utilize a lot of back row attacks this year. Thomas did some, but it wasn't a standard part of the offense. I could see Morales as an integral part of the offense from the back row. Especially when Nelson is at the MB spot and/or when Carlini is in the front row. Give Carlini another option. Make the block respect another "regular" hitter. That wasn't a part of the offense last year and it could be a valuable role next year. If it didn't happen this season it's not happening next season. Why not? Every coach and team is always looking to improve and add new dimension to their game. The weakest spot for me is Thomas, she can get hot, but she can get very very cold. she needs to improve her consistency, drastically. I see her sharing that opposite. Mikaelsen is a better offensive threat, left handed, and led the team in kills last year.
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Post by Badger Alum on Dec 31, 2013 14:19:01 GMT -5
If healthy, I see Mikaelsen winning the RS spot. See see Thomas competing for more playing time on the Left.
I think Morales will have a roll in offense from the back row. If she's only playing 3 rotations, she'll have more energy to expel in the back row.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 31, 2013 14:30:06 GMT -5
I wonder if Blake will transfer? I don't see her playing much. She had opportunity this year with 22 sets and only 5 kills. Any thoughts? I hope not. I like her style of play. She's got good lateral quickness, too, which is hard to teach. She couldn't play much this year because she missed a lot of practice because of the concussions. I believe that it takes longer to clear players after subsequent head injuries than after the first, if they occur in close proximity to each other. Next year Sheffield will have to give Blake more time because Dom will be graduating and he'll need to develop his other players.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Dec 31, 2013 14:32:27 GMT -5
If it didn't happen this season it's not happening next season. Why not? Every coach and team is always looking to improve and add new dimension to their game. The weakest spot for me is Thomas, she can get hot, but she can get very very cold. she needs to improve her consistency, drastically. I see her sharing that opposite. Mikaelsen is a better offensive threat, left handed, and led the team in kills last year. This is the hard part. Mikaelsen had more kills per set, but Thomas has had more blocks per set and can take the second touch and keep us in system. It's a trade off, and I'm not sure how the math adds up.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 31, 2013 14:40:50 GMT -5
If healthy, I see Mikaelsen winning the RS spot. See see Thomas competing for more playing time on the Left. I think Morales will have a roll in offense from the back row. If she's only playing 3 rotations, she'll have more energy to expel in the back row. Morales isn't that great of a backrow player. She's super athletic, which allows her to get away with some things that other, less athletic girls, can't get away with. However, she does make a lot of silly and unforced errors on defense. She did a lot better than I expected this season, but I can't see her being the OH2 next season unless %*$# really hits the fan.
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Post by Wiswell on Dec 31, 2013 15:45:11 GMT -5
Why not? Every coach and team is always looking to improve and add new dimension to their game. The weakest spot for me is Thomas, she can get hot, but she can get very very cold. she needs to improve her consistency, drastically. I see her sharing that opposite. Mikaelsen is a better offensive threat, left handed, and led the team in kills last year. This is the hard part. Mikaelsen had more kills per set, but Thomas has had more blocks per set and can take the second touch and keep us in system. It's a trade off, and I'm not sure how the math adds up. FWIW, I think Thomas has other better skills - leadership, defense, confidence, setting ability and the willingness to try the tough shot. Mikaelsen to me is like Chapman, could have a big improvement and confidence building under Sheffield's coaching. She always seemed to get discouraged easily and would also take the low error, safe shot a lot.
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