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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 21, 2014 17:12:03 GMT -5
And if she becomes a starter, she may receive a scholarship in subsequent years if one becomes available.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 22, 2014 9:11:53 GMT -5
I was so disappointed by Illinois' last match against Purdue in the Illinois Regional that I felt I had to take a sabbatical from VT. Yes, I was disappointed in the loss, but I was really disgusted by what I felt was a lack of effort on the Illini's part. Purdue clearly appeared to want the match more. And, between the Boilers and the Illini, desire and competitiveness would determine who the winner would be. I personally felt that the talent edge was on the Illinois side of the net. Now I cannot stop posting with the good news about Allison Palmer becoming an Illini. If she does win the starting setter role for next season, she has got to know that Jordyn Poulter will be coming her second year with Illinois. I have not seen Jordyn set in person, but I did watch her set online in the World Girls Youth International Championship in Thailand where she set the U.S. team to a second place finish, and was named the tournament's best setter. She is an amazing setter, and at 6-foot-1 she has absolutely everything a coach looks for in a setter. I know coaches tell players that you have to earn your starting position, but I am already anointing Poulter as the Illinois starting setter for her four years of collegiate volleyball. I will be very surprised if that does not happen. athleteos.com/articles/jordyn-poulterFortunately for Allison, she not only has great setting skills, she also has the defensive skills that helped her win a spot on the 2013 US Junior National Team last summer. She will have a lot to do with the success of the Illini the next 3 seasons.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 22, 2014 9:41:22 GMT -5
People always give the good reason and not the real reason Good reason : Palmer wanted a stronger challenge academically Real reason : she lost her job to Bianca A Illinois would seem to be a perfect university for Allison. She is serious about her academics, "off the court, Palmer is an extremely bright student, winning the Academic Excellence Award in 13 different subjects in high school, while making the Dean's List her first two semesters at ASU. Palmer is an accounting major, who aspires to run a non-profit organization in the future". In the most recent U.S. News and World Report rankings, the University of Illinois is ranked as having the second best accounting program in the country: colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/business-accountingShe also has the skills to fill the volleyball needs of the Illinois volleyball team.
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Post by jma22 on Jan 22, 2014 13:39:21 GMT -5
I was so disappointed by Illinois' last match against Purdue in the Illinois Regional that I felt I had to take a sabbatical from VT. Yes, I was disappointed in the loss, but I was really disgusted by what I felt was a lack of effort on the Illini's part. Purdue clearly appeared to want the match more. And, between the Boilers and the Illini, desire and competitiveness would determine who the winner would be. I personally felt that the talent edge was on the Illinois side of the net. Now I cannot stop posting with the good news about Allison Palmer becoming an Illini. If she does win the starting setter role for next season, she has got to know that Jordyn Poulter will be coming her second year with Illinois. I have not seen Jordyn set in person, but I did watch her set online in the World Girls Youth International Championship in Thailand where she set the U.S. team to a second place finish, and was named the tournament's best setter. She is an amazing setter, and at 6-foot-1 she has absolutely everything a coach looks for in a setter. I know coaches tell players that you have to earn your starting position, but I am already anointing Poulter as the Illinois starting setter for her four years of collegiate volleyball. I will be very surprised if that does not happen. athleteos.com/articles/jordyn-poulterFortunately for Allison, she not only has great setting skills, she also has the defensive skills that helped her win a spot on the 2013 US Junior National Team last summer. She will have a lot to do with the success of the Illini the next 3 seasons. We definitely seem to be covered at the setter position for awhile. What do you think will happen to Lex's playing time during the next two seasons?
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Post by orangeandblue on Jan 22, 2014 13:41:36 GMT -5
Any news on non-conference schedule yet?
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Post by jma22 on Jan 22, 2014 13:42:43 GMT -5
Any news on non-conference schedule yet? Apparently Illinois will play Creighton. I wouldn't expect to hear much more until summer.
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Post by 5280volleyball on Jan 22, 2014 13:45:15 GMT -5
I'm surprised Palmer joined as a walk on. She's got to be getting some kind of academic scholarship for that to be happening. Why do you say that? I wouldn't necessarily be surprised if a brain surgeon (who owns his own private practice) has decided to pay for three years of his daughter's college out of pocket. I wasn't aware her dad was a brain surgeon. But it is rare for a girl who was a good starting setter in the Pac 12 to go somewhere else as a walk on when they could certainly command a full ride.
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Post by oshkoshdadmjs on Jan 23, 2014 14:33:25 GMT -5
The problem wasn't "chemistry" or anything like that. The problem was the ridiculous offense run. Skying balls to the ceiling and making Lex put backspin on every ball. They're playing this high ball Cali offense doesn't work when you don't have Bartsch and Ward anymore.
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Post by oshkoshdadmjs on Jan 23, 2014 16:45:06 GMT -5
I'm not blaming Birks and Criswell, I'm blaming the coaching.
If you have two premiere OHs (Ward and Bartsch) it's fine to be a defensive oriented team and throw up every ball high to the outside without any offense in the middle. Without those two players (Birks improved a ton this year but she doesn't have the physical skill of Bartsch and isn't up to Ward by any means) you need to adapt, which hasn't happened. Illinois runs the highest "offense" in the country, if you even want to call it that. The focus needs to be at the net on improving offensive schemes and blocking.
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Post by oshkoshdadmjs on Jan 23, 2014 17:29:37 GMT -5
You're literally making my point. It's not the same team. Change the strategy.
I'm actually saying tangible things they could change. All you're saying (after admitting that you had no knowledge inside the program) is that they "don't gel." Great insight.
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Post by percival on Jan 24, 2014 15:57:08 GMT -5
What are the expectation for Strizak and Roustio next year? Would love to see them give Criswell competition at L2. Will either be ready to go?
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Post by jma22 on Jan 24, 2014 21:20:11 GMT -5
What are the expectation for Strizak and Roustio next year? Would love to see them give Criswell competition at L2. Will either be ready to go? We didn't lose any hitters last season so it's going to be tough for them. Strizak might get some more time this year, but Kevin could decide to redshirt her. She'll be a great hitter for us in the future. I doubt Roustio will get any real play time. I have no idea how either of them are progressing in practice so I could be wrong.
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Post by Pasquale on Jan 24, 2014 22:01:13 GMT -5
I expect Strizak will seriously contend for Criswell's spot in the lineup and Staddick will challenge Mayers in the middle. The competition and experience will help Illinois and we should be improved at both of these positions this fall, regardless of who starts.
I'd like to see Hambly use Stark as the libero and keep Davis as a defensive specialist. Stark is an excellent passer and has good ball handling skills.
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Post by david on Jan 24, 2014 22:20:35 GMT -5
I didn't see the Purdue match, but based on the couple matches I saw and the stats, it looked like Criswell really came on at the end of the year.
For an OH, there are four prime criteria:
1. How high they can hit the ball (and block); 2. How hard they can hit the ball (and aim); 3. How well they can pass; 4. How smart and fearless they are- can you get them tipping and making errors and essentially choking.
I don't think there's ever been any question about Criswell on 1 and 2. 3 has been a concern, I'm assuming she improved or was covered up (and could remain so). 4 is where great hitters are made, so perhaps either of the younger players could step up and challenge.
But it seemed the game critiques mostly centered around the pace of sets, efficacy of middle blocking, serve consistency, and passing (although passing improved). Not sure how many of those are Criswell vs. other players vs. coaching technique.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jan 29, 2014 8:00:02 GMT -5
Good news continues to come for next season's (and future season's) Illini. The hiring of former Illini setter, Hillary Haen, is great news. Very smart and very classy, Hillary has continued to maintain close ties to the Illinois volleyball program since she graduated. Although she is originally from the suburbs of Chicago, she continued to live in Central Illinois, and often could be seen at Illinois volleyball games. I look for her to have a very positive impact on the Illini program on the court and off.
Here is the local paper's article on Haen's hiring:
Ex-Illini Haen Joins Volleyball Staff
Tue, 01/28/2014 - 5:30pm | Jeff Huth CHAMPAIGN — During his five-year tenure as Illinois volleyball head coach, Kevin Hambly increasingly has welcomed former Illini players to his staff.
To this point, those additions have been in the temporary roles of volunteer assistant (Laura DeBruler) and student assistant (Michelle Bartsch, Erin Johnson) or in the non-coaching position of director of volleyball operations (Johannah Bangert).
On Tuesday, Hambly announced he had dipped into this same pool again to fill a full-time assistant coaching position with — for the first time — an ex-Illini.
His choice: Hillary Haen.
The former All-America setter succeeds Jayme Gergen, who was not retained after one year on the UI staff. Haen’s hiring is effective Wednesday.
“As I entered this process, I thought that one of the things I’d like to explore was the option of a former player,” Hambly said.
The UI coach indicated that the presence in recent seasons of such former Illini as DeBruler and the others on the practice court and in the coaches’ offices was a positive for the program and influenced his selection of Haen.
“Just what it meant to have (ex-)players that have been through what our girls are going through and dealing with me,” Hambly said, “and the passion and the culture that they have, and how much they care about the program — just getting a good sense of (the impact of) that.”
In one sense, Haen is an out-of-the-box choice because she has no previous college coaching experience. Following her final season as an Illini in 2010, the Crystal Lake native went to work for Caterpillar, Inc., in Peoria as an accountant. In December 2012, she moved to the company’s human resources department.
However, Haen continued to keep her hand in volleyball, first coaching with the East Peoria-based Eastside Volleyball Club and later forming her own club program — Peoria Elite. The former News-Gazette first-team all-stater also served as head coach the past two seasons at Chillicothe IVC, guiding the Grey Ghosts to a cumulative 53-11 record and two Class 3A regional final appearances. Her 2012 team, which finished 28-3, set a school record for victories.
Haen said Hambly alerted her to the UI staff opening to gauge whether she would be interested. The opportunity immediately appealed to her, Haen said, because she could apply her knowledge and experiences in the human resources area to a volleyball environment.
“In HR at Caterpillar, I’m doing a lot of work with teams and with development, and that’s really a big part of where my passion is,” she said. “My other passion is volleyball.
“And this (UI) job just really seemed to bring both of those things together — the ability to work in small groups and with a team and kind of help with team dynamics as well as be a part of a sport that I’ve been playing and coaching for the last 12 to 13 years.”
Hambly said he has two primary duties for his newest assistant. Haen, who ranks fourth on the UI career assists chart (3,956), will coach the Illini setters.
“I’ve watched her teams; she’s a good teacher,” Hambly said. “And she understands this level, so I have no worries about that. The challenge is going to be trying to figure out how to inspire and train college-age kids, but she’s a quick learner. She’s a problem-solver so I feel great about that side of it.”
In addition, Hambly intends to groom Haen for the key role of recruiting coordinator. In fact, the UI coach indicated Haen would be out on the recruiting trail this weekend.
Haen views her HR background and Illini playing career as assets in this assignment.
“With recruiting, it’s a lot of building relationships, which is something that is a strength of mine,” she said. “Plus, I think going out there and talking to girls, I’m not trying to sell them anything I didn’t buy myself. And coming back to a program that I played for and a coach that I played for ... when a girl asks what is it going to be like, I have firsthand experience and I can really share that with them.”
Haen is joining a program that returns all but two players from a team that reached the NCAA Sweet 16 and was ranked No. 16 in the final coaches’ poll.
“I’m so excited,” said Haen, who played on three Sweet 16 qualifiers during her career. “I think that this is a really special team. There’s a ton of potential and a ton of opportunity for these girls to do some really great things, and I’m excited to see what skills I can add.”
Beltran to assist. Jennifer Beltran, who completed her Illini career last season as the school’s career digs leader, isn’t leaving the program just yet. The 2013 honorable mention All-American will serve as student assistant this spring while she completes her undergraduate degree.
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