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Post by dejmaster on Nov 3, 2014 13:52:10 GMT -5
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Post by dejmaster on Nov 3, 2014 13:54:22 GMT -5
I have no idea what to expect with the Illini's next 2 games. Northwestern has played very up and down. Sweeping Minnesota...losing to Iowa... I think it will be a good test for Illinois' consistency or perhaps the lack thereof.
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kabvb
Sophomore
Posts: 155
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Post by kabvb on Nov 3, 2014 14:09:43 GMT -5
Glad for Donnelly she is as Ive said before tough as nails. Birks got screwed for POW she 42 kills, 27 digs 4 blocks and an ace. Big ten twitter "Birks had back to back double doubles on the weekend" one of only three in the big. I didn't get to see the game but hitting .311 is excellent for an OH and then producing 26 kills.wow. Is this really just a feel good for Penn State because they aren't at their usual dominance?
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Post by jma22 on Nov 3, 2014 14:23:44 GMT -5
I know it's waaaay early to be thinking about this, but how do you guys think next year's team will compare to this one? Our three seniors have all been huge for us this season, especially with Dorn and Criswell having a breakout year. But we do return great players in Birks, Stadick, and Donnelly and bring in a very good freshman class with an elite setter.
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Post by dejmaster on Nov 3, 2014 15:40:25 GMT -5
I'm excited to see what the freshman class brings in next season. Are there any highlights of either Beth Prince or Jordyn Poulter? (The one youtube video of Poulter is ok, I personally think that her sitting down half of the time that she sets is a little odd... ) I'm also wondering, Illinois is going to have 4 setters next season (Viliunas, Kelsay, Palmer, and Poulter). Will they switch one or two of them to ds? I think that next year will bring some new energy with some high - quality freshman, but the experience of McMahon and Criswell as seniors, and Dorn as a 5th year senior will take its toll.
I think it's awesome to see Illinois libero Brandi Donnelly getting her 3rd B1G FOTW award this week. Mike Wolf on BTN gave her the B1G FOTY award as of the midseason. Along those lines, I initially thought that one the "greatest ever" recruiting class freshman at PSU would take home that award. Maybe Ali Franti? Donnelly has been a huge surprise to me, and is not far (at least from an ability perspective) from where Jennifer Beltran was.
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Post by oldmanvb on Nov 4, 2014 13:03:35 GMT -5
Beltran was great. I think Donnelly covers more ground and her serve receive gives the setter flatter, crisper passes. I think serve receive is one of the areas of biggest improvement last year to this year.
The setter issues next year will be interesting. A popular, three year senior starter versus the best high school setter in the country. Both are big enough to block, neither has any experience as a right side hitter, and there are not a lot of right side options either on the bench or coming in. Is it possible that there will be another try to run a 6-2, this time with the setters playing all the way around? There is either a great opportunity or a good chance of dissension in the ranks.
You also have two left side hitters who have been working hard and waiting their turn versus one of the best high school left side hitters in the country.
Hambly will have an interesting year next year. I'm sure that is not what he is thinking about, as the Illini have a great shot at a conference championship and a deep run in the tournament. This is a great time to be an Illini volleyball fan! Makes up for watching the football team.
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Post by dejmaster on Nov 4, 2014 15:29:04 GMT -5
Yeah. I listened to the OSU-Illinois Football game on the radio while driving...enough said
Onto volleyball, what is everyone's predictions for the home-and-home series with Northwestern?
Also, Mike Wolf had the following midseason awards: B1G POTY: Micha Hancock (Penn State) B1G DPOTY: Taylor Morey (Wisconsin) B1G FOTY: Brandi Donnelly (Illinois) B1G SOTY: Lauren Carlini (Wisconsin)
Comments, predictions, disagreements?
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 5, 2014 6:56:27 GMT -5
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 5, 2014 7:00:18 GMT -5
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 9, 2014 15:35:45 GMT -5
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Post by vbwheatley on Nov 12, 2014 16:35:44 GMT -5
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Post by trampas on Nov 12, 2014 21:54:14 GMT -5
Thanks for the links vbwheatley. Watched the press conference with Hambly. The most interesting part was when he was asked where he thought this recruiting class would rank nationally. He said he didn't know and that that process comes later, but noted that he has had a top 3 recruiting class before and he thought this one was at least as good as that. About his prior #3 class he also said that class included no top 10 recruits--and this one has two (S Poulter is the #3 recruit and MB Bastianelli is the #10 recruit according to Prep Volleyball). Score one for Hambly. Well done
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 13, 2014 11:57:44 GMT -5
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Post by rainbowbadger on Nov 13, 2014 12:54:36 GMT -5
What's the story with Criswell? Did I read correctly on the OSU match thread that she was injured?
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Post by Pasquale on Nov 13, 2014 12:55:09 GMT -5
Thanks for the links vbwheatley. Watched the press conference with Hambly. The most interesting part was when he was asked where he thought this recruiting class would rank nationally. He said he didn't know and that that process comes later, but noted that he has had a top 3 recruiting class before and he thought this one was at least as good as that. About his prior #3 class he also said that class included no top 10 recruits--and this one has two (S Poulter is the #3 recruit and MB Bastianelli is the #10 recruit according to Prep Volleyball). Score one for Hambly. Well done McMahon was ranked #3 in that class. This is definitely Hambly's best class and arguably one of the best this year. Prince is ranked way too low due to injuries. She is now healthy and one of the top OHs in her class. Poulter is clearly the top setter and Bastianelli is one of the top MHs in this class. Well done, indeed!
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