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Post by jsn112 on Feb 16, 2014 19:14:08 GMT -5
Penn State's going to be in the same situation they were in in 2010 next season. They'll be fine. By "fine" do you mean dominating the entire Big Ten, or among the title contenders? It doesn't matter, it will still be Penn State's / Nebraska's to lose (B1G).
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Post by Boof1224 on Feb 19, 2014 4:38:21 GMT -5
By "fine" do you mean dominating the entire Big Ten, or among the title contenders? It doesn't matter, it will still be Penn State's / Nebraska's to lose (B1G). I agree. Illinois has a good program but until someone else can take down the top dogs that's the way it is. If other teams can jump up and take one of those spots this year then great, then we can say we have another legitimate contender. But just like in any sport that has champion or division winner, they retain that spot and respect till someone proves otherwise. For the record I do think Illinois has good program but believe Nebraska would have been the better choice for that tourney. Penn state and Stanford are always gonna find way to be in same tourney other teams can be debated
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Post by vbfanantic on Feb 19, 2014 23:13:57 GMT -5
Watching the Illini last season (and considering their record 18-15 overall, 12-8 conference), I would have to question if B1G coaches really felt this way. It is not like opponents did not know that the ball was going to the outsides primarily...concentrate on defending Birks (even if she happened to be in the back row) and McMahon. I believe with the addition of freshman Danielle Davis to the lineup for defense during the season, Illinois' serve reception and back row defense was the best it had been for two seasons. I wonder if Davis will inherit the libero jersey from 4 year starter Beltran, or will it go to another. Either way I am hopeful for little drop off in defense. I longed last season for more sets fed to the middles. I am a fan of MB Anna Dorn and have always felt she could be utilized a lot more on the offensive side. Her blocking has always been steady. Curious who will emerge the other MB starter, Maddie Mayers or Katie Stadick. Mayers was good early in the season (the slide being her most consistent play), but Stadick seemed to be coming on as the season progressed. Stadick would seem to me to have the higher ceiling for development. Her slide was almost as effective as Mayers, but she could also hit short sets in front or behind the setter. Too bad we did not get to see more of that late last season. The most crucial decision for the coaching staff as I see it is at setter. Was anyone happy with the setting last season? My hope is that Allison Palmer proves so capable at the setting position, that she earns the setting job (even if it is only for one season, with the following season's arrival of super-setter, Jordyn Poulter). If Palmer had not transferred to Illinois, I would not be very optimistic about a huge improvement in the team's success from last season. Do you really believe that they would replace a 6'1 setter for a 5'9 ? I think Stadick will see significant playing time, she does it all.If Dorn is healthy we will look good in the middle. I think it depends on Palmer's placement and overall IQ. Clearly, the block will suffer but if Palmer can do something other than run a moon ball offense, she may get the spot. Could definitely see a 5-2 offense based on size alone. I have not seen Palmer but hoping that she has fast foot speed and accruate set placement. It would certainly help the Illini if she did. And, can't wait until Poulter gets there. She should be a big help.
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Post by vbfanantic on Feb 20, 2014 9:02:30 GMT -5
I really don't believe the "moon ball" offense is the choice of the setter.Don't you think that's a coaching decision? Yes, a coach makes a decision based on the talent they have on the team. The coach must have believed that the team is best off running the slower offense with the setter / ball handling skills the team had. A different setter may lead the coach to believe that a faster offense may be a better option. The Illini don't have the strongest ball handling, the setter is not fast and the RS doesn't have a fast dynamic approach. So, the combination last year lent itself to running a slow offense. With a quicker setter who can get to more passes and put up a good set, it may lend itself to something different. Like I said, i haven't seen Palmer, so I really have no idea. She may be no help at all or she may help a lot.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Feb 20, 2014 9:22:39 GMT -5
fbjr1 asks, "Do you really believe that they would replace a 6'1 setter for a 5'9 ?"
My answer is absolutely if the shorter setter, Palmer, is a better setter than Viliunas. I refrained all last season from criticizing Viliunas on VT (most of the time) because I had my doubts that the coaches would replace 6'1 Viliunas with 5'7 freshman setter, McKenna Kelsay. Setter Kelsay reminds me of honorable mention All-American Illini setter Erin Virtue who also garnered All-Big Ten and All-Mideast Region honors in 2003. Virtue was listed at 5'8. However, where shorter players at the setting position were commonplace 10 years ago, major programs now want the 6' plus setter (primarily for their blocking advantage, I would assume).
But, I digress. I thought Viliunas did a more than adequate job of blocking. I also thought her floor defense was adequate. However, her actual ability to deliver a consistently well-located ball to her hitters was not adequate. For someone who touched the ball almost every second touch, her ability to "better-the-ball" was suspect. She was criticized early on by VT posters for her deficiencies, and I had to agree with these posters. As an Illini fan, I frequently found myself holding my breath when Viliunas was making a set at the end of very close matches. And, not only was her set location often poor, but there was the constant fear that she would be called for a BHE. She had to have been tagged with more BHE's than any other B1G setter. I do not want to totally dump on Viliunas as I thought she played with a lot of volleyball 'joie de vivre'. She added an attitude positivity to the team when she was on the court. But, the most important aspect to my mind is to be able to provide a good set, set after set.
True, just by height comparison, odds are that Palmer will not have the blocking ability that Viliunas has. Palmer most likely would be a target for the left-side hitters on opposing teams. But, not having seen Palmer block, I cannot say for certain that her blocking will be a huge weakness. There have been some short setters that were pretty good blockers.
Also, Palmer's floor defense is exceptional. She should have the advantage over Viliunas in this respect.
The most important comparison will be which player can deliver the better set, more consistently. My money is on Palmer.
(Sorry about the length of my post. It seems I just cannot 'respond'. I have to 'pontificate'.)
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Post by david on Feb 20, 2014 10:30:58 GMT -5
Hambly has been telling players he wants to run a faster offense for years. And while the setter is important in their ability to deliver a more consistent ball so outsides can begin their approach sooner, and more deceptive hands can create more openings, it's also true that taller, slower hitters can often do more with moon balls when a faster-paced game isn't creating the openings or passing isn't good enough to give the setter options. It can be a matchup thing, where it looks good one match and not as good the next. Having a strong block on the RS can slow down the moon ball attack just as a fast MB can slow down a fast offense, so it's hard to tell from one or two matches which approach will work better. But with a 6'7" RS and a 6'3" OH, moon ball can work, just as it did when Illinois made it to the NC game. Interestingly that year, PSU had taller hitters, but ran a quicker offense, yet Illinois beat them once...
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Post by vbfanantic on Feb 20, 2014 10:38:05 GMT -5
In general, as fans, I think we all hope that every new player is better than the existing players. We want the team to be great, so of course we all hope that the next All American is putting on Orange and Blue. Viliunas is fine. But, just hope that Palmer is better because I want the team to be better. Also, i feel like if Birks had a stronger setter, she would get even more recognition. I look at how Dannemiller made Toon look so good. Can you imagine how she would make Birks look? Would love to see a great setter dishing the ball to Birks - feels like she would be amazing (even more than she is). Go Illini.
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Post by hornsup on Mar 22, 2014 9:45:51 GMT -5
Hate to say but I'm thankful Prince chose Illinois, she rides the bench on her club team , at least at this Indy Qualifier and when she is put in she doesnt contribute anything, other Circle City players outshine her by a mile, Purdue has the edge on recruits out of this club team for sure!
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Mar 22, 2014 11:22:24 GMT -5
Hate to say but I'm thankful Prince chose Illinois, she rides the bench on her club team , at least at this Indy Qualifier and when she is put in she doesnt contribute anything, other Circle City players outshine her by a mile, Purdue has the edge on recruits out of this club team for sure! I admit to knowing next to nothing about Circle City. But, if junior Beth Prince is not contributing to Circle City's top team (18 Purple where every other player is a senior), why is she not assigned to another CC team where she could contribute?
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Post by vbwheatley on Mar 22, 2014 13:25:23 GMT -5
Hate to say but I'm thankful Prince chose Illinois, she rides the bench on her club team , at least at this Indy Qualifier and when she is put in she doesnt contribute anything, other Circle City players outshine her by a mile, Purdue has the edge on recruits out of this club team for sure! Beth Prince is recovering from an injury. I like Purdue's recruits, but Prince is going to be special at Illinois.
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Post by Pasquale on Mar 22, 2014 20:02:29 GMT -5
Hate to say but I'm thankful Prince chose Illinois, she rides the bench on her club team , at least at this Indy Qualifier and when she is put in she doesnt contribute anything, other Circle City players outshine her by a mile, Purdue has the edge on recruits out of this club team for sure! Beth Prince is recovering from an injury. I like Purdue's recruits, but Prince is going to be special at Illinois. +1
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Post by vbfanantic on Mar 23, 2014 15:48:09 GMT -5
Did the Illini have a spring tournament this weekend? If so, can someone give the report?
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Mar 23, 2014 16:40:41 GMT -5
All of the Illini Spring matches are in April. One home and two away: Home Spring Match April 19 -- the Illini will host Kentucky at Kenney Gym on Saturday, April 19. Time for the match is to-be-determined. Away Spring Matches -- April 5, Plainfield, Indiana (just to west of Indianapolis airport), first Illini match at 10:30 AM Eastern Time. The Illini will field two teams for this day of pool play: Illinois Orange and Illinois Blue. 18 teams will participate including four other Big Ten teams. More about the teams and pool play schedule: www.capitolsportscenter.com/csc/schedules/2014/ici.pdf April 12, @kansas City (Overland Park, Kansas). April 26, saint Louis University.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Mar 24, 2014 6:29:28 GMT -5
I am very tempted to drive to Indianapolis April 5th to watch not one but two Fighting Illini teams playing their first spring matches. I am particularly interested in seeing how the two new members of the squad, freshman Brandi Donnelly and sophomore Allison Palmer, are worked into the lineups by the coaches. Both Donnelly and Palmer have good defensive/passing skills.
Palmer had a great freshman year setting for Arizona State. I would argue by comparing statistics that she had a better year setting the Sun Devils in 2012-2013 than did her sophomore replacement, Bianca Arellano, in 2013-2014. Palmer was named to the PAC-12 All Freshman team for the 2012-2013 season as a setter. She sat out the season last year. Since I heard that Palmer was joining the Illini all I can do is sing along with Pharrell 'because I'm HAPPY':
"Happy"
[Verse 1:] It might seem crazy what I’m about to say Sunshine she’s here, you can take a break I’m a hot air balloon that could go to space With the air, like I don’t care baby by the way
[Hook:] Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth Because I’m happy Clap along if you know what happiness is to you Because I’m happy Clap along if you feel like that’s what you wanna do
[Verse 2:] Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah, Well, give me all you got, and don’t hold back, yeah, Well, I should probably warn you I’ll be just fine, yeah, No offense to you, don’t waste your time Here’s why
[Hook]
Hey, come on
[Bridge:] (happy) Bring me down Can't nothing bring me down My level's too high Bring me down Can't nothing bring me down I said (let me tell you now) Bring me down Can't nothing bring me down My level's too high Bring me down Can't nothing bring me down I said
[Hook 2x]
Hey, come on
(happy) Bring me down… can’t nothing… Bring me down… my level's too high… Bring me down… can’t nothing… Bring me down, I said (let me tell you now)
[Hook 2x]
Come on
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Post by chisovnik on Mar 24, 2014 7:28:04 GMT -5
Hate to say but I'm thankful Prince chose Illinois, she rides the bench on her club team , at least at this Indy Qualifier and when she is put in she doesnt contribute anything, other Circle City players outshine her by a mile, Purdue has the edge on recruits out of this club team for sure! Beth Prince is recovering from an injury. I like Purdue's recruits, but Prince is going to be special at Illinois. Shondell has been referring to Beth Prince in his tweets a lot lately. Is she going to Purdue instead?
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