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Post by baywatcher on Jul 24, 2014 9:01:15 GMT -5
So is Illinois going to challenge for the title this year? Not up on who they return and replace with.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jul 24, 2014 10:40:05 GMT -5
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Post by trianglevolleyball on Jul 24, 2014 11:37:12 GMT -5
So is Illinois going to challenge for the title this year? Not up on who they return and replace with. All they have to replace is Beltran, the libero, and it seems like they have some good replacements. It seems like it's basically the same team from last year, though there's a new setting option transfer from Arizona State. All 5 hitters return, but they'll have to be better than they were last year if they want to challenge for the title.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Jul 29, 2014 5:37:07 GMT -5
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Post by WI FIB on Jul 29, 2014 12:29:32 GMT -5
So is Illinois going to challenge for the title this year? Not up on who they return and replace with. I think they'll challenge for top 4 or 5, but they're still about a year away (with an excellent recruiting class committed for next year) from contending for the B1G title.
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Post by LovePennState on Jul 29, 2014 17:36:15 GMT -5
Illinois can't afford to be waiting for next year. The Illini are laded now. I don't see Illinois being better in the near future than they will be in '14!
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 29, 2014 18:29:09 GMT -5
So is Illinois going to challenge for the title this year? Not up on who they return and replace with. I think they'll challenge for top 4 or 5, but they're still about a year away (with an excellent recruiting class committed for next year) from contending for the B1G title. the time is now for Illinois. Next year PSU's "best class ever" have a year of experience, Nebraska adds to their already stacked roster. WIsconsin gets some blue chip hitters to make Carlini look even better, and Purdue finishes their recruiting coupe that will keep them on the short list for years. The competition in the Big 10 only gets tougher from here on out. for the next few years.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Jul 29, 2014 19:05:15 GMT -5
Is the 2014 Illini schedule the toughest in the country again or did they schedule smart? I think they have potential but Nebraksa, Penn State and Minnesota will always be good. For me I want to see this team close they had so many really good teams on the ropes last year and were in position to win matches and then they just folded under pressure.
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bluepenquin
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Post by bluepenquin on Jul 29, 2014 21:42:40 GMT -5
Is the 2014 Illini schedule the toughest in the country again or did they schedule smart? I think they have potential but Nebraksa, Penn State and Minnesota will always be good. For me I want to see this team close they had so many really good teams on the ropes last year and were in position to win matches and then they just folded under pressure. They have a pretty tough schedule this year, but no where close to as challenging as last year. Much 'smarter' as they shouldn't be in the same danger of finishing below .500 as last season.
I see no statistical evidence that the 2013 Illinois team 'folded under the pressure'. They went 16-14 while being outscored for the season. They went 4-3 in 5 set matches including a 17-15 win against Arizona State and 15-13 against Michigan. Illinois was 16-7 in sets decided by 2 points.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Jul 30, 2014 2:09:26 GMT -5
Is the 2014 Illini schedule the toughest in the country again or did they schedule smart? I think they have potential but Nebraksa, Penn State and Minnesota will always be good. For me I want to see this team close they had so many really good teams on the ropes last year and were in position to win matches and then they just folded under pressure. They have a pretty tough schedule this year, but no where close to as challenging as last year. Much 'smarter' as they shouldn't be in the same danger of finishing below .500 as last season.
I see no statistical evidence that the 2013 Illinois team 'folded under the pressure'. They went 16-14 while being outscored for the season. They went 4-3 in 5 set matches including a 17-15 win against Arizona State and 15-13 against Michigan. Illinois was 16-7 in sets decided by 2 points.
They were in position to win big matches and didn't Texas and Penn State. I think beating top teams when they could have and didn't was what I was referring to.
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Post by jma22 on Jul 30, 2014 3:56:04 GMT -5
vs. Long Beach State 08/30/14 vs. Southern Illinois vs. North Carolina Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge 09/05/14 vs. UCLA TV 09/07/14 at Stanford TV Blue Raider Bash 09/12/14 at Middle Tennessee State 09/13/14 vs. Virginia Tech vs. Washington State Creighton Classic 09/19/14 at Creighton 09/20/14 vs. Colorado vs. South Dakota Another tough pre-conference slate. 8 or more wins would a strong start to the season, 10-1 or 11-0 would be ideal!!! I've attended Illini VB matches since the early 80's and prefer a schedule where all matches are competitive. Illinois should be favored in all of those matches except stanford. And if Stanford beats Penn State, I think there's a very good chance they overlook Illinois. 11-0 is possible, but I'll predict 9-2 (losses to Stanford and one of Creighton/UNC/UCLA/Colorado).
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Post by oshkoshdadmjs on Jul 30, 2014 10:00:08 GMT -5
Unless there are some major strategic changes (which I doubt will come from two former Illinois hires in the off-season), I don't think this team can compete for the B1G or go very far in the NCAA.
IMO they don't have good enough pin hitters to run Kevin's preferred offense (although I have been hearing that they are bringing the sets down, which is good). That style works great when your defense can just keep digging and you have dominant outsides-- a la 2011 Illinois. Birks is a good player, but she's not capable of carrying the entire offense like they need her to. Additionally, the fact that McMahon couldn't make the move to the outside hurts because it takes away reps from Stark (who I think is a very good player and underrated) and makes Criswell a starter.
Graduating Beltran isn't the worst thing in the world because she never really turned into the player we were all hoping she would (or was as a freshman), but I still see nothing to support the fact that this team will be efficient in serve receive. Plus the middles are essentially useless on offense, per usual.
Their defense is going to have to be exceptionally good to carry the entire load, which I just can't see happening. However, they could prove me wrong. Birks could become a true B1G go-to OH. Criswell could step up and be the serviceable second option they need. And McMahon could become a true threat on the OPP. I just don't think it's in the cards.
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Post by trianglevolleyball on Jul 30, 2014 12:12:22 GMT -5
Unless there are some major strategic changes (which I doubt will come from two former Illinois hires in the off-season), I don't think this team can compete for the B1G or go very far in the NCAA. IMO they don't have good enough pin hitters to run Kevin's preferred offense (although I have been hearing that they are bringing the sets down, which is good). That style works great when your defense can just keep digging and you have dominant outsides-- a la 2011 Illinois. Birks is a good player, but she's not capable of carrying the entire offense like they need her to. Additionally, the fact that McMahon couldn't make the move to the outside hurts because it takes away reps from Stark (who I think is a very good player and underrated) and makes Criswell a starter. Graduating Beltran isn't the worst thing in the world because she never really turned into the player we were all hoping she would (or was as a freshman), but I still see nothing to support the fact that this team will be efficient in serve receive. Plus the middles are essentially useless on offense, per usual. Their defense is going to have to be exceptionally good to carry the entire load, which I just can't see happening. However, they could prove me wrong. Birks could become a true B1G go-to OH. Criswell could step up and be the serviceable second option they need. And McMahon could become a true threat on the OPP. I just don't think it's in the cards. I know it's pointless to play the "what if?" game, but it's a shame that Jasmine Orozco left a couple years back. If Birks had another solid to elite OH this team could be deadly regardless of who's setting. Wonder how Pepperdine will use Orozco next year, or if we career's basically over.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Jul 30, 2014 12:50:40 GMT -5
Unless there are some major strategic changes (which I doubt will come from two former Illinois hires in the off-season), I don't think this team can compete for the B1G or go very far in the NCAA. IMO they don't have good enough pin hitters to run Kevin's preferred offense (although I have been hearing that they are bringing the sets down, which is good). That style works great when your defense can just keep digging and you have dominant outsides-- a la 2011 Illinois. Birks is a good player, but she's not capable of carrying the entire offense like they need her to. Additionally, the fact that McMahon couldn't make the move to the outside hurts because it takes away reps from Stark (who I think is a very good player and underrated) and makes Criswell a starter. Graduating Beltran isn't the worst thing in the world because she never really turned into the player we were all hoping she would (or was as a freshman), but I still see nothing to support the fact that this team will be efficient in serve receive. Plus the middles are essentially useless on offense, per usual. Their defense is going to have to be exceptionally good to carry the entire load, which I just can't see happening. However, they could prove me wrong. Birks could become a true B1G go-to OH. Criswell could step up and be the serviceable second option they need. And McMahon could become a true threat on the OPP. I just don't think it's in the cards. I know it's pointless to play the "what if?" game, but it's a shame that Jasmine Orozco left a couple years back. If Birks had another solid to elite OH this team could be deadly regardless of who's setting. Wonder how Pepperdine will use Orozco next year, or if we career's basically over. Orozco took a medical retirement from volleyball a year ago, IIRC. Suffered a serious injury (another concussion) in the national sand championship in Spring 2013.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 30, 2014 12:53:39 GMT -5
Is the 2014 Illini schedule the toughest in the country again or did they schedule smart? I think they have potential but Nebraksa, Penn State and Minnesota will always be good. For me I want to see this team close they had so many really good teams on the ropes last year and were in position to win matches and then they just folded under pressure. They have a pretty tough schedule this year, but no where close to as challenging as last year. Much 'smarter' as they shouldn't be in the same danger of finishing below .500 as last season.
I see no statistical evidence that the 2013 Illinois team 'folded under the pressure'. They went 16-14 while being outscored for the season. They went 4-3 in 5 set matches including a 17-15 win against Arizona State and 15-13 against Michigan. Illinois was 16-7 in sets decided by 2 points.
The win against ASU was given to them by the refs
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