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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Apr 27, 2014 19:43:44 GMT -5
Who do you see as being the toughest challenger? I think the Chinese may be the team best suited to match up physically and Xinyi is so young I see her getting better very rapidly. That said, they looked bad in the wind (although I didnt see the first game which they won). Good question. If Xia continues to improve - and there isn't any reason to believe she won't - the Chinese team could be the biggest threat, because Chen Xue is damn near unstoppable. I think Juliana/Antonelli and Lima/Talita will both be better as the season progesses, but I don't know if either of those teams match up really well physically. Ross/Walsh are significantly bigger without losing that much in terms of court coverage. I guess I'd put the Salgado's in the same spot - I'm never sure what I'm going to see from those two - a 17th or a gold, or anything in between. Ludwig/Walkenhorst and Holtwick/Simmler are good, but a level below IMO. One team that has oddly given Ross/Walsh fits in limited play is Menagetti/Orsi-Toth. They played April and Kerri twice last season, losing one match 13-15 in the third, and then beating the Americans in two relatively one-sided games. But the Italians are also really inconsistent, and so I don't know if I can call them a serious threat every event. And of course Day/Ross - they really came on last season, but there is still another level they need to get to in order to be a weekly championship contender. I think they can still up their game, but we'll see what happens.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2014 19:47:55 GMT -5
As big as a Walsh fan that I am, I'm not going to give them a huge amount of wins....it's a long season, the competition is going be be tougher every week, they are older than most of the other teams which will have some affect as the season goes on...I think they will dominate the AVP tour....I definitely remember Kerri having major problems, like not being able to beat Day & Ross... As far as not playing in all the Fivb's....3 small children at home half way across the world probably has something to do with it..... Didn't see any of the matches this week, but sounds like they played well....but what I'm gathering the Chinese and Brazilians didn't play all that well... Hope Kerri & April keep it rolling, but I will need to see a few more tourneys to be convinced that April will be able to replace the irreplaceable Misty... Lastly, Kerri & April teamed for one reason....Gold in Rio....They do not need to peak now....they need to peak in 2016!! That's what I am hoping happens!!
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Post by guest2 on Apr 27, 2014 20:02:04 GMT -5
In 2016 they will be holding on, not peaking. Plus a team with very little to gain from the Olympics comparatively is probably more interested in the money they can make now.
One of the worst things about the FIVB is the segregation of players from different countries. Chen Xue with Kerri in the ultimate big team or with one of the Brazilians, most of whom seem better suited to playing defense. Im excited to see Xinyi get better, but I wish the best possible teams could play together.
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Post by guest2 on Jun 15, 2014 13:37:51 GMT -5
Thats four of the last 5 FIVBs for Kerri/April
If they can get all the AVPs (and who looks likely to challenge them?) then my initial prediction seems likely. Long season to go, but they look good.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Jun 15, 2014 18:23:05 GMT -5
Thats four of the last 5 FIVBs for Kerri/April If they can get all the AVPs (and who looks likely to challenge them?) then my initial prediction seems likely. Long season to go, but they look good. There's a long way to go, but I gotta admit that your prediction is looking stronger than I originally thought. They look really, really good right now.
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Post by volleyballjim on Jun 15, 2014 18:56:51 GMT -5
I know "...on any given Sunday", but can anyone REALLY outplay these two (Kerri/April?)? When they start jelling, and I really can't believe we've seen them in their stride by any means, I don't think there will be many 21-19 Final WINS . . . 17, 16 and maybe some 14 point finals for the "bad guys"....
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Post by wang pu on Jun 15, 2014 19:44:44 GMT -5
Thats four of the last 5 FIVBs for Kerri/April If they can get all the AVPs (and who looks likely to challenge them?) then my initial prediction seems likely. Long season to go, but they look good. Hey guest2. Serious question here. So do you think that one of them will be with Nicole Branagh soon?
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Post by guest2 on Jun 15, 2014 19:57:52 GMT -5
Probably Nicole breathing down her neck is why April is playing so well.
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Post by wang pu on Jun 15, 2014 20:25:22 GMT -5
Probably Nicole breathing down her neck is why April is playing so well. LOL. I love your posts. If they continue to win, does one have the "balls" to dump the other?
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Post by volleyballjim on Jun 15, 2014 21:07:32 GMT -5
Nicole is NO APRIL...If we can get April's serve faults down (how were they in Moscow?), I don't think you can compare the two. She was the blocker for EY (right?), so what would her defense, with Kerri, look like? I sure like Nicole, and hope to see he back, but NO WAY is she April or equivalent...IMHO....
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Post by guest2 on Jun 16, 2014 4:32:36 GMT -5
You guys realize the Nicole thing, at least as regards her breaking up Walsh/Ross was a joke. April was an excellent player, but she hasnt even played in two years.
Jim EY did the majority of the blocking for that team, although Nicole was the blocker when she played with Holly early in her career.
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Post by volleyballjim on Jun 16, 2014 16:23:22 GMT -5
guest: Thanks! I just threw that out without any research and couldn't recall the "arrangement" of EY/Nicole. Hell, I watched enough games, but still couldn't "remember". Brings up a "how good was Nicole on D" discussion; obviously, with their finishes, GOOD; but HOW GOOD? If they (EY/Nicole) came that close to Kerri/Misty which they did, that elevates the discussion comparing April v. Misty...That one could go on forever as many see Misty STILL as the greatest player, but I'm just not so sure how a 5'9" player is best in the world...Interesting, interesting . .
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Post by guest2 on Jun 16, 2014 17:13:22 GMT -5
I think if Kerri puts up a dominant FIVB season this year at age 35, then those still holding onto the idea that Misty is or was the best, will be seen as cranks who cant be persuaded by evidence. I dont think its Misty's height that makes the case for Kerri, I think its 3 things:
1. Teams served Misty 2. Kerri's record with other players is stellar (April, Nicole, even 2 out of 3 FIVBs with Rachel Wacholder) Kerri has actually won FIVB tournaments at a higher rate without Misty than with her. (She has played 15 times without Misty and won 8) 3. The fact that while there were oftentimes defenders, or at least one defender, who dug as well as Misty (although her combination of digging and putting points away was amazing) there was not anyone who dominated the net like Kerri. When people sit down to figure out the best female defender ever, Misty is in the conversation, for best blocker, there is no conversation.
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Post by volleyballjim on Jun 16, 2014 17:20:38 GMT -5
guest2: Interesting. Yeah, if they're serving you (Thus giving you 2/3 of the touches), that is pretty much it...
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Post by guest2 on Jun 16, 2014 17:41:06 GMT -5
Thats what I never got about people saying "Misty is the best sideout player in the world." If she was, then wouldnt they have served the other player? Had the same issue with Phil/Todd at their peal
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