|
Post by Phillytom on Aug 29, 2014 20:09:08 GMT -5
No way to know about Washington. When I heard Rose allude to it at the press conference it seemed to sound like it was not a season ending injury or anything, but who knows how long it will be. Tall athletes like this -- little injuries can become big ones in a hurry so I'm sure they'll be very careful with Washington.
In any case PSU with Grant and Whitney has middles who will hold their own very well in the B10. They will lack the defensive dominance of Slay but they were almost certainly going to miss that anyway. In any case, Whitney didn't look unformfortable out there playing middle. Maybe she's been practicing there for a while.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 20:09:19 GMT -5
4 attackers over .400, 3 over .500 is scary. Against TCU?
|
|
|
Post by WahineFan44 on Aug 29, 2014 20:11:26 GMT -5
4 attackers over .400, 3 over .500 is scary. Against TCU? Agreed, it's something to be proud of, but it's not "scary". Now if they could hit like that against Stanford, USC, Nebraska etc, then that would be scary
|
|
|
Post by Phillytom on Aug 29, 2014 20:17:27 GMT -5
The hitting percentages are going to be pretty gaudy in the early season but it means nothing. Nobody will have enough size to block these guys until Stanford. But the B10 is a whole different season. I do think, considering it's the first action of the season, we didn't see a lot of setter-hitter miscommunication, not a lot of balls dropping to the floor or emergency tips from sets not being where the hitters were expecting. To me that reflects a veteran (and all-American) setter. It reflects some hard work in practice. And it may reflect really nice athletic ability by Lee and Frantti to adjust and get decent swings when the sets aren't in the optimal spot. And the offensive play out of middle was very smooth considering Whitney is new there. Heck, last year balls were dropping to the floor between Hancock and Grant even well into the B10 season.... The two of them look very in sync now. Courtney hit .556, Grant .538, Frantti .500, Whitney .429, Hancock .400, and Lee .118. I wonder who will sit when Washington comes back? Lee only played front row while Frantti played all around and looked like something special. TCU was too small to stop the PSU attack. Courtney looked like she had played RS all her life even though it is a new position for her.
|
|
|
Post by Phillytom on Aug 29, 2014 20:22:32 GMT -5
One other thing, it was hard to see on the little screen but I really liked the way Frantii looked loose on the court. Just having fun playing the game. At one point she was a little too casual on a hit but being relaxed and smiling is a good thing. Deja always had a great time playing and it was helpful -- when the pressure was at its highest, Deja was always smiling. Anyway, I got the feeling Frantti is going to be a leader on this team even though she's only a freshman. Reminded me a little of Darcy Dorton her freshman year.
|
|
|
Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 29, 2014 20:24:21 GMT -5
The hitting percentages are going to be pretty gaudy in the early season but it means nothing. Nobody will have enough size to block these guys until Stanford. But the B10 is a whole different season. I do think, considering it's the first action of the season, we didn't see a lot of setter-hitter miscommunication, not a lot of balls dropping to the floor or emergency tips from sets not being where the hitters were expecting. To me that reflects a veteran (and all-American) setter. It reflects some hard work in practice. And it may reflect really nice athletic ability by Lee and Frantti to adjust and get decent swings when the sets aren't in the optimal spot. And the offensive play out of middle was very smooth considering Whitney is new there. Heck, last year balls were dropping to the floor between Hancock and Grant even well into the B10 season.... The two of them look very in sync now. Courtney hit .556, Grant .538, Frantti .500, Whitney .429, Hancock .400, and Lee .118. I wonder who will sit when Washington comes back? Lee only played front row while Frantti played all around and looked like something special. TCU was too small to stop the PSU attack. Courtney looked like she had played RS all her life even though it is a new position for her. "it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive.
|
|
|
Post by Phillytom on Aug 29, 2014 20:34:01 GMT -5
"it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive. I guess if you put it that way. The lack of hitting errors (at least till late in the 3rd set) was impressive. You'd think just the jitters of playing the first game in front of a crowd would mean some blasts out of bounds. But they were super solid right out of the blocks. Contrast this two two seasons ago, and even early last season, they were making unforced errors at sometimes horrific rates.
|
|
|
Post by jagdpanther on Aug 29, 2014 20:35:57 GMT -5
It may be just me, but it seems like the girls played a bit better than they have been in season openers the last few years.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2014 20:36:18 GMT -5
The hitting percentages are going to be pretty gaudy in the early season but it means nothing. Nobody will have enough size to block these guys until Stanford. But the B10 is a whole different season. I do think, considering it's the first action of the season, we didn't see a lot of setter-hitter miscommunication, not a lot of balls dropping to the floor or emergency tips from sets not being where the hitters were expecting. To me that reflects a veteran (and all-American) setter. It reflects some hard work in practice. And it may reflect really nice athletic ability by Lee and Frantti to adjust and get decent swings when the sets aren't in the optimal spot. And the offensive play out of middle was very smooth considering Whitney is new there. Heck, last year balls were dropping to the floor between Hancock and Grant even well into the B10 season.... The two of them look very in sync now. "it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive. "SUPER?" I think you're overstating. TCU has no athlete on the same level as PSU's. Very good win and a very good performance, but super impressive? Lol nah.
|
|
|
Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 29, 2014 20:38:08 GMT -5
"it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive. I guess if you put it that way. The lack of hitting errors (at least till late in the 3rd set) was impressive. You'd think just the jitters of playing the first game in front of a crowd would mean some blasts out of bounds. But they were super solid right out of the blocks. Contrast this two two seasons ago, and even early last season, they were making unforced errors at sometimes horrific rates. yup, young players, early in the season usually means lots of attack errors. Florida St is obviously a better opponent than TCU but Nebraska will have 3,4 times as many attack errors after 3 games.
|
|
|
Post by akbar on Aug 29, 2014 22:00:01 GMT -5
I'm sure the thinking was that TCU was going to be ALOT better than they brought to the table tonight. They were awful at times. This was a team of all returnees and a very nice transfer. Geez.
On the other hand PSU made the most of every opportunity that TCU offered and that is the sign of a well drilled team.
PSU has options and it is nice to have a player like Whitney who can be training all preseason in one position and on moments notice make the switch offering experience, maturity and connect almost immediately with the setter. And playing a little nicked up too.
Getting Washington back on the floor will be nice but no need to rush.
Frantti is fast twitch and like Courtney has shots galore. She was hot tonight bUT will experience he growing pains for sure. TCU's block was static and she moved around and over with ease.
Bench play was workmanlike.
Courtney was smooth in her Game today.
Lee looked like a Freshmen bUT did some really nice things.
Hopefully PSU stays at a high level because their next two opponents will offer very little.
Solid job but long road ahead.
Oh yeah.....and in the first game they won 25-10 they played with 4 Ds's.
|
|
|
Post by MTC on Aug 30, 2014 0:48:37 GMT -5
"it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive. "SUPER?" I think you're overstating. TCU has no athlete on the same level as PSU's. Very good win and a very good performance, but super impressive? Lol nah. The first two games were super but the third game was not. Pelcj11 is now becoming tedious.
|
|
|
Post by akbar on Aug 30, 2014 6:35:46 GMT -5
PSU has options and it is nice to have a player like Whitney who can be training all preseason in one position and on moments notice make the switch offering experience, maturity and connect almost immediately with the setter. And playing a little nicked up too. Getting Washington back on the floor will be nice but no need to rush. Why no mention of the other Freshman middle, Thelen? Is she hurt as well? I thought Whitney was primarily an OH/Opp and curious why the other middle on the roster besides Grant and Washington didn't get some time. From the reports I didn't expect Whitney to be ready but as she was it seems Coach Rose went with the more experienced lineup first time out against what supposed to be a better opponent. Maybe they felt they could score more out of the middle and wanted more experience here. I would expect for Thelen or Robertson to get the nod today for some action. Matches should go quick so that will limit substitions. Heck even last night PSU had a run of 8 serves, and they weren't particularly difficult it's just they blocked and defended so well and the opponent hit the antenna a couple of times(18 HE) . As said an excellent start for the team with lots of energy and very few errors. Everyone who came in did their job and it was capped with an awesome Nia Grant dig and hard cross blister from Frantti. Perfect.
|
|
roger
Sophomore
Posts: 211
|
Post by roger on Aug 30, 2014 6:51:48 GMT -5
What injuries? Keeping who off the floor?
|
|
|
Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 30, 2014 7:02:35 GMT -5
"it doesn't mean nothing" is a big overstatement. Yes, it isn't vs Stanford or Texas, but look at what other good teams are hitting vs decent or better than decent teams. Keep in mind that pct says more about low error than it does fire power, and early in the season that is impressive. TCU isn't a top Big Ten team, but they are a well coached team with solid talent. Their attack pct is super impressive. "SUPER?" I think you're overstating. TCU has no athlete on the same level as PSU's. Very good win and a very good performance, but super impressive? Lol nah. I'll say it again, regardless of opponent, that low error, first match, lists of young players is really impressive. Ask a coach.
|
|