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Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2014 23:50:29 GMT -5
Here's why I disagree: Minnesota is NOT at the level it's been recently. It's a young team and it's getting better. It's all a matter of expectations, for me anyhow. Did they play great tonight? Hell, no. Am I going to ignore this just because they won? Nope. But I am going to appreciate what they are doing right and how they hung in there this PM when they were obviously not firing on how many ever cylinders they have. I still see potential here. Heck, I'm not much of a rah-rah fan, but I think this team deserves better than what it's been getting on here lately. It's a #15-30 team right now. Somewhere in there. Maybe closer to the #30 end. We should appreciate how hard they are working to get better. I don't see anything not to root for. Just my opinion. Yep. The talent (passing, setting) just isn't there for a top 10 ranking. Gophers are what they are this year.
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Post by mnsports255 on Sept 25, 2014 0:20:43 GMT -5
Halle Johnston, Jazz Martin (and papa Martin) were at the match with Sam Seliger Swenson behind the Gopher bench. Both appear to have serious interest... Plus, there's another big time 2017 recruit who's taking a visit in early October..
Things may not be great with this current roster, but with the idea of the Tapps and Wilhite as a final product in a few years with Sam setting, along with what could be a special 2017 class, the future is bright.
*Remember, all but 3 on the roster are underclassmen. They are YOUNG!
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Post by mplssetter on Sept 25, 2014 0:27:53 GMT -5
I wish people would stop making excuses for this team. It's almost October!
Dolly is a JR, Tapps are SO, Nora is a SR, setters are SO, Wilhite is a SO. Not exactly a team of freshmen. Just sayin.
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Post by craftylefty on Sept 25, 2014 6:33:03 GMT -5
Curious about the setter switch(back). Can anyone provide any insight into this? Was Erica playing poorly in the first two sets? Did Katie seem to add much to the equation?
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Post by alpacaone on Sept 25, 2014 6:45:29 GMT -5
Does this team look like it's playing for eachother? Looking at Dignittney's joist, this side with its lefts and it's block should stand up very well against all the B1G. So far it seems like Wilhite is filling Ash's shoes as an athlete, but have they someone whose back can carry the team through the tough matches like Wittman did many times? Franti and Lee looked amazing last night, there was a stretch when Lee was absolutely unstoppable; and Courtney, Grant, and Hancock all near 10Kills the Gopeher block will need to strong! If PSU gets past the Gopher block it will be a very quick night.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 7:32:21 GMT -5
I wish people would stop making excuses for this team. It's almost October! Dolly is a JR, Tapps are SO, Nora is a SR, setters are SO, Wilhite is a SO. Not exactly a team of freshmen. Just sayin. I just don't understand what the complaint is. You're mad at them because they aren't better than they are? Are they going around claiming to be a top ten team? They are getting better. I don't see how you can not see that. I totally disagree that the effort is not there, if that's what you are saying. Not picking a fight here, either. I just seriously don't understand the level of negativity -- specific to the team, that is. Not just you, mind you. By the way: +Daly has never been THE offensive weapon prior to this year. Playing with Tori and Ashley was no small factor. She is now there go-to player for the first time in her career. +Hannah had limited responsibilities last year; Paige barely played. Both have improved tremendously. +Sarah hardly played last year, at opposite. She is now a starting OH. You don't see significant improvement there? +Goehner is a frosh, obviously, as is Rosado. Both are playing significantly better than previous frosh liberos and DSs. +Schau has never been the starting setter. I'll give you Nora and Handley. They have experience. But I don't see how these are "excuses." I don't even see how most of these are negatives. Expectations are way too high right now. Give them time.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 7:38:50 GMT -5
Curious about the setter switch(back). Can anyone provide any insight into this? Was Erica playing poorly in the first two sets? Did Katie seem to add much to the equation? They were stuck in Ro 1. This probably had a lot to do with Sherwin's serve, since she gave them fits in Ro 2, too. I honestly didn't think Handley was the problem. If I were to guess, I'd guess that the staff realized the passing was not great and decided to go with someone, Schau, better suited to running down the passes. She is also better defensively. It would not surprise me in the least if Handley started against PSU. I don't think the setting position is anywhere near decided. Passing was never great. It got better, but there were still a lot of passes to the 10 foot line and toward the left. It sure helped when they were able to run the middle. Paige and Hannah were both effective. And Nora is a weapon when they are in system. It was a weird match. Both teams were really struggling to stay in system. Lots of service errors, especially from OSU (and Paige).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 7:44:07 GMT -5
Does this team look like it's playing for eachother? Looking at Dignittney's joist, this side with its lefts and it's block should stand up very well against all the B1G. So far it seems like Wilhite is filling Ash's shoes as an athlete, but have they someone whose back can carry the team through the tough matches like Wittman did many times? Franti and Lee looked amazing last night, there was a stretch when Lee was absolutely unstoppable; and Courtney, Grant, and Hancock all near 10Kills the Gopeher block will need to strong! If PSU gets past the Gopher block it will be a very quick night. I don't think they do UNLESS they are in system. Then Nora can be that player. But, in system, they can utilize the Tapps, too, which makes Santana and Wilhite more effective. I've been saying this from day one: This team can be better than 2013 IF the ball control is significantly better (it's been inconsistent, but better), the setting is better (not yet), and they spread the offense around (mixed results). They do NOT have replacements for Dixon or Wittman. Not this year, imo. They aren't going to beat PSU, imo. What we want is for them to grow with each match. The PSU match could be a huge step forward. Unfortunately, it could also be a huge step back, depending on team confidence.
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Post by Wiswell on Sept 25, 2014 8:27:25 GMT -5
Ok, I wandered onto this thread just to say good luck with Penn State. May you fare better than the Badgers did (don't worry, it won't take much).
But be prepared to be demoralized and crushed like a bug (mind you, I don't want that, I want Minnesota to win, but I want you to steel yourselves).
I think Minnesota will improve over the season. There is a lot of talent there. From my recollection, they always struggle with Ohio State.
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Post by rampageripster on Sept 25, 2014 9:07:40 GMT -5
Some explicit thoughts... 1) My ass hurts! If you've been to a Gopher match before, you understand. 2) Paige Tapp is so quick to close the block, and so is Hannah for that matter. A pair of dominant blockers, and ey, Wilhite isn't too bad either! 3) Wilhite had a triple-double. 4) Our passing and floor defense blows. If that doesn't get significantly better by Saturday, we may not reach 20 points in any of the 3 sets! (No more than 3 sets will be played in any scenerio) 5) Rampage! You're exactly that: a rampageripster. Mad passion and a great fan! Didn't know it was you until I got back home, but I had a sneaking suspicion. Hope you attend more matches even though your Buckeyes won't be playing this fall. Oh shucks.... you're embarrassing me
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Post by rampageripster on Sept 25, 2014 9:11:37 GMT -5
Ok, I wandered onto this thread just to say good luck with Penn State. May you fare better than the Badgers did (don't worry, it won't take much). But be prepared to be demoralized and crushed like a bug (mind you, I don't want that, I want Minnesota to win, but I want you to steel yourselves). I think Minnesota will improve over the season. There is a lot of talent there. From my recollection, they always struggle with Ohio State. Mostly in Columbus though... took them to 5 in '11 and swept 'em in '10 and '09.... last two years have been bloodbaths wherever the matches have been played Buckeyes win this match if it's in St John Arena, no question about that
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Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 25, 2014 9:14:58 GMT -5
Here's why I disagree: Minnesota is NOT at the level it's been recently. It's a young team and it's getting better. It's all a matter of expectations, for me anyhow. Did they play great tonight? Hell, no. Am I going to ignore this just because they won? Nope. But I am going to appreciate what they are doing right and how they hung in there this PM when they were obviously not firing on how many ever cylinders they have. I still see potential here. Heck, I'm not much of a rah-rah fan, but I think this team deserves better than what it's been getting on here lately. It's a #15-30 team right now. Somewhere in there. Maybe closer to the #30 end. We should appreciate how hard they are working to get better. I don't see anything not to root for. Just my opinion. It's the first time in a while where there is substantive rebuilding happening at MN, and I think the fans are really unsure and uneasy. Yet, it's something that nearly every program that's not consistently Top 5 goes through. Remember over the years where Wisconsin was, where they fell to, and where they are now. This isn't a typical MN team of recent years - comfortably Top 20, sometimes in the Top 10 team, which breezes into the tournament, is upset if they don't make the last 16, and finish in the top tier of the B1G, often pulling one upset of the top teams on the way. It's just not that. Every program at MN's level goes through this at times. It might be frustrating, but in the big picture it's not that horrible. They still have a good program, good coach, good athletes. Sure, I'd rather have them be a lock for an upper tier conference finish and a good NCAA run. But, it will still be interesting to watch how this all plays out and the struggle they'll have to go through.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 25, 2014 9:29:32 GMT -5
Just seems like there's plenty to enjoy. But not if you're expecting something that they aren't.
As for OSU winning if they were in St John's Arena, I don't see how that happens. How are they going to pass a team that's serving in Minneapolis? Personally, I think the Gophers sweep if OSU doesn't show up.
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Post by rampageripster on Sept 25, 2014 10:33:50 GMT -5
Just seems like there's plenty to enjoy. But not if you're expecting something that they aren't. As for OSU winning if they were in St John's Arena, I don't see how that happens. How are they going to pass a team that's serving in Minneapolis? Personally, I think the Gophers sweep if OSU doesn't show up. Intimidation... how freaked out would you be if you lined up opposite net from an empty court... Plus me yelling at you... that's nightmare fuel
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Post by gophergal on Sept 25, 2014 10:38:37 GMT -5
I say a win's a win and I'm happy we got one last night! And I think the experience gained will pay off this season and next.
Thanks for the good wishes, GoBucky. If I shouldn't be expecting a victory Saturday night, what should be considered a good performance by my Gophers? I always cheer for a victory and I think young teams often surprise us, but I agree with (R)uffda that my expectations this year should be somewhat measured. I just don't know how to do that.
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