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Post by Wiswell on Sept 30, 2014 8:12:25 GMT -5
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Post by rainbowbadger on Sept 30, 2014 8:59:53 GMT -5
Northwestern makes me nervous.
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nik12
Sophomore
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Post by nik12 on Sept 30, 2014 9:20:08 GMT -5
Northwestern makes me nervous. I hear you. Northwestern appears to be playing well, and they have some talented young women. That said, Wisconsin is a major step up in competition from their other opponents to date. In addition, Northwestern has done well before out-of-conference to start the season, only to play sub-0.500 ball in conference play. Maybe this year will be different, but maybe not. |
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Post by Wiswell on Sept 30, 2014 9:42:13 GMT -5
I am hoping that the Wisconsin fans will overwhelm the place. But somehow I doubt it. Northwestern and its very small cadre of fans will be pumped to be playing UW. Maybe Chan will blow a gasket and get a couple of yellow cards.
NW has a very good freshman setter. I hope finally after about 5-6 matches the Badgers can get a higher hitting % out of the outsides not named Thomas (and she continues to be stellar), while still getting production from the middles (ie, getting every involved).
NW also, like Michigan, tends to get better in Big Ten play as the season goes along. Overall, this is a real tough road trip for the Badgers. And instead of a having a 3 hour trip followed by a 2 hour trip to C-U, they have to go back and forth and back and forth. Grrrr. Yes, I'm griping again. Who thought this was a good idea?
I'll be interested to see the lineup too. In terms of backrow play, I though Workman was on par (but not an upgrade) with Bates, but with a better serve. I hope they clean up some of the communications errors.
I hope some of the bus folks post their experiences, if they are participants on this board.
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Post by rainbowbadger on Sept 30, 2014 10:26:02 GMT -5
I don't think we'll have the entire Carlini Clan the way we did at last year's WI@NW match, just because it is Wednesday and it's really, really hard to get to Evanston through Chicago rush hour traffic on a weekday. I do hope everyone will be good and loud, though.
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Post by volleymom1532 on Sept 30, 2014 10:28:59 GMT -5
I am going for the Wildcats. I think they have several offensive options. Wisconsin so far seems to have just a couple of studs. All of the great setting in the world can't help if you have only a couple of offensive weapons. Should be a good game regardless. Plus I love that a few different teams might do well in the Big10.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 11:23:02 GMT -5
Northwestern makes me nervous. They should scare everyone. |
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Post by Wiswell on Sept 30, 2014 11:40:43 GMT -5
I don't think we'll have the entire Carlini Clan the way we did at last year's WI@NW match, just because it is Wednesday and it's really, really hard to get to Evanston through Chicago rush hour traffic on a weekday. I do hope everyone will be good and loud, though. Maybe we can arrange for a really big "fire" that requires mutual aid to help clear out the traffic. I am pretty sure one Carlini can arrange for a fire truck... (really, truly, I am joking, both on the matter of a fire, and misappropriating a truck) What about Metra? There's a stop right there in Evanston. I am not familiar with the southern stations though. From the north, getting to Evanston is a pain too. It's the same distance to Evanston as it is downtown Chicago, it seems. I think this would be a good match to break out one of those oversized heads, a la the Orange Crush. Like an oversized Sheffield. |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 12:03:29 GMT -5
Northwestern always worries me, but I was surprised at what a tough time they had with Maryland. Is Maryland better than I thought or was it just one of those matches (p.s. I expected a Northwestern sweep).
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Post by wiscvball on Sept 30, 2014 12:16:14 GMT -5
Maryland is ok... they were definitely out-matched in the Washington/USC tournament this preseason, but they put up an admirable fight for a team nobody gave a prayer to going in. They have a couple nice pin hitters that got hot at times in those matches. I think they'll surprise some of the tier 2 and 3 teams in the B1G this year.
As far as Wisconsin goes, this will be an interesting match. They haven't looked great on offense the last few matches - especially on the outside. In fact, I think Chapman and Bates have looked tired in the last stretch of matches.
This is a match that Wisconsin should dominate if they really are in the running for a top 1-2 seed in the tournament. They are coming up on a stretch against teams that they need to hold their own against to stay with PSU in the race. If they drop a couple of these matches, then I think they probably weren't as good as I thought they were during the preseason.
I wonder how different of a team they'd be with a healthy Kriskova and what they will do if she's out several more weeks (speculation only). At what point do they decide to not mess with chemistry and redshirt her for the year to get 2 more after this senior class graduates?
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Post by Wiswell on Sept 30, 2014 12:48:23 GMT -5
At what point do they start to utilize Fricano? If Bates looks tired, as you suggest, that seems like the obvious next player to go to. Plus she adds a couple of inches. Don't get me wrong, she hasn't jumped out at me in matches, but when you only play a point or two it's hard to get into sync. In various scrimmages I thought she looked solid.
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Post by volleytology on Sept 30, 2014 12:52:22 GMT -5
At what point do they start to utilize Fricano? If Bates looks tired, as you suggest, that seems like the obvious next player to go to. Plus she adds a couple of inches. Don't get me wrong, she hasn't jumped out at me in matches, but when you only play a point or two it's hard to get into sync. In various scrimmages I thought she looked solid. Tired ? Bates is simply a one-shot freshman right now and the opposing teams now have tape on her and she's pretty easy to defend causing her hitting pct to plunge. Chapman just doesn't hit very hard and really struggles against the good defensive teams at killing the ball. Don't think "tired" is a factor at all |
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Post by rainbowbadger on Sept 30, 2014 13:34:39 GMT -5
Tired, no. Frustrated, yes. It's very frustrating to be scouted and get blocked and have your options removed. Ellen appears to withdraw when she gets frustrated. Bates just scowls.
I would like to see more of Fricano also.
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Post by badgerbreath on Sept 30, 2014 14:13:52 GMT -5
Triples on Fricano. So frustrating that we can't see into Sheff's mind on subjects like these.
Looks like I will at least miss the first two sets, probably the whole thing, as I have a visitor tomorrow. Sounds like it could be interesting!
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Post by rockhopper on Sept 30, 2014 14:23:49 GMT -5
Maybe Chen will blow a gasket and get a couple of yellow cards. Chan |
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