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Post by FTLOG on Oct 2, 2014 0:12:48 GMT -5
IDK, it worries me when Lutz has to face a 6-2. Even more than bad passing, it was Lutz repeatedly being fooled and late that allowed San Diego to take a set from Stanford. Oregon is slightly better than San Diego.
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Post by Cruz'n on Oct 2, 2014 1:22:55 GMT -5
Curious to see how Lutz holds up against Oregon's speed to the pins. Lutz may end up being one of those great offensive middles who lack a strong defensive presence. She's only a (redshirt) freshman, so she's got time to improve her blocking though. She has impressed with her hitting. She is currently eighth in the PAC-12 in blocking.
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Post by Cruz'n on Oct 2, 2014 1:28:33 GMT -5
Was about to say the exact same thing. Just watched set 4 of Penn State-Stanford from last year. Wopat's offense wasn't great but her blocking was what helped them take a big lead and finally win that set. Very happy for Lutz's performance so far this year, but Stanford's backrow probably misses Wopat in just the way hammer describes. Also, fwiw--which I admit isn't much--I think Burgess's backrow play + all rotation passing is just fine. Can't think of another 6-rotation hitter in the country that's better than her at those skillz. Howard, otoh.... I really don't see much difference in Burgess' overall play this year from late last year. She might be passing a little better, hitting slightly worse, blocking about the same, but statistically the strength of opponents might be better at to this point in the season. Howard I would say has been passing and hitting worse than last year, buy maybe some of that is burn out from China trip, then going with her family to Hawaii and not playing for a few weeks. So maybe she started out preseason a little out of shape and not mentally focused. In her first Pac-12 match against Cal she did look better IMO. The last several matches of last year, Burgess was absolutely crushing the ball. She has definitely not found that form yet this year.
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Post by FTLOG on Oct 2, 2014 1:42:28 GMT -5
Lutz may end up being one of those great offensive middles who lack a strong defensive presence. She's only a (redshirt) freshman, so she's got time to improve her blocking though. She has impressed with her hitting. She is currently eighth in the PAC-12 in blocking. I think some of those are just right place right time and oh-by-the-way-I'm-6'8". Having said that, I'm still very happy with her play. I think she'll probably have a little comedown in her offensive numbers before the season is out but I'm hoping that'll be balanced by improved blocking. What I'm really hoping for is that she'll be the second coming of Kate Slay. Slay might not have been super athletic, but she was a really good blocker.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Oct 2, 2014 2:38:39 GMT -5
The Stanford OHs get a lot of flack for not being extremely terminal but they are formidable if you ask me. Howard needs to improve but Burgess makes up for her less than stellar offense with fantastic defense she averages over 3 digs per set, which is pretty ridiculous. People don't believe they can win the NC without their outsides producing more but I absolutely disagree why because Stanford has great defense blocking and digging. The passing is solid enough that they get to run their middles often enough they can carry the team plus it helps that they have one of the best setters in the country. If Stanford's outsides improve they will be unbeatable and as of right now they look like few teams can compete with them anyways.
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Oct 2, 2014 6:18:45 GMT -5
It is surprising how much Burgess and Howard have regressed in all facets. Hitting, digging, etc... Anyone have any reason as to why this may be? If you look at their stats, they are down from last year. Are we talking eye test or stats? Eye test is more important to me because I'm there in the building observing subtle things that affect stats. For example, Carly Wopat replaced by Merete Lutz on the block means diggers are more confused about where balls will be funneled. That's a fair point. I guess I'm just disappointed that Burgess hasn't been able to build off of her hitting success at the end of the season.
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Post by paloalto on Oct 2, 2014 8:49:46 GMT -5
I don’t think Lutz needs to improve in her foot speed that much. I don’t think she will. Lutz’s focus on improvement should be in the area of reading the setter and getting her hands in the right place for blocking. If she continues to improve in these two areas, 6’8” will compensate in large measure for foot speed.
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Post by hammer on Oct 2, 2014 16:17:15 GMT -5
I don’t think Lutz needs to improve in her foot speed that much. I don’t think she will. Lutz’s focus on improvement should be in the area of reading the setter and getting her hands in the right place for blocking. If she continues to improve in these two areas, 6’8” will compensate in large measure for foot speed. The main thing is penetrate over the net into the seam for outside hitters. For middle hitters scout tendencies and move arms left or right. For example, in last night's USC/UW match Seybeldon almost always hit cross court, so as the middle blocker you cheat left and move arms quickly left while maintaining penetration.
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Post by Cruz'n on Oct 2, 2014 20:16:16 GMT -5
She is currently eighth in the PAC-12 in blocking. I think some of those are just right place right time and oh-by-the-way-I'm-6'8". Having said that, I'm still very happy with her play. I think she'll probably have a little comedown in her offensive numbers before the season is out but I'm hoping that'll be balanced by improved blocking. What I'm really hoping for is that she'll be the second coming of Kate Slay. Slay might not have been super athletic, but she was a really good blocker. What is wrong with "right place right time?" I think all blockers strive to be in the right place at the right time. Any way, I'm pretty jazzed about Lutz. Until the Illinois match, I had serious doubts she would even ever start, let alone contribute at this level. She certainly proved me wrong! Leading the nation in kill percentage, holding her own in blocks. She might not be the quickest to the outsides, but she never gets in the way of the setter, and is quick enough to make herself available on all kinds of scramble plays. I'm delighted to have her!
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Post by FTLOG on Oct 2, 2014 22:10:27 GMT -5
I think some of those are just right place right time and oh-by-the-way-I'm-6'8". Having said that, I'm still very happy with her play. I think she'll probably have a little comedown in her offensive numbers before the season is out but I'm hoping that'll be balanced by improved blocking. What I'm really hoping for is that she'll be the second coming of Kate Slay. Slay might not have been super athletic, but she was a really good blocker. What is wrong with "right place right time?" I think all blockers strive to be in the right place at the right time. Any way, I'm pretty jazzed about Lutz. Until the Illinois match, I had serious doubts she would even ever start, let alone contribute at this level. She certainly proved me wrong! Leading the nation in kill percentage, holding her own in blocks. She might not be the quickest to the outsides, but she never gets in the way of the setter, and is quick enough to make herself available on all kinds of scramble plays. I'm delighted to have her! Yeah, certainly don't mean to minimize all the good things she's doing. Still think blocking is not a strength--yet--but I'm also excited by how she's played thus far as well as her potential for improvement.
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Post by network155 on Oct 2, 2014 22:19:45 GMT -5
IDK, it worries me when Lutz has to face a 6-2. Even more than bad passing, it was Lutz repeatedly being fooled and late that allowed San Diego to take a set from Stanford. Oregon is slightly better than San Diego. The Toreros are nowhere as good as they were last year. Still a very competitive team though, losing to unranked Cal State Northridge as well. USD nowhere close to Oregon this year!
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Post by c4ndlelight on Oct 3, 2014 14:31:28 GMT -5
Come on Ducks. Your fanbase really needs a win tonight or it's going to be a long, depressing weekend!
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Post by hammer on Oct 3, 2014 15:25:29 GMT -5
Come on Ducks. Your fanbase really needs a win tonight or it's going to be a long, depressing weekend! This match is pretty interesting because we still don't have a real strong feeling as to how good the Ducks are. Right now, with USC taking a leave of absence, I'm thinking they are 3rd best in the conference. With Stanford, based upon their preseason schedule, I'm thinking top 2 in the Pac and top 5 nationally.
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Post by FTLOG on Oct 3, 2014 16:06:23 GMT -5
IDK, it worries me when Lutz has to face a 6-2. Even more than bad passing, it was Lutz repeatedly being fooled and late that allowed San Diego to take a set from Stanford. Oregon is slightly better than San Diego. The Toreros are nowhere as good as they were last year. Still a very competitive team though, losing to unranked Cal State Northridge as well. USD nowhere close to Oregon this year! Yeah, exactly my point.
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Post by tomclen on Oct 3, 2014 18:05:39 GMT -5
Shame both UO/Stanford & UW/UCLA are happening at the same time.
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