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Post by jsn112 on Dec 19, 2014 16:19:25 GMT -5
Watching the match from a future national team perspective, Inky is clearly a player they'll want to consider. I'm interested, however, in seeing how Courtney develops. Her all-around game should translate internationally. She reminds me a bit of Larson. Anyone know if she's even on the radar screen for the national program? I kept wondering how she struggled all year. Such a beautiful armswing, and that contact point. She also looks like a very smooth passer. Serving is a weakness, but we don't seem to have trouble in the USWNT producing good servers. She only struggled in the 2nd half when she was very tentative with roll shots and such after moving to LS. She was great when she was on the RS.
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Post by akbar on Dec 19, 2014 16:40:27 GMT -5
For what it's worth, the 6-rotation players have been important to PSU the last 10 years. Hodge, McClendon, now Courtney and Frantti all play back row and do it well. PSU has used more DS's this year for serving I think mainly because they've gotten good tough serving out of the Pierce sisters. Kendall Pierce also played some very nice back row D for them last night. I caught that also last night. Kendell for quite a bit of floor time and was good. It was something that goes unnoticed but important. Gonzalez and fuller were all over court last night and it allowed them to get breather in case in went 5. The benefits of being deep. U just eventually ware the opponent out. Kendall has certainly raised her defensive output but for the past month has been excellent in passing. Lainy's serve when she hits it good is downright nasty. I agree with vbkid but would say that very few teams have as many kids playing internationally as PSU does over the past 5 to 8 years. So clearly they are ready for every level it seems.
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Post by Boof1224 on Dec 19, 2014 16:43:03 GMT -5
I caught that also last night. Kendell for quite a bit of floor time and was good. It was something that goes unnoticed but important. Gonzalez and fuller were all over court last night and it allowed them to get breather in case in went 5. The benefits of being deep. U just eventually ware the opponent out. Kendall has certainly raised her defensive output but for the past month has been excellent in passing. Lainy's serve when she hits it good is downright nasty. I agree with vbkid but would say that very few teams have as many kids playing internationally as PSU does over the past 5 to 8 years. So clearly they are ready for every level it seems. That's gotta be a lot on Russ and how he prepares them in practice. Sure every player has a different ceiling on talent lvl but rose seems to figure out how to get everything out of each player
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Post by beaaaaast on Dec 19, 2014 17:12:23 GMT -5
Didn't get to watch the match because I had finals but Congrats PSU! Man, I wish I would've seen the match. I saw that Meghan Courtney had 23 KILLS? ? wow
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Post by canda on Dec 19, 2014 17:30:45 GMT -5
(3) Demographics. While there are a lot of good players in CA, teams like UCLA, USC, Stanford, UW, Cal, and others split the talent. Now, put a pin down on Happy Valley and swing a radius arm of 500 miles and tell me what other volleyball power is inside the resulting circle? PSU is now recruiting successfully outside that circle nationally because of their success in 2007 thru 2010. WITHIN 500 MILES OF HAPPY VALLEY ARE OHIO STATE, MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN STATE, ALL VERY GOOD TEAMS But no super power -- USC, Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, U-dub, Florida What super power is within 500 miles of Texas and Florida?
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Post by hammer on Dec 19, 2014 17:46:17 GMT -5
But no super power -- USC, Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, U-dub, Florida What super power is within 500 miles of Texas and Florida? None
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Post by Cruz'n on Dec 19, 2014 18:10:43 GMT -5
But no super power -- USC, Stanford, Nebraska, Texas, U-dub, Florida What super power is within 500 miles of Texas and Florida? Cuba
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Post by vbkid111 on Dec 19, 2014 19:07:56 GMT -5
I caught that also last night. Kendell for quite a bit of floor time and was good. It was something that goes unnoticed but important. Gonzalez and fuller were all over court last night and it allowed them to get breather in case in went 5. The benefits of being deep. U just eventually ware the opponent out. Kendall has certainly raised her defensive output but for the past month has been excellent in passing. Lainy's serve when she hits it good is downright nasty. I agree with vbkid but would say that very few teams have as many kids playing internationally as PSU does over the past 5 to 8 years. So clearly they are ready for every level it seems. Yes PSU does, of course. I'm just noting that I've seen those comments on this board more than once. But I don't share the view at all.
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Post by hammer on Dec 19, 2014 20:37:15 GMT -5
What super power is within 500 miles of Texas and Florida? Cuba Actually timely with recent announcement about Cuba ... there is talent in Cuba and if any could be brought to American colleges .... well you know those Cuban girls can sky and pound the rock
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Post by volleypaul on Dec 20, 2014 10:34:52 GMT -5
I kept wondering how she struggled all year. Such a beautiful armswing, and that contact point. She also looks like a very smooth passer. Serving is a weakness, but we don't seem to have trouble in the USWNT producing good servers. I think Courtney's problem (from an attacking perspective) is that she hits from a lower point than most of the other elite OHs. Although it didn't happen much yesterday, she has a tendency to get blocked more than an elite hitter should. She has such great volleyball acumen, she almost anticipates getting blocked - which typically results in her either pulling up and attempting (an often weak) push or tip shot or attempting to hit it over the block and hitting it out of bounds. When she does hit the seam or around the block - she has great velocity and angle. Probably the best on the team. Of course, her serve/receive and defense are also hugely overlooked. I recall Rose telling Deja during the Championship match last year not to worry about her hitting; that other people on the team can take care of the attacks. She should concentrate on her blocking. He's a statistician. He keeps track of who does something right, and who does something wrong. I thought the same thing about Courtney during the season. She really does bring a lot to the team even if her hitting is on. She was probably told just to keep the ball in play since there were other hitters that could take care of things. But, has we saw on Thursday, she took care of everything!
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Post by hardbop on Dec 20, 2014 10:44:20 GMT -5
I think Courtney's problem (from an attacking perspective) is that she hits from a lower point than most of the other elite OHs. Although it didn't happen much yesterday, she has a tendency to get blocked more than an elite hitter should. She has such great volleyball acumen, she almost anticipates getting blocked - which typically results in her either pulling up and attempting (an often weak) push or tip shot or attempting to hit it over the block and hitting it out of bounds. When she does hit the seam or around the block - she has great velocity and angle. Probably the best on the team. Of course, her serve/receive and defense are also hugely overlooked. I recall Rose telling Deja during the Championship match last year not to worry about her hitting; that other people on the team can take care of the attacks. She should concentrate on her blocking. He's a statistician. He keeps track of who does something right, and who does something wrong. I thought the same thing about Courtney during the season. She really does bring a lot to the team even if her hitting is on. She was probably told just to keep the ball in play since there were other hitters that could take care of things. But, has we saw on Thursday, she took care of everything! We live in a culture that thinks dunks and home runs are the epitome of the respective sports. What Deja did for PSU and what Burgess does for Stanford [see recent threads] get ignored or devalued by many. Coaches know.
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