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Post by pogoball on Dec 20, 2014 17:04:14 GMT -5
Good points, but we can't undervalue the ability to live in the USA while being paid. If she is a legit WNBA player, that's a huge plus for a basketball career. Changing subjects, I just don't see Micha Hancock as a national team player at all. I've been surprised before, but the only thing that she brings to the table on an international level is an above-average topspin serve -- and our national staff seems to have made the collective decision (good or bad) that they aren't even interested in topspin serves at all. She has been an outstanding college player, but she's like those heisman trophy winners that don't pan out as pros. When you watch her play after watching Carlini, it's hard not to notice the difference. Kind of agree--except who would have thought Robyn Ah Mow, Lindsey Berg, Courtney Thompson, Lori Endicott, etc were going to make the USA Volleyball impact they did coming out of college. Setter's a tricky one, so many intangibles in being great in that position that often have zero to do with physical traits. But it's not really her physical traits that concern me. She simply doesn't deliver the set anywhere near Carlini or other top, top setters.
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Post by memorybankrupt on Dec 20, 2014 17:33:02 GMT -5
Hancock has the mental fortitude I want in a setter but she doesn't set well enough to start for our NT especially with the current vets and someone like Carlini behind her. I think no on Vansant too as an Olympic starter. But could definitely start some after 2016. I'm guessing she won't have the ball control and not quite enough heat to become an elite Intl player. Still love her determination. I think Eckerman has a bright future at the Intl level but not as a USNT starter unless she becomes a brilliant OPP. I wish she could pass. I really like Hamson. I'd wonder if the life style of being a pro vball player would suit her. So much time overseas. I think Lowe is the only one from this class that can become a star. I can't remember the last time I've seen such an unstoppable attacker at the college level.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Dec 20, 2014 17:35:12 GMT -5
LOWE is a horrible blocker for an OPP. If she can work on that, I can easily see her being the backup opp to MURPHY, or even starting.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Dec 20, 2014 17:56:29 GMT -5
Murphy is not a plus blocker (or server, or defender) either.
International offenses are distributed differently, way more pipe and right side (both front and back row) attacks. Blocking is not as significant of a factor for a rightside at the next level as it is in the NCAA (and it's not as unimportant for a left as it is in NCAA).
People act like blocking is just as important as hitting (and maybe in some NCAA systems it is) but what matters is putting the ball on the floor. We haven't seen Karsta in a Team USA uniform, but I actually happen to think she may fit in really well with how Team USA does it.
Other seniors:
Hancock - I'm actually curious how the serve will hold up with the international ball. If that is marginally less effective, could take a lot out of her impact. Vansant - May be successful initially, will need to diversity her offense to stay ahead of int'l defenses. Still not sure the passing holds up, should be able to serve/block/play defense Simpson - Dark horse. Very good, more dynamic attacker than KV. Better in the back row than people think. Hamson - She'll get a long look. May need to speed up for USA system. Eckerman - She'll have a pro career, don't think she'll be starting for USA.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 20, 2014 23:18:53 GMT -5
Lowe is not replacing Murphy on the National Team, especially if Karch is still the coach.
I think Lowe will do well internationally, but I'm not expecting her to become the star that all you guys think she'll be. People were saying the same thing about Nnamani, Kim Glass, Fawcette and Hodge. Murphy is successful because she is one of the most fundamentally sound attackers in the world and her style of play fits perfectly in Karch's system. If any of these current seniors has a chance of beating her out, it's Hamson.
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Post by azvb on Dec 20, 2014 23:22:59 GMT -5
Yeah, Hamson was drafted by a WNBA team and deferred a year to play one more year of volleyball at BYU. I don't really know enough about earnings potential in women's volleyball (overseas) versus women's basketball (in the USA). But it seems like a lot of the US players who play overseas professionally move around a LOT. I suppose it just comes down to whichever Hamson enjoys more and feels more confident about turning into a career. Most WNBA players also play overseas since the pay scales in the WNBA are not significant except for the top 5 or so players and the WNBA season is fairly short. Hamson may just decide with her newfound volleyball success that it's a better option (situationally and financially) to play volleyball professionally instead. Plus, the uniforms are cuter.
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Post by C on Dec 20, 2014 23:51:44 GMT -5
Lowe is not replacing Murphy on the National Team, especially if Karch is still the coach. I think Lowe will do well internationally, but I'm not expecting her to become the star that all you guys think she'll be. People were saying the same thing about Nnamani, Kim Glass, Fawcette and Hodge. Murphy is successful because she is one of the most fundamentally sound attackers in the world and her style of play fits perfectly in Karch's system. If any of these current seniors has a chance of beating her out, it's Hamson. All the players you mentioned were Outside Hitters coming out of college and require to pass at a high level. Lowe doesn't need to pass, she just needs to keep putting the ball away like she's been doing the whole season. Lowe's upside, especially in Karch's system, is bigger than Murphy's.
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Post by beachbomb on Dec 21, 2014 5:45:48 GMT -5
there is one player always on Penn State That I Love, so i can't completely hate them... and Micha was that girl... i think this girl can do anything... i think she's an amazing athlete... simple as that she can do everything pretty easily... i hope to see her in a USA jersey...
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Post by southie on Dec 21, 2014 8:25:44 GMT -5
Hancock, Lowe, and Eckerman.
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Post by itsallrelative on Dec 21, 2014 8:44:05 GMT -5
Lowe is not replacing Murphy on the National Team, especially if Karch is still the coach. I think Lowe will do well internationally, but I'm not expecting her to become the star that all you guys think she'll be. People were saying the same thing about Nnamani, Kim Glass, Fawcette and Hodge. Murphy is successful because she is one of the most fundamentally sound attackers in the world and her style of play fits perfectly in Karch's system. If any of these current seniors has a chance of beating her out, it's Hamson. I think last quad would've said that no one is replacing Hooker...... Who knows. Lowe definitely showed potential....
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Post by ballervolley on Dec 21, 2014 8:52:57 GMT -5
vansant, lowe and hamson. hamson could end up being absolutely frightening if she trains in the usa gym. karch seemed high on hancock so we will see. the one thing i like about hancock is that she has the mind of a setter, a lot of these girls don't know how to run the offense and micha definitely does. a huge reason why stanford and byu lost was the setting.
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Post by dunninla on Dec 21, 2014 11:22:47 GMT -5
I still think Lowe >>> Hamson. Hamson is just not as agile, quick, or coordinated as most Sweet 16 opposites this year. Hamson's body coordination reminds me of Lutz at Stanford--- that same lack of quickness, but Lutz' arm swing has gotten faster, and Hamson's still seems like she's clubbing the ball more than hitting it. Hamson's is a LOW velocity hit that top international players aren't going to have a problem digging.
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Post by volleypaul on Dec 21, 2014 12:35:39 GMT -5
there is one player always on Penn State That I Love, so i can't completely hate them... and Micha was that girl... i think this girl can do anything... i think she's an amazing athlete... simple as that she can do everything pretty easily... i hope to see her in a USA jersey... I agree. She's obviously coachable. Her improvement year after year has been impressive. She has the confidence that setters need.
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Post by Volley1234 on Dec 21, 2014 16:32:35 GMT -5
The one thing that Murphy as over Lowe is the fact that she has been a setter at a high level and can set great balls when the setter cannot get to them much like Courtney Thomas but still put the ball down like any other great hitter. I would pick Lowe over Hamson just because of her arm, it was the most powerful one I've seen this year that was hitting extremely hard all the time! Hamson is slow and the big players a lot of times never get much quicker and she is a big liability in the back row and does not necessarily hit that well out of the back row to make up for her lack of passing.
As for Micha, her two best qualities in college were her attacking, and serving. Once you take away those two things what is Micha, an above average setter with a decent block but not a great one. Her serve seems too risky for international play especially with the great serve receive and her dumps are not going to fly too well with the quicker, smarter blockers in internal play.
I would say Lowe, Hamson & Eckerman have the best chances.
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Post by Longhorn20 on Dec 21, 2014 16:41:21 GMT -5
What about Gonzales as a potential libero? She was by far the most solid passer I watched this season. Real good at keeping the ball off the floor as well!!
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