|
Post by big10vb on Feb 19, 2015 16:28:13 GMT -5
I think Prince has the potential to be the next Birks if she stays healthy.
|
|
|
Post by alt on Feb 19, 2015 17:01:10 GMT -5
As everyone saw with the arrival of a great setter at Wisconsin, I believe setter Jordyn Poulter will have the same impact at Illinois. It should be obvious that having a premier setter elevates the play of everyone on the team. As much as I admire and cherish the ability of Jocelyn Birks to get the point when Illinois really needs one, I believe Poulter will basically be the "GO-TO" difference maker player for the Illini when Birks graduates. I agree Poulter is gonna do great things, but a setter can not be a go-to. She's setting not attacking.
|
|
|
Post by c4ndlelight on Feb 19, 2015 18:22:26 GMT -5
Does anyone know if she will be on scholarship? She does not look THAT great. It would add depth to the right side, I think Beth Prince might be considered first for right side. She is certainly deserving of a scholarship and has the physical tools to excel if she develops her skills more. Crittenden is a very impressive athlete with crazy hops and a powerful swing. She is also super physical at the net and can be an imposing blocker at times. She is a lefty and is comfortable hitting a fairly quick in system balls on the right side. Currently, she is not very comfortable hitting out of system, or at different tempos or points of attack along the net--though I imagine that doesn't really matter in the context of the Illini offense like it does at Oregon. I don't see her playing in the back row as she struggled mightily just with limited tip coverage assignments as an off blocker. Crittenden still needs to develop shotmaking and learn to read the game - she was significantly less efficient as teams got tape on her and honed in on her tendencies and weaknesses (.331 average in non-conference -> .160 in conference). Taylor Agost, who was injured early in the year, replaced her at the 2nd Opp spot (which will likely not exist next year in a probable 5-1) when she healed up in November. Crittenden likely would not play beyond a spot blocking role next year at Oregon with an AA in front of her, but she has two years to take her game to the next level. She is certainly a promising player who stays in great physical shape, and I hope she destroys some teams in the B1G.
|
|
|
Post by LovePennState on Feb 19, 2015 18:25:54 GMT -5
Why is she leaving Oregon?
|
|
|
Post by alt on Feb 19, 2015 18:52:39 GMT -5
Does anyone know if she will be on scholarship? She does not look THAT great. It would add depth to the right side, I think Beth Prince might be considered first for right side. She is certainly deserving of a scholarship and has the physical tools to excel if she develops her skills more. Crittenden is a very impressive athlete with crazy hops and a powerful swing. She is also super physical at the net and can be an imposing blocker at times. She is a lefty and is comfortable hitting a fairly quick in system balls on the right side. Currently, she is not very comfortable hitting out of system, or at different tempos or points of attack along the net--though I imagine that doesn't really matter in the context of the Illini offense like it does at Oregon. I don't see her playing in the back row as she struggled mightily just with limited tip coverage assignments as an off blocker. Crittenden still needs to develop shotmaking and learn to read the game - she was significantly less efficient as teams got tape on her and honed in on her tendencies and weaknesses (.331 average in non-conference -> .160 in conference). She likely would not play beyond a spot blocking role next year at Oregon with an AA in front of her, but she has two years to take her game to the next level. She is certainly a promising player who stays in great physical shape, and I hope she destroys some teams in the B1G. I do not see her putting up big number though. She had 139 kills last season compared to 396 Liz had this season. Liz was subbed out when she went back row, so they had an close amount of playing time. Hopefully she can prove me wrong and do very well. we do have Ali Stark too that could get kills as well she struggles sometimes, but once the setting improves I see the team hitting more consistently.
|
|
|
Post by chisovnik on Feb 19, 2015 19:15:13 GMT -5
I've seen Crittendon play in person. She's a very big, strong, physical kid. As someone mentioned earlier, she's not comfortable hitting OOS sets, but she's full of potential.
|
|
|
Post by superfan1 on Feb 19, 2015 19:53:45 GMT -5
As everyone saw with the arrival of a great setter at Wisconsin, I believe setter Jordyn Poulter will have the same impact at Illinois. It should be obvious that having a premier setter elevates the play of everyone on the team. As much as I admire and cherish the ability of Jocelyn Birks to get the point when Illinois really needs one, I believe Poulter will basically be the "GO-TO" difference maker player for the Illini when Birks graduates. I agree Poulter is gonna do great things, but a setter can not be a go-to. She's setting not attacking. Tell that to Nebraska
|
|
|
Post by david on Feb 20, 2015 11:26:56 GMT -5
When the major concern for a program is failure to beat out every top school for every top recruit (as opposed to just the top setter) and if it will have the most dominant hitter in the NCAA, that's a good place to be. If that program can take their ho-hum top 25 recruits and develop them, have good strategy and tactics, and create a family atmosphere that draws more and more good people- sounds like as good a chance to compete with PSU as one can have, doesn't it?
The wild card is always health and physical development, and by all appearances Illinois has a pretty good record with that. All their depth will only help in that regard.
|
|
|
Post by alt on Feb 20, 2015 14:44:17 GMT -5
I think Prince has the potential to be the next Birks if she stays healthy. I think Prince has a likely hood of redshirting. I do not see her getting used to college volleyball very quickly. Plus we really do not need her this year we have a few outsides and rightsides that can get the job done. I think red shirting will help her in the future as an Ilini.
|
|
|
Post by alt on Feb 20, 2015 15:14:41 GMT -5
I agree Poulter is gonna do great things, but a setter can not be a go-to. She's setting not attacking. Tell that to Nebraska Hoping she can really be someone like Annie Drews or something like that caliber. That would make Illinois to another level. Really hope she connects with the players real quick, and setting is going to get better so she's already on the right track.
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Feb 20, 2015 15:36:29 GMT -5
If Illinois men's basketball secured commitments from the #3, #10 and a top 40 (who was top 10 before an injury) recruits, the MBB websites would explode. And a setter can make that much difference. Remove set location and pace from a hitter's concerns, give them more opportunity to read the block and defense, a better chance to use the block, and a good hitter can become a great hitter. My orange coolaid notwithstanding, next year should be a very good year.
|
|
|
Post by c4ndlelight on Feb 20, 2015 15:43:28 GMT -5
Maybe I missed it but is anyone leaving the Illini? 3 graduated, 3 2015 recruits in (none who would presumably be walk-ons).
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2015 17:10:47 GMT -5
If Coach Hambly was real confident in the talent already on his roster he would not be bringing in a transfer.
|
|
|
Post by indyrun on Feb 21, 2015 21:33:15 GMT -5
Disagree - not a D1 coach in the country that would turn away from a chance at a top prospect if they had the opportunity. Grabbing a super prospect regardless of the make-up of your squad, does not mean you have little. As to this young lady, excited to see her play - was talking VB with a friend of mine (who is also a top PAC 12 VB coach) and HE brought up the Oregon player transferring, indicating he had heavily recruited her, BUT he said Illinois really picked up a good one, and indicated we will be pleased.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2015 1:14:15 GMT -5
Disagree - not a D1 coach in the country that would turn away from a chance at a top prospect if they had the opportunity. Grabbing a super prospect regardless of the make-up of your squad, does not mean you have little. As to this young lady, excited to see her play - was talking VB with a friend of mine (who is also a top PAC 12 VB coach) and HE brought up the Oregon player transferring, indicating he had heavily recruited her, BUT he said Illinois really picked up a good one, and indicated we will be pleased. Bingo. If there's talent out there that wants to be part of your program--you take it. If it's lack of confidence for Hambly, what is it when coaches like Calipari do it? Heck--Ohio State's football team stockpiled enough talent that the 3rd string QB led them to a national title.
|
|