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Post by c4ndlelight on Jan 28, 2015 14:04:15 GMT -5
Rabita Baku (Akinradewo, Dixon) doesn't make it out of Champions League pool play after losing at home to Chemik Police today. Club will not be happy. Not as shocking considering it was one of the toughest pools with Kazan and Chemik to advance. Shocking in the sense that Rabita has some of the world's best players in their respective positions. Castillo at libero, Tomkom at setter, Akinradewo at middle; backed by a supporting cast of Cruz, Dixon, and Skowronska. One criticism of Rabita that I've noted this season is how Tomkom throws way too many sets up to Skowronska in the front-row lineup with Cruz and Foluke, who was ready in transition without a defensive block so many times. That doesn't explain finishing below Prostejov in their Group........ the outsides underperformed. Left is still the most important position.
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Post by #skoskers on Jan 28, 2015 14:30:37 GMT -5
Not as shocking considering it was one of the toughest pools with Kazan and Chemik to advance. Shocking in the sense that Rabita has some of the world's best players in their respective positions. Castillo at libero, Tomkom at setter, Akinradewo at middle; backed by a supporting cast of Cruz, Dixon, and Skowronska. One criticism of Rabita that I've noted this season is how Tomkom throws way too many sets up to Skowronska in the front-row lineup with Cruz and Foluke, who was ready in transition without a defensive block so many times. That doesn't explain finishing below Prostejov in their Group........ the outsides underperformed. Left is still the most important position. IMO, the setter is the most important cog in the machine that is a team (see Nebraska 2014 and Wisconsin 2013 for recent references). In this case, I thought Nootsara, while good at putting the ball anywhere on the court, just made silly decisions to keep feeding Skowronska and not giving the nod to her middles or left sides. One of the few balanced attacks they had in pool play was when Ferretti started over Tomkom in the middle of the first match against Prostejov and gave her left sides more than 30 attempts.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jan 28, 2015 14:32:43 GMT -5
That doesn't explain finishing below Prostejov in their Group........ the outsides underperformed. Left is still the most important position. IMO, the setter is the most important cog in the machine that is a team (see Nebraska 2014 and Wisconsin 2013 for recent references). In this case, I thought Nootsara, while good at putting the ball anywhere on the court, just made silly decisions to keep feeding Skowronska and not giving the nod to her middles or left sides. One of the few balanced attacks they had in pool play was when Ferretti started over Tomkom in the middle of the first match against Prostejov and gave her left sides more than 30 attempts. Ferretti played the whole match today, FYI. Startseva is the reigning CL-champion setter, she certainly didn't make that machine run. Tomkom or Ferretti, either way both are good enough, and played well enough, to get it done. Rabita lost because none of their players could both pass and hit (and sometimes neither!) on the same day this year.
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Post by #skoskers on Jan 28, 2015 14:42:28 GMT -5
IMO, the setter is the most important cog in the machine that is a team (see Nebraska 2014 and Wisconsin 2013 for recent references). In this case, I thought Nootsara, while good at putting the ball anywhere on the court, just made silly decisions to keep feeding Skowronska and not giving the nod to her middles or left sides. One of the few balanced attacks they had in pool play was when Ferretti started over Tomkom in the middle of the first match against Prostejov and gave her left sides more than 30 attempts. Ferretti played the whole match today, FYI. Startseva is the reigning CL-champion setter, she certainly didn't make that machine run. Tomkom or Ferretti, either way both are good enough, and played well enough, to get it done. Rabita lost because none of their players could both pass and hit (and sometimes neither!) on the same day this year. I haven't seen today's match yet! I will later tonight or maybe tomorrow. Startseva has gotten better over the years, and she seems to keep the peace between some of the players who famously don't get along (both on her squad and across the net).
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Post by kokyu on Jan 28, 2015 20:17:00 GMT -5
Haven't watched the match yet but surprised they haven't picked up a better outside than Cruz, she reminds me of Hildebrand playing with USA.
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Post by volleyguy on Jan 28, 2015 20:18:24 GMT -5
That doesn't explain finishing below Prostejov in their Group........ the outsides underperformed. Left is still the most important position. IMO, the setter is the most important cog in the machine that is a team (see Nebraska 2014 and Wisconsin 2013 for recent references). ... That's not always true in the international game, which is precisely why a setter like Micha Hancock can in fact land a professional contract. Micha has some similarities to Sheshenina, who isn't the greatest setter, but sets a hittable ball (that definition depends on who the hitters are of course), has a decent block for her size and has a good feel for her team members.
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Post by #skoskers on Jan 28, 2015 21:14:48 GMT -5
IMO, the setter is the most important cog in the machine that is a team (see Nebraska 2014 and Wisconsin 2013 for recent references). ... That's not always true in the international game, which is precisely why a setter like Micha Hancock can in fact land a professional contract. Micha has some similarities to Sheshenina, who isn't the greatest setter, but sets a hittable ball (that definition depends on who the hitters are of course), has a decent block for her size and has a good feel for her team members. It also depends on the coach and type of system that's used. In Team USA's case, it's not like Karch would be comfortable with handing over the keys to his pseudo "Corvette-quick" offense to a setter that can throw up the ball, block well, and make her teammates feel good about themselves. (Highly unlikely that he's letting Pollmiller start!) ;-) IMO it seems like coaches don't mind shorter setters like Toke%*$#a, Berg, Lo Bianco, Tomkom or Thompson as long as the sets are quick, deceptive and accurately placed. The taller setters like Lins, Fabiola, Startseva, and Glass have been the first players on their professional and national teams to be pulled--either outright replaced or subbed for a modified 6-2--because of placement and/or liabilities in blocking. That's why I like Naz (and LC) so much. She's one of the taller setters in her league that executes all the skills so well.
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Post by volleyguy on Jan 28, 2015 21:24:39 GMT -5
That's not always true in the international game, which is precisely why a setter like Micha Hancock can in fact land a professional contract. Micha has some similarities to Sheshenina, who isn't the greatest setter, but sets a hittable ball (that definition depends on who the hitters are of course), has a decent block for her size and has a good feel for her team members. It also depends on the coach and type of system that's used. In Team USA's case, it's not like Karch would be comfortable with handing over the keys to his pseudo "Corvette-quick" offense to a setter that can throw up the ball, block well, and make her teammates feel good about themselves. (Highly unlikely that he's letting Pollmiller start!) ;-) IMO it seems like coaches don't mind shorter setters like Toke%*$#a, Berg, Lo Bianco, Tomkom or Thompson as long as the sets are quick, deceptive and accurately placed. The taller setters like Lins, Fabiola, Startseva, and Glass have been the first players on their professional and national teams to be pulled--either outright replaced or subbed for a modified 6-2--because of placement and/or liabilities in blocking. That's why I like Naz (and LC) so much. She's one of the taller setters in her league that executes all the skills so well. Having a good feel for teammates doesn't mean making them feel good about themselves. It means understanding their tendencies, preferences, making solid choices like recognizing the hot hitter, etc.
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Post by #skoskers on Jan 28, 2015 21:32:24 GMT -5
It also depends on the coach and type of system that's used. In Team USA's case, it's not like Karch would be comfortable with handing over the keys to his pseudo "Corvette-quick" offense to a setter that can throw up the ball, block well, and make her teammates feel good about themselves. (Highly unlikely that he's letting Pollmiller start!) ;-) IMO it seems like coaches don't mind shorter setters like Toke%*$#a, Berg, Lo Bianco, Tomkom or Thompson as long as the sets are quick, deceptive and accurately placed. The taller setters like Lins, Fabiola, Startseva, and Glass have been the first players on their professional and national teams to be pulled--either outright replaced or subbed for a modified 6-2--because of placement and/or liabilities in blocking. That's why I like Naz (and LC) so much. She's one of the taller setters in her league that executes all the skills so well. Having a good feel for teammates doesn't mean making them feel good about themselves. It means understanding their tendencies, preferences, making solid choices like recognizing the hot hitter, etc. I see your point and would agree with that.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jan 29, 2015 10:15:58 GMT -5
Chemik Police got to host Champions League Final Four. I actually like their chances of sneaking it out over the Turkish teams at home.
Quite an unbalanced draw for the other 3 spots - Kazan, Vakif and Fener in one pod (yikes!). Those are the teams that won the last 4, with two of them meeting in the Sweet 16. Fener has Lucia Bosetti back, and it's about time for Kim to go beast mode again, so I predict they'll make it through there, and Eczacibasi should sail through their draw to finally make the F4. Bottom pod (Moscow, Azeryol and the Italian teams) will have the weakest entrant.
Kazan - VakifBank Dresdner - Fenerbahce
Volero Zurich - RC Cannes Prostejov - Eczacibasi
Azeryol Baku - UY Busto Arsizio Moscow - Piacenza
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Post by #skoskers on Jan 29, 2015 10:52:55 GMT -5
Nice representation of Americans (and a Canadian) making it to the playoffs!
Eczacibasi: - Jordan Larson-Burbach
Fener: - Kristin Hildebrand
Cannes: - Logan Tom - Carly Wopat - Juliann Faucette
Zurich: - Courtney Thompson - Emily Hartong - Natalie Hagglund
Desdner: - Molly Kreklow - Cursty Jackson - Michelle Bartsch
Busto Arsizio: - Becky Perry
Piacenza: - Arielle Wilson
Azeryol: - Tabi Love
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Post by kc8413 on Jan 30, 2015 16:33:29 GMT -5
Does anyone know how the pools were determined? I can't imagine the numbers of victories and losses placed Vakifbank, Fenebahce and Kazan in the same pool.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jan 30, 2015 16:49:06 GMT -5
Does anyone know how the pools were determined? I can't imagine the numbers of victories and losses placed Vakifbank, Fenebahce and Kazan in the same pool. There's a CEV rule designed to prevent all one-country finals that means a country with 3 teams in the playoffs (or 2 in the playoffs with 1 host), will have two of the teams meet up. Vakif and Fener were the unlucky ones this year (kind of a balance as Eczacibasi has been the screwed Turkish team lately). Otherwise it's draw. You should note that Kazan didn't win their pool.
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Post by #skoskers on Feb 4, 2015 13:43:26 GMT -5
Does anyone know how the pools were determined? I can't imagine the numbers of victories and losses placed Vakifbank, Fenebahce and Kazan in the same pool. There's a CEV rule designed to prevent all one-country finals that means a country with 3 teams in the playoffs (or 2 in the playoffs with 1 host), will have two of the teams meet up. Vakif and Fener were the unlucky ones this year (kind of a balance as Eczacibasi has been the screwed Turkish team lately). Otherwise it's draw. You should note that Kazan didn't win their pool. Do you expect Kazan to win either game against Vakif?
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Post by #skoskers on Feb 4, 2015 13:43:53 GMT -5
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