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Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 10, 2015 12:54:13 GMT -5
Micha brought with her to the court an intimidation factor, especially behind the service line. While Carlini may prove to be a better pure setter, she hasn't (at least IMO) proven to bring all the different tools (physical and mental) which Micha brought. Yes, the surrounding cast helps, but not sure PSU would have won the last two national titles with a setter other than Micha. Yes 100% true. When Micha plays she plays to win you can just see the fire in her eyes. She is an intense kid, and I haven't seen that in a lot of players. She'll do whatever it takes to win, and IMO I think she is a better leader than Carlini will be. Micha has a calm but fiery attitude and I'm going to miss seeing that, she is definitely special. I also think Micha is a lot offensive and draws the blocker a lot more. Being lefty also makes her a great attacker. I disagree. I think Carlini has tons of intangibles, and is every bit as fierce a competitor. She just doesnt have a game breaking tool (serve) that Hancock had. Carlini has plenty of fire in her belly.
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Post by Phillytom on Aug 10, 2015 14:04:27 GMT -5
Yes 100% true. When Micha plays she plays to win you can just see the fire in her eyes. She is an intense kid, and I haven't seen that in a lot of players. She'll do whatever it takes to win, and IMO I think she is a better leader than Carlini will be. Micha has a calm but fiery attitude and I'm going to miss seeing that, she is definitely special. I also think Micha is a lot offensive and draws the blocker a lot more. Being lefty also makes her a great attacker. I disagree. I think Carlini has tons of intangibles, and is every bit as fierce a competitor. She just doesnt have a game breaking tool (serve) that Hancock had. Carlini has plenty of fire in her belly. Not to take anything away from Carlini, who is obviously special, but Hancock was more of an asset at the net as well. Her ability as a lefty to hit -- not dump, but hit on the second touch had a huge impact -- maybe as big an impact as her serve. That made it so much easier for the PSU hitters last year. Carlini is good at the net, and her dumps are intelligent but she's not a lefty and (perhaps because of her knee soreness) I don't think she has the quickness and jumping ability that Hancock had. I still can't quite believe Hancock getting passed over as B1G setter of the year last year. What a head scratcher. That probably helped PSU win the championship so it all turned out well in the end, but the choice didn't make sense to me at the time, and it still doesn't make sense. We saw a healthy Carlini go head to head against a healthy Hancock once last year, and it was no contest.
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Post by knowname on Aug 10, 2015 14:19:24 GMT -5
I disagree. I think Carlini has tons of intangibles, and is every bit as fierce a competitor. She just doesnt have a game breaking tool (serve) that Hancock had. Carlini has plenty of fire in her belly. Not to take anything away from Carlini, who is obviously special, but Hancock was more of an asset at the net as well. Her ability as a lefty to hit -- not dump, but hit on the second touch had a huge impact -- maybe as big an impact as her serve. That made it so much easier for the PSU hitters last year. Carlini is good at the net, and her dumps are intelligent but she's not a lefty and (perhaps because of her knee soreness) I don't think she has the quickness and jumping ability that Hancock had. I still can't quite believe Hancock getting passed over as B1G setter of the year last year. What a head scratcher. That probably helped PSU win the championship so it all turned out well in the end, but the choice didn't make sense to me at the time, and it still doesn't make sense. We saw a healthy Carlini go head to head against a healthy Hancock once last year, and it was no contest. When I read your response I missed "healthy" since they met twice. When Carlini left the tournament match with a sprain, her replacement won the first set as I recall.
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jiml
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Post by jiml on Aug 10, 2015 16:13:01 GMT -5
In the 2014 Louisville regional final, Wisconsin's backup setter to Lauren Carlini was our former starting setter turned RS, all-american Courtney Thomas, and yes, she (and the team) still won the first set when Carlini was injured. What the 2015 WI offense will look like without Thomas as the secondary setter remains to be seen. Having two setters on the court with good connections to the middles was disconcerting to many of our opponents. Actually, in 2013 when Carlini was a freshman, for most of the season Thomas had a better connection with the middles. The 2014 softmore Carlini goosed the hitting efficiency up several notches, I have to say. The 2013 team also sported two team's worth of starting Liberos when Anne Marie Hickey and Taylor Morey were both on the court passing and digging, again with notable effect, particularly against Texas in the national semifinal.
With WI as a major question mark, given that they graduated 7 (!) seniors including about half of the starters/first off the bench players, pretty much the entire B1G looks to be stronger this year than last. It should be some exciting volleyball this fall!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 16:32:58 GMT -5
Not to take anything away from Carlini, who is obviously special, but Hancock was more of an asset at the net as well. Her ability as a lefty to hit -- not dump, but hit on the second touch had a huge impact -- maybe as big an impact as her serve. That made it so much easier for the PSU hitters last year. Carlini is good at the net, and her dumps are intelligent but she's not a lefty and (perhaps because of her knee soreness) I don't think she has the quickness and jumping ability that Hancock had. I still can't quite believe Hancock getting passed over as B1G setter of the year last year. What a head scratcher. That probably helped PSU win the championship so it all turned out well in the end, but the choice didn't make sense to me at the time, and it still doesn't make sense. We saw a healthy Carlini go head to head against a healthy Hancock once last year, and it was no contest. When I read your response I missed "healthy" since they met twice. When Carlini left the tournament match with a sprain, her replacement won the first set as I recall. QT did well and we had the lead when Carlini came back in (in the first set) and closed it out.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 18:56:16 GMT -5
Micha brought with her to the court an intimidation factor, especially behind the service line. While Carlini may prove to be a better pure setter, she hasn't (at least IMO) proven to bring all the different tools (physical and mental) which Micha brought. Yes, the surrounding cast helps, but not sure PSU would have won the last two national titles with a setter other than Micha. I disagree. Hancock was an incredible competitor, and dismantled some great teams with that serve, but Carlini is the better player. The B1G coaches agree. Carlini wins four titles with Penn State's attackers and passers.
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Post by gnu2vball on Aug 10, 2015 19:59:13 GMT -5
Micha brought with her to the court an intimidation factor, especially behind the service line. While Carlini may prove to be a better pure setter, she hasn't (at least IMO) proven to bring all the different tools (physical and mental) which Micha brought. Yes, the surrounding cast helps, but not sure PSU would have won the last two national titles with a setter other than Micha. I disagree. Hancock was an incredible competitor, and dismantled some great teams with that serve, but Carlini is the better player. The B1G coaches agree. Carlini wins four titles with Penn State's attackers and passers. It's a wonderment how we can see the same things yet have such differing perceptions.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2015 20:29:54 GMT -5
like, depending on what team you cheer for? I'm pretty certain every Nitty Lion will say Micha was/is the better setter. BUTTTT.. Micha's no longer in the B1G! So, let's see if she can make it to the National team. Maybe she'll be competing against Carlini for a spot? that would be fun.
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Post by vbkid111 on Aug 10, 2015 20:52:43 GMT -5
Micha brought with her to the court an intimidation factor, especially behind the service line. While Carlini may prove to be a better pure setter, she hasn't (at least IMO) proven to bring all the different tools (physical and mental) which Micha brought. Yes, the surrounding cast helps, but not sure PSU would have won the last two national titles with a setter other than Micha. I disagree. Hancock was an incredible competitor, and dismantled some great teams with that serve, but Carlini is the better player. The B1G coaches agree. Carlini wins four titles with Penn State's attackers and passers. Well, the ship was righted when Hancock was named "AVCA National Player of the Year." Your last statement is over the top.
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Post by BigFanEst2006 on Aug 10, 2015 21:11:24 GMT -5
Micha and Carlini are both fantastic players I think we can all agree on this, but isn't this a B1G 2015 thread and last time I checked, Micha, although great and I am a fan of hers, isn't a 2015 B1G player right?! ;-) ;-)
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Post by Wiswell on Aug 11, 2015 8:11:06 GMT -5
Without going through the last 36 pages, who are going to be the biggest impact freshman and new faces (transfers) in the Big Ten this year? I am assuming Smith and Poulter are at the top of the list. For the Badgers, we've been curious about Kriskova for over a year now, so I am looking forward to seeing how she does in a better conference.
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Post by SportyBucky on Aug 11, 2015 8:56:07 GMT -5
I disagree. I think Carlini has tons of intangibles, and is every bit as fierce a competitor. She just doesnt have a game breaking tool (serve) that Hancock had. Carlini has plenty of fire in her belly. Not to take anything away from Carlini, who is obviously special, but Hancock was more of an asset at the net as well. Her ability as a lefty to hit -- not dump, but hit on the second touch had a huge impact -- maybe as big an impact as her serve. That made it so much easier for the PSU hitters last year. Carlini is good at the net, and her dumps are intelligent but she's not a lefty and (perhaps because of her knee soreness) I don't think she has the quickness and jumping ability that Hancock had. I still can't quite believe Hancock getting passed over as B1G setter of the year last year. What a head scratcher. That probably helped PSU win the championship so it all turned out well in the end, but the choice didn't make sense to me at the time, and it still doesn't make sense. We saw a healthy Carlini go head to head against a healthy Hancock once last year, and it was no contest. Carlini is 6'2" with a great vertical. She makes something out of hitters who, playing with a different setter, would not be nearly as good. Micha was not deceptive, did not set with much speed and did not isolate hitters the way Lauren can. Lauren was actually third int he Big in service aces. She is not a slouch. Not sure how you measure leadership, which is intangible, but Lauren's got it. Your comment shows you don't understand the teams, the match-up and how to evaluate talent. If you watched the regional finals, you saw what a more mature Badger team could do in large part a result of Carlini. Had Lauren not suffered a high ankle sprain, would have been even closer. She is a better setter than Hancock; that's why she won.
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Post by SportyBucky on Aug 11, 2015 9:01:53 GMT -5
It'll be interesting to see WI with the transfer talent (Gillis, Robbins, and Kriskova) and highly touted freshman who are going to be forced into action immediately. Passing and setting are going to be relatively stable given over 75% (appox) of serve receives are returning in Bates and Morey. A few question marks, but a lot of firepower from which to chose. IF Lauren can work her magic with those question marks, it promises to be a great season.
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Post by akbar on Aug 11, 2015 9:20:52 GMT -5
Not to take anything away from Carlini, who is obviously special, but Hancock was more of an asset at the net as well. Her ability as a lefty to hit -- not dump, but hit on the second touch had a huge impact -- maybe as big an impact as her serve. That made it so much easier for the PSU hitters last year. Carlini is good at the net, and her dumps are intelligent but she's not a lefty and (perhaps because of her knee soreness) I don't think she has the quickness and jumping ability that Hancock had. I still can't quite believe Hancock getting passed over as B1G setter of the year last year. What a head scratcher. That probably helped PSU win the championship so it all turned out well in the end, but the choice didn't make sense to me at the time, and it still doesn't make sense. We saw a healthy Carlini go head to head against a healthy Hancock once last year, and it was no contest. Had Lauren not suffered a high ankle sprain, would have been even closer. She is a better setter than Hancock; that's why she won. If I remember correctly, the only game they won in that match was when Carlini was NOT setting for much of it. Saying that it would have been closer had she been healthy is a biased guess at best. She won best setter because her team captured the B1G title and to the Victor goes the spoils it seems. Congrats to her and the team for that title.
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Post by SportyBucky on Aug 11, 2015 9:41:22 GMT -5
Had Lauren not suffered a high ankle sprain, would have been even closer. She is a better setter than Hancock; that's why she won. If I remember correctly, the only game they won in that match was when Carlini was NOT setting for much of it. Saying that it would have been closer had she been healthy is a biased guess at best. She won best setter because her team captured the B1G title and to the Victor goes the spoils it seems. Congrats to her and the team for that title. Your memory does not serve you correctly. She was only out for a few points. That was all. She played the entire match hobbled. She was literally out for a few rotations. Check the tape. Out at 7 minute mark, back in at 12 minute mark. It's not just your memory that's off. Your blue colored glasses also impair your ability to judge talent accurately. See national team in three years and we'll revisit this exact conversation.
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