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Post by vbprisoner on Mar 24, 2015 10:39:20 GMT -5
I have no doubt that Franti should have better numbers again, but when push comes to shove, Megan Courtney is the one doing the pushing and shoving. IMO They don't win the title without her last year and without Hancock there she is that much more important this season. I haven't followed anything this spring but are we 100% sure Aiyana Whitney will start? If Whitney does not start this season because she was beat out by another player then PSU just would have too much talent to not be the favorite again. Whitney was key last year in her role as an attacking option and blocking, and her experience and leadership this year as a senior will be important.
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Post by vbnerd on Mar 24, 2015 10:49:29 GMT -5
I don't see Reed, Gorrel or lee on any all-american teams next year. Lee is a very solid player but couldnt beat out the two players still there, Reed and especially Gorrell have a lot to prove. Ok, but 8 months ago, so did Whitney.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Mar 24, 2015 10:50:18 GMT -5
I have no doubt that Franti should have better numbers again, but when push comes to shove, Megan Courtney is the one doing the pushing and shoving. IMO They don't win the title without her last year and without Hancock there she is that much more important this season. I haven't followed anything this spring but are we 100% sure Aiyana Whitney will start? If Whitney does not start this season because she was beat out by another player then PSU just would have too much talent to not be the favorite again. Whitney was key last year in her role as an attacking option and blocking, and her experience and leadership this year as a senior will be important.
If she doesnt start next year, it will be because something isnt right with her, I don't see any scenario where she is beat out by a returning or incoming player, not even close.
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Post by MTC on Mar 24, 2015 11:22:58 GMT -5
Whitney has the RS locked down and is only going to get more physical. Competition will keep PSU at the top of their game.
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Post by jsn112 on Mar 24, 2015 11:24:38 GMT -5
Frantti had a better year than Courtney, who obviously had a better tournament than everyone. Unfortunately for Courtney, the expectation of her next season will be her play in the NCAA's, tough act to follow. Courtney's problem is, and has always been, the second half of the season. I hope she can change that fortune next season.
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Post by akbar on Mar 24, 2015 11:27:17 GMT -5
Frantti had a better year than Courtney, who obviously had a better tournament than everyone. Unfortunately for Courtney, the expectation of her next season will be her play in the NCAA's, tough act to follow. Courtney's problem is, and has always been, the second half of the season. I hope she can change that fortune next season. If I remember correctly, Megan was extremely strong and consistent in the 2nd half of the season last year, especially after the Michigan match.
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Post by jsn112 on Mar 24, 2015 11:34:00 GMT -5
Courtney's problem is, and has always been, the second half of the season. I hope she can change that fortune next season. If I remember correctly, Megan was extremely strong and consistent in the 2nd half of the season last year, especially after the Michigan match. Last year, when she played on the RS, she was unstoppable. But after moving to LS, she started hitting really low% and 0%. That's why I kept advocating to move her back to the RS and put Whitney to the LS. I like her on the RS because she is also such a strong blocker. Also, I remember seeing her in one of the interviews when asked about playing on the RS, she said that was where she played the most in HS and most comfortable at.
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Post by rsell01 on Mar 24, 2015 13:04:06 GMT -5
Agreed Frantti hit 310 to Courtney's 283. That being said Courtney was also asked to do a lot more as a volleyball player and not just an attacker. I didn't get to see every match but Her and Dom ran a 2 person SR probably 90% of the time. It will be interesting to see how much Frantti can improve on her overall game. If you consider only attacking, yes Frantti had the better year, but at least as of last year, Courtney brings a much more complete game to the table with her defense, passing, and certainly blocking. By the last 3rd of the season, including most of the tourney, Frantti did one rotation thru the back court and then was substituted out the rest of the way. I would assume she will be a 6-rotation player from here on out. As for Dom & Megan running a 2-person serve receive 90% of the time, I don't think so. They have shaded Frantti some when she was in front row, but otherwise it was three across to my recollection. you are right on the 90% of SR being wrong. Thanks for making me check that as I went back and watched the BYU match.
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Post by jma22 on Mar 24, 2015 16:21:08 GMT -5
Will we ever have a thread about the entire Big Ten without it turning into a Penn State discussion?
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Post by c4ndlelight on Mar 24, 2015 16:29:24 GMT -5
OH: Birks (POY - calling it now), Frantti, Courtney MB: Washington, Cole, Tapp OPP: Whitney, Foecke, Drews S: Carlini, Poulter, BIG drop-off to 3rd L: Morey, Wong-Orantes, Donnelly
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Post by akbar on Mar 24, 2015 16:54:35 GMT -5
Will we ever have a thread about the entire Big Ten without it turning into a Penn State discussion? Should we discuss Indiana?
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Post by WahineFan44 on Mar 24, 2015 16:58:59 GMT -5
OH: Birks (POY - calling it now), Frantti, Courtney MB: Washington, Cole, Tapp OPP: Whitney, Foecke, Drews S: Carlini, Poulter, BIG drop-off to 3rd L: Morey, Wong-Orantes, Donnelly Isn't hunter supposed to be fairly good? And Tashima is pretty good. (From the matches I did see, but she is more of an overall player than a great setter). If BIRKS does win POY, that will be a shock IMO. Carlini is the clear front runner for POY. If she can lead that wisconsin team to at least 3rd place, she's my vote. Also, she's going to have to hit ALOT better to get POY. She only hit .234 last year. While thats not awful, its certainly not POY numbers, even though she averages a lot of kills. The only way I can see her getting it, is if Illinois wins the Big ten. Other than that, I don't think she gets it. IF she does get it, ill hand it to you though because I don't think anyone else would predict her as POY.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Mar 24, 2015 17:02:34 GMT -5
OH: Birks (POY - calling it now), Frantti, Courtney MB: Washington, Cole, Tapp OPP: Whitney, Foecke, Drews S: Carlini, Poulter, BIG drop-off to 3rd L: Morey, Wong-Orantes, Donnelly Isn't hunter supposed to be fairly good? And Tashima is pretty good. (From the matches I did see, but she is more of an overall player than a great setter). If BIRKS does win POY, that will be a shock IMO. Carlini is the clear front runner for POY. If she can lead that wisconsin team to at least 3rd place, she's my vote. Also, she's going to have to hit ALOT better to get POY. She only hit .234 last year. While thats not awful, its certainly not POY numbers, even though she averages a lot of kills. The only way I can see her getting it, is if Illinois wins the Big ten. Other than that, I don't think she gets it. IF she does get it, ill hand it to you though because I don't think anyone else would predict her as POY. Birks will be a 6-rotation outside who will likely lead the conference in kills/scoring by a decent margin and will be playing on a top team. Doesn't seem like a stretch to me. PSU's players will cancel each other out; and Wisconsin likely won't finish high enough for Carlini to get it.
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Post by alt on Mar 24, 2015 20:27:49 GMT -5
Isn't hunter supposed to be fairly good? And Tashima is pretty good. (From the matches I did see, but she is more of an overall player than a great setter). If BIRKS does win POY, that will be a shock IMO. Carlini is the clear front runner for POY. If she can lead that wisconsin team to at least 3rd place, she's my vote. Also, she's going to have to hit ALOT better to get POY. She only hit .234 last year. While thats not awful, its certainly not POY numbers, even though she averages a lot of kills. The only way I can see her getting it, is if Illinois wins the Big ten. Other than that, I don't think she gets it. IF she does get it, ill hand it to you though because I don't think anyone else would predict her as POY. Birks will be a 6-rotation outside who will likely lead the conference in kills/scoring by a decent margin and will be playing on a top team. Doesn't seem like a stretch to me. PSU's players will cancel each other out; and Wisconsin likely won't finish high enough for Carlini to get it. I think Birks can be a POY. She is good, I would rank her the best outside hitter next year. She got the most double doubles which makes me think she is a great overall player. Her hitting % may not be the highest, but with the addition of Poulter I think her % will only increase. Setters won't change a players hitting percentage by a huge amount, but for sure plays a factor in the hitters percentage. I think as well that Penn State plays kinda cancel each other out. No one really stands out from that team because everyone is so evenly set, and all of them hit efficiently. I think it will be between Carlini and Birks IMO. It all matters how they rank at the end of the season.
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Post by 2muchbs on Mar 24, 2015 22:37:57 GMT -5
OH: Birks (POY - calling it now), Frantti, Courtney MB: Washington, Cole, Tapp OPP: Whitney, Foecke, Drews S: Carlini, Poulter, BIG drop-off to 3rd L: Morey, Wong-Orantes, Donnelly Isn't hunter supposed to be fairly good? And Tashima is pretty good. (From the matches I did see, but she is more of an overall player than a great setter). If BIRKS does win POY, that will be a shock IMO. Carlini is the clear front runner for POY. If she can lead that wisconsin team to at least 3rd place, she's my vote. Also, she's going to have to hit ALOT better to get POY. She only hit .234 last year. While thats not awful, its certainly not POY numbers, even though she averages a lot of kills. The only way I can see her getting it, is if Illinois wins the Big ten. Other than that, I don't think she gets it. IF she does get it, ill hand it to you though because I don't think anyone else would predict her as POY. As I recall WF you've never been a Birks fan. Not sure what your issue is with her. One of the hardest working humble players in the league putting up consistent big numbers. I'm sure shed prefer a national championship over any individual award,the opposite of the one you thought was a " force" for the illini. As far as setting it will make the world of difference for this team just as it did for Wisconsin when Carlini came in. I haven't looked at the stars in depth but I bet their hitters percentages improved significantly.
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