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Post by klazk on Jul 27, 2015 16:05:57 GMT -5
This is going to be a fun event. Top 8 teams in World Tour points after the Poland Grand Slam plus 2 FIVB wildcards get entry into the event. Host country is guaranteed at least one team per gender. Maximum of 2 teams per gender per country.
Two pools with round robin play. After round robin play, the semi-finals is a crossover between the pools (#1 in pool A versus #2 in pool B and vice versa).
With 2 slams left, only Barbara/Agatha of Brazil have officially clinched a spot as a top 8 team.
Barring some huge upsets for Fendrick/Sweat in the next 2 tournaments, on the women's side US will have to get a wildcard for the host country team. Will be interesting to see if Walsh/Ross get the invite or someone else. I don't see in the regulations that you earn any points from the event (although the purse is substantial - $100,000 going to the winning team in each gender). With that in mind, I'm not sure if Walsh should even play considering her shoulder.
On the men's side, Gibb/Patterson should be able to get in as a top 8 unless they collapse. Hopefully Lucena/Brunner or Hyden/Bourne can have a strong two tournaments and get us a second team on the men's side.
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Post by tinman2 on Jul 28, 2015 23:21:45 GMT -5
Could Phil/Nick get a wild card?
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Post by guest2 on Jul 29, 2015 4:45:08 GMT -5
How are points awarded for this event? (If they are) It seems like with those wildcards the FIVB may be deciding which US team will get a good amount of points. (Since presumably 9th is the worst finish.
Since there are only two teams per country, that means FIVB will be giving Phil/Nick a big leg up on Tri/John (I am assuming they pick Phil)
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Post by klazk on Jul 29, 2015 6:36:24 GMT -5
Yes, I believe Dalhausser/Lucena could get a wildcard. All the regulations say is that the host country is guaranteed one spot. So if the US doesn't have a team in the top 8, one wildcard would go to a US team. There is nothing else in the regulations about determining who the other wildcards will go to. Maybe Geddy or someone else has more insider information on that. I believe sponsors might have some input.
There is nothing in the regulations that indicates points are going to be awarded. Technically the World Tour Final is now the end of the FIVB season and the Opens after the World Tour Final start teams accumulating points towards the 2016 World Tour final qualification. It is supposed to mark the end of the season and be a "championship" of sorts. That, combined with the limited entry, would seem to be consistent with no points being awarded.
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Post by klazk on Aug 12, 2015 8:09:24 GMT -5
How are points awarded for this event? (If they are) It seems like with those wildcards the FIVB may be deciding which US team will get a good amount of points. (Since presumably 9th is the worst finish. Recent article on FIVB Long Beach states that World Tour Final is a "non-points event." www.fivb.org/EN/Media/viewPressRelease.asp?No=56034&Language=en |
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Post by guest2 on Aug 12, 2015 8:18:14 GMT -5
This is like the old Cuervo events that were always some of the best on tour because the top teams always played each other. This should be a lot of fun. I wish the FIVB would put on a bunch of this type event every year. Round robin play would really mitigate their idiotic scoring system.
For example through 8 tournaments I would be the top two teams havent played each other 4 times.
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Post by vballjj on Aug 12, 2015 10:42:21 GMT -5
Back in the day the AVP had some invitationals and even KOBs. They even had a USA vs BRA event
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Post by klazk on Aug 24, 2015 7:20:46 GMT -5
Teams with clinched spots after Long Beach:
Alison/Bruno
Evandro/Pedro
Brouwer/Meeuwsen
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Nummerdor/Varenhorst will clinch just by showing up in Poland
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Still alive for remaining four spots
Doppler/Horst
Herrera/Gavira
Gibb/Patterson
Fijalek/Prudel
Saxton/Schalk
Nicolai/Lupo
Semenov/Krasilnikov
Binstock/Schachter
Hyden/Bourne (unlikely)
Erdmann/Matysik (very improbable)
WOMEN
Agatha/Seixas
Bansley/Pavan
Larissa/Talita or Julianna/Antonelli (almost certainly Larissa/Talita)
Bawden/Clancey
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Still alive for remaining four spots:
Ludwig/Walkenhorst
Broder/Valjas
Mepplelink/Van Iersel
Liliana/Baquerizo
Laboureur/Sude
Borger/Buthe (although not really because of injury)
Wang Fan/Yue Y.
Holtwick/Semmler (almost impossible because of CQ)
Fendrick/Sweat
Menegatti/Orsi Toth
In all likelihood, it is the first 5 battling for the remaining four spots. From the Chinese team down, it will likely take a top 4 finish and low finishes at least 2 of the top 5.
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Post by digdugg on Aug 24, 2015 8:15:25 GMT -5
Redbull is putting on the event. If they have any say, they will push hard for one of their athletes (Phil) and having two floridians, one of which is from the host city would certainly be a great marketing tool towards drawing attendance
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Post by JB Southpaw on Sept 8, 2015 14:17:29 GMT -5
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Post by klazk on Sept 8, 2015 15:23:16 GMT -5
Interesting to see that Carumbula's alleged visa issues are presumably worked out? I hate the Kessy/Day wildcard. I understand it, but don't think they've done anything to deserve it. Although now that I go back and look, the only teams that have significantly better per event played results are CQed out (Lima/Fernanda and Borger/Buthe (also hurt)) Team - average points per event entered Lima/Fernanda 443 (CQ) Borger/Buthe 373 (CQ) Menegatti/Orsi Toth 353 Brzostek/Kolosinska 344 Ukolova/Birlova 339 Holtwick/Semmler 333 (CQ) Wang Fan/Yue 332 Kessy/Day 329 Looking at the list this way, I guess the only real threat to them could have been Menegatti/Orsi Toth as I think Menegatti is a Red Bull athlete. Obviously attracting the US crowds more important. I am looking forward to seeing what Fendrick and Ross can do together. |
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Sept 8, 2015 16:03:14 GMT -5
Yeah, a nice consolation gift for Kessy/Day. But I understand the reasoning behind giving them a WC. Labourer/Sude get a nice break as well, sneaking in after Bawden/Clancy decided to end their 2015 season due to an unspecified injury (or so I've heard).
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Post by guest2 on Sept 10, 2015 12:51:23 GMT -5
I wonder how the timing for the women's wild cards went down. Presumably April would prefer to play with Jen if Kerri is not available, and since there are no points and significant money I would guess Jen would prefer not to pay 2-20k to play with Emily instead of April.
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Post by digdugg on Sept 10, 2015 13:01:34 GMT -5
Interesting to see that Carumbula's alleged visa issues are presumably worked out? Time will tell. You will recall they were initially registered at Long Beach but then dropped. I understand he was been working with USCIS since May so there is hope...maybe RedBull has gotten some high powered lawyers/lobbyists involved... |
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Post by digdugg on Sept 10, 2015 13:20:10 GMT -5
Presumably April would prefer to play with Jen if Kerri is not available I wonder if this is true. I think April has moved on from Kessy and would not want to go back to split blocking. The pairing with Fendrick is very interesting. They are scheduled to play this weekend, presumably, as a warm up for this event but perhaps there is more to it than meets the eye. There is a debate on whether Kerri can make it back in time to qualify (and be healthy) for the Olympics - April/Kerri run to Olympics is Plan A. I think most think Kerri can recover but shoulder surgeries are tricky and if there are any complications whatsoever...if you are sitting in April's shoes - she is in a precarious position. With Fendrick becoming available - has this become a viable Plan B? I like a Fendrick/April pairing much more then April/Fopma in terms of international ceiling. What would the path look like if Kerri does not make it back - is it possible for April/Fendrick to get there based on FIVB schedule and any alternative routes? |
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