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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Aug 30, 2015 6:21:50 GMT -5
Watching Illinois take down Creighton was very satisfying as an old Illini fan. It is so early, but keep an eye on these Illini. A lot can happen between now and December, and Coach Hambly may not like anyone saying this...but this just may be the best Illini volleyball team ever.
At times, in the Creighton match, Illinois looked really, really good. Better than the national runner-up team in 2011. That team, as I remember, basically relied on their two All-American OH's (Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward) to constantly bail them out of tight situations, win side-outs, and garner points. This team is different. Points can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Anyone could tell that Creighton came to Huff Gym last evening to spoil Illinois' tournament party. Illinois had swept both Louisville (a tight battle) and Miami (OH.) (a little bit easier match for UI). The Blue Jays came out with a lot of fire. Their 6 rotation freshman OH, Jaali Winters, was fearless. She is destined for a great career at Creighton. However, Illinois' attack (and solid defense) was relentless. There exists a lot of room for the Illini to improve (particularly I thought) with their blocking...but heads up everyone.
Setter Jordyn Poulter may actually be better than advertised. What a joy it must be for any attacker to be set by Poulter. Ask Illinois MB Katie Stadick...ask RS Ali Stark...ask OH Michelle Strizak (tourney MVP). Poulter put on a setting clinic in the third set...perfect sets from everywhere on the floor to every hitter. And then, scoring points on her own with an overpass kill, a beautifully disguised setter dump, winning a joust, etc. (how she was overlooked for All-Tourney, I don't know.)
But what JP does best is totally orchestrate her hitters. The Illini were like a very fine symphony in the final set of the Illini Classic vs. CU. Every section was playing perfect music. The back row defenders, DS Brandi Donnelly and Danielle Davis were super the whole tournament (DS Donnelly could have/should have been All-Tourney). The serving was good, the Illinois reserves were in their usual great form led by senior setter, Lex Viliunas.
All things point to a historic season for Illinois volleyball:
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Post by SuperSpike on Aug 30, 2015 6:42:31 GMT -5
Is IL going fast(er) now that they have JP?
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Aug 30, 2015 6:53:13 GMT -5
Is IL going fast(er) now that they have JP?
Absolutely...Poulter does slow down and make her sets a bit higher for Joc Birks. Poulter and Birks had a rough time connecting in their first match together vs. Louisville, but that connection improved immensely in the final two matches vs. Miami (OH) and Creighton. |
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Post by bkedane on Aug 30, 2015 7:17:37 GMT -5
Sounds like an easy National Championship for Illinois.
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Post by firedup on Aug 30, 2015 7:52:48 GMT -5
Watching Illinois take down Creighton was very satisfying as an old Illini fan. It is so early, but keep an eye on these Illini. A lot can happen between now and December, and Coach Hambly may not like anyone saying this...but this just may be the best Illini volleyball team ever. At times, in the Creighton match, Illinois looked really, really good. Better than the national runner-up team in 2011. That team, as I remember, basically relied on their two All-American OH's (Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward) to constantly bail them out of tight situations, win side-outs, and garner points. This team is different. Points can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Anyone could tell that Creighton came to Huff Gym last evening to spoil Illinois' tournament party. Illinois had swept both Louisville (a tight battle) and Miami (OH.) (a little bit easier match for UI). The Blue Jays came out with a lot of fire. Their 6 rotation freshman OH, Jaali Winters, was fearless. She is destined for a great career at Creighton. However, Illinois' attack (and solid defense) was relentless. There exists a lot of room for the Illini to improve (particularly I thought) with their blocking...but heads up everyone. Setter Jordyn Poulter may actually be better than advertised. What a joy it must be for any attacker to be set by Poulter. Ask Illinois MB Katie Stadick...ask RS Ali Stark...ask OH Michelle Strizak (tourney MVP). Poulter put on a setting clinic in the third set...perfect sets from everywhere on the floor to every hitter. And then, scoring points on her own with an overpass kill, a beautifully disguised setter dump, winning a joust, etc. (how she was overlooked for All-Tourney, I don't know.) But what JP does best is totally orchestrate her hitters. The Illini were like a very fine symphony in the final set of the Illini Classic vs. CU. Every section was playing perfect music. The back row defenders, DS Brandi Donnelly and Danielle Davis were super the whole tournament (DS Donnelly could have/should have been All-Tourney). The serving was good, the Illinois reserves were in their usual great form led by senior setter, Lex Viliunas. All things point to a historic season for Illinois volleyball: As Dennis Green, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Stanford Cardinal once said, "Crown 'em!" |
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Post by WI FIB on Aug 30, 2015 10:09:27 GMT -5
Let's not be crazy. This years team is only better at two of the seven positions, with at best ties in a couple of the others, than the 2011 team. This year has a better setter and libero, but the runner-up team had advantages at pretty much every other place.
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Post by 2muchbs on Aug 30, 2015 10:19:59 GMT -5
Let's not be crazy. This years team is only better at two of the seven positions, with at best ties in a couple of the others, than the 2011 team. This year has a better setter and libero, but the runner-up team had advantages at pretty much every other place. You're right - let's not be crazy This years team has a better setter, libero,middle,and an OH that will most likely beat the school record for kills.. So possibly not comparable piece by piece but as a whole might just possibly be better. I'm not going to get ahead of myself though, perhaps next weekend will give us a better indication with some stiffer competition. |
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Aug 30, 2015 11:05:17 GMT -5
It's an Illini thing:
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Post by crosscourt3m on Aug 30, 2015 12:50:21 GMT -5
This team looks very impressive though and having a talented setter, even if she is only a freshman, can take a team a very long way (See Carlini in 2013). I honestly would not be surprised to see this team in the final four.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Aug 30, 2015 12:58:04 GMT -5
Watching Illinois take down Creighton was very satisfying as an old Illini fan. It is so early, but keep an eye on these Illini. A lot can happen between now and December, and Coach Hambly may not like anyone saying this...but this just may be the best Illini volleyball team ever. At times, in the Creighton match, Illinois looked really, really good. Better than the national runner-up team in 2011. That team, as I remember, basically relied on their two All-American OH's (Michelle Bartsch and Colleen Ward) to constantly bail them out of tight situations, win side-outs, and garner points. This team is different. Points can come from anyone, anywhere, at any time. Anyone could tell that Creighton came to Huff Gym last evening to spoil Illinois' tournament party. Illinois had swept both Louisville (a tight battle) and Miami (OH.) (a little bit easier match for UI). The Blue Jays came out with a lot of fire. Their 6 rotation freshman OH, Jaali Winters, was fearless. She is destined for a great career at Creighton. However, Illinois' attack (and solid defense) was relentless. There exists a lot of room for the Illini to improve (particularly I thought) with their blocking...but heads up everyone. Setter Jordyn Poulter may actually be better than advertised. What a joy it must be for any attacker to be set by Poulter. Ask Illinois MB Katie Stadick...ask RS Ali Stark...ask OH Michelle Strizak (tourney MVP). Poulter put on a setting clinic in the third set...perfect sets from everywhere on the floor to every hitter. And then, scoring points on her own with an overpass kill, a beautifully disguised setter dump, winning a joust, etc. (how she was overlooked for All-Tourney, I don't know.) But what JP does best is totally orchestrate her hitters. The Illini were like a very fine symphony in the final set of the Illini Classic vs. CU. Every section was playing perfect music. The back row defenders, DS Brandi Donnelly and Danielle Davis were super the whole tournament (DS Donnelly could have/should have been All-Tourney). The serving was good, the Illinois reserves were in their usual great form led by senior setter, Lex Viliunas. All things point to a historic season for Illinois volleyball:  |
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Post by southie on Aug 30, 2015 14:32:13 GMT -5
Okay
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Post by maplespear on Aug 30, 2015 19:20:10 GMT -5
This is pure passion for his team -- Love it. I don't think there is another Illinois fan that is worthy.
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Post by indyrun on Aug 30, 2015 21:29:37 GMT -5
After reading the recent comments on the Illini, one half of my two favorite VB programs, I'm not sure I was watching the same Creighton match as most of the rest of you. I missed the Friday and Sat. morn matches, as had grandfatherly duties to attend to, BUT was expecting a bit more in a couple of areas in the Sat. night match (than others here seem to have been). For 2 1/2 sets, I was expecting, but never saw us make a single successful block on ANY Creighton shot, and could not figure out where our front line defense seemed to be MIA. Both teams were matched pretty closely in size, but Creighton seemed to swing unhindered by blocking hands at the net. When we did make a defensive touch, the shot usually was tipped out, for their point. The first real blocks that I saw came in the last 5-10 minutes in 3rd set. IF we continue in that fashion against a Stanford or Colorado this next week, I'm afraid we will have our heads handed to us. Enough on that front.
My biggest disappointment was the total absence of team substitutions. I expected, especially by 3rd set, this early in the season, and with so many new players (that coach has spoken SO highly of, and indicated that he would have no compunction in moving many in and out when needed), to get the opportunity to actually SEE some of this talent, and how they would perform in something more than a practice environment. Hard to believe that Coach was just so totally satisfied with everything taking place on the court, by all 6 (2 others "in & out", I believe, for serving), that he couldn't give ANY of the others some playing time, just to see how they would react in live game situations.
I love to win, and we did just that, but the above referenced items made the trip to Huff, for me at least, not as satisfying as I would have hoped. This IS pre-conference season, and wins are not everything - I have noted over past couple of years, that PS utilizes most of their players early, to try to develop the "team" that will normally carry them to at least the Final Four, and if the wins come, fine, but massaging the line up has always seemed much more important, early in season. Just hope that, BEFORE conference season, we will have the chance to see most of our young ladies, to see what they have (or don't).
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2015 21:36:41 GMT -5
As Dennis Green, former head coach of the Arizona Cardinals and Stanford Cardinal once said, "Crown 'em!" |
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Post by HappyVolley on Aug 30, 2015 21:43:49 GMT -5
Maybe they are better than the 2011 team, maybe not. 2011 was a down year anyway. Neither UCLA nor Illinois of 2011 could have beaten any of the Final Four teams of 2008 and probably none of the Final Four teams from 2009 either.
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