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Post by klattvb on Aug 31, 2015 11:06:27 GMT -5
Minnesota had some struggles last year. After this weekend what is everyone thinking how the 2015 season for the gophers will turn out?
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Post by bayarea on Aug 31, 2015 11:23:39 GMT -5
I watched a dozen or more teams play this past weekend. I thought Minnesota's setter-hitter connection was worse than any other team I saw. Hopefully that will improve quickly with more reps. Minnesota has great size and athleticism and should be playing so much better than they looked.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 31, 2015 11:27:50 GMT -5
I watched a dozen or more teams play this past weekend. I thought Minnesota's setter-hitter connection was worse than any other team I saw. Hopefully that will improve quickly with more reps. Minnesota has great size and athleticism and should be playing so much better than they looked. I think Minnesota has great size and athleticism and has some great arms, but that the players with great arms don't have size and athleticism. Setting was a bit predictable (but I think that's a Hugh thing). It was hard to tell from the endline angle, but from the hitters' reactions there may have been a lot of trapping as well. Still, Minnesota served and blocked pretty well I thought, and they also fought hard in that second set. I think we'll know much more about the team after this weekend. IMO, the Louisville match is a must win.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 11:28:05 GMT -5
Depends on if the team I saw in the spring was a mirage or not. I'd like to know if they were healthy this past weekend. The use of Wilhite and Goehner makes me think they were not, but I don't know. I also don't know if Santana is 100%.
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Post by klattvb on Aug 31, 2015 12:52:17 GMT -5
Santana is not 100 percentage. I was at there scrimmage and she did not play... Probably to rest her. I think if she is at full health and they figure out there setting situation they will be more consistent.
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 31, 2015 13:04:26 GMT -5
I wonder if the Gophers need to bring in an older setter if SSS can't find consistency, even for a few weeks. While I like the idea that they had a set 5-1 lineup against Stanford and pretty much ran with it, probably to also build consistency, we also desperately need better connections with our hitters, pronto. I understand that the staff probably still wants SSS to start and to get comfortable in match situations, but the team also need to start terminating, especially at middle and outside.
I still think this team can be (and should be) better than last year's. I honestly am shocked to hear of all of our hitters/setter issues, but I believe they can get them worked out.
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Post by klattvb on Aug 31, 2015 13:18:37 GMT -5
Also I don't know why whlhite wasn't in when she was the Jill leader last night... I have complete respect for Hugh but white deserved the start. I would also like to see Toni have a start as well.
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 31, 2015 13:26:26 GMT -5
What is more vexing is the struggling Santana/Goehner issue. Everyone mentioned how Santana didn't look like herself, while Goehner ended the day with only three kills as the other outside. If Wilhite was not sick or injured, there was absolutely no reason, in my mind, not to give her at least some playing time.
I get that the coaches want to establish a lineup of people who can play together well and be used to having the same people around them on the court, but this oversight is almost mind-boggling.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 13:46:58 GMT -5
I think it is safe to assume they had a reason. They know what they are doing. We just don't know what the reason was.
Goehner will not be in there for her offense. They need the rest of the team to provide that. The question, I still think, is whether a 5-1 and Goehner playing all-around are compatible.
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Post by klattvb on Aug 31, 2015 15:15:27 GMT -5
I also think that the gopher playa lot better at home they have a great atmosphere there. But only if goehner was like 6'2" she would b amazing but given the previous game Sarah should get the start over her.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2015 15:22:18 GMT -5
I personally want them both on the floor and a 6-2 is the best way to do it. But not at the expense of inconsistent/ineffective setting.
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Post by volleyfan24 on Aug 31, 2015 15:40:00 GMT -5
Minnesota I love to watch but at this point there is just way more questions than answers. I saw more tips by them by any other team that tells me setter hitter connection is off. They have studs the Tapp sisters and Santana can thump a ball. Also no Wilihite is concerning. Hopefully they figure it out I didn't like that Hugh didn't seem to make any in match adjustments. Minnesota should be a solid tourney team every year and now I am wondering about the state of things for the Gopher program.
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Post by vbprisoner on Aug 31, 2015 15:45:46 GMT -5
I said this in another thread.....Minnesota looks great on paper but it does not seem to translate to the court. Are the parts greater than the sum? I had high expectations for them this year.
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Post by alpacaone on Sept 1, 2015 10:37:54 GMT -5
Where on paper does this side look any different than it was last year? They ended the season looking like a bubble qualifier. The bright spot on the season was their opening Big10. Pinning hopes on a freshman 5-1 setter to once again place the team in a top 4 B1G seems an aweful big hope. A 20-25 top 8 finish will be a nice step forward; not sure if things have changed enough to allow the team to come together and do any better than that.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2015 10:42:58 GMT -5
I think the hope was that last year's struggles had to do with inexperience and that another year, especially after a good spring that included a trip to Japan, would produce significant growth from the young players. This may still be the case.
It may also be that they are only a top 40 team.
SSS is a top ten recruit. I don't see why it would be outlandish to think she could be an upgrade, especially since Schau, so far, has not performed up to her ranking.
(There is also a lot more depth on this team than last year's.)
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