trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 28,135
|
Post by trojansc on Sept 4, 2015 3:41:37 GMT -5
The logo even says it's the qualifier. Per FIVB: "The four 2016 World Olympic Qualification Tournaments will each feature a host country plus three other countries coming from the top two teams not yet qualified per confederation (decided either by the 2015 Continental Championships or other Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament plus two teams who, not yet qualified, are the highest ranked teams on the world rankings (not from the same continent)." www.fivb.org/viewPressRelease.asp?No=37309&Language=en#.VelY_pdUV1I
|
|
|
Post by #skoskers on Sept 4, 2015 3:45:57 GMT -5
Without Lowe USA beat Russia last year in World Champs with Startseva setting. Kosianenko made all the difference. I think Scherban also made a huge difference. During the world championship, Russia didn't have a solid 2nd OH option. Scherban only scored 2 fewer points than Kosheleva today and had 48 receptions. I didn't watch the match, but were only 2 players passing for Russia at one time. I can't imagine why the USA didn't target Kosheleva at service reception. Yes, Russia ran a 2-person serve-receive and kept Kosheleva hidden.
|
|
trojansc
Legend
All-VolleyTalk 1st Team (2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017), All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2016), 2021, 2019 Fantasy League Champion, 2020 Fantasy League Runner Up, 2022 2nd Runner Up
Posts: 28,135
|
Post by trojansc on Sept 4, 2015 3:55:38 GMT -5
The logo even says it's the qualifier. Per FIVB: "The four 2016 World Olympic Qualification Tournaments will each feature a host country plus three other countries coming from the top two teams not yet qualified per confederation (decided either by the 2015 Continental Championships or other Continental Olympic Qualification Tournament plus two teams who, not yet qualified, are the highest ranked teams on the world rankings (not from the same continent)." www.fivb.org/viewPressRelease.asp?No=37309&Language=en#.VelY_pdUV1I
Judging by that statement by the FIVB and the Wikipedia article en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_Women's_NORCECA_Volleyball_Championship "The 2015 Women's NORCECA Volleyball Championship was the 24th edition of the tournament, played from 25 September to 3 October 2015 in Michoacan, Mexico. The top 4 teams who have not yet qualified from the 2016 Summer Olympics will automatically qualify to the 2016 NORCECA Olympic Qualifier."
|
|
|
Post by ironhammer on Sept 4, 2015 4:55:13 GMT -5
Deleted-double post.
|
|
|
Post by ironhammer on Sept 4, 2015 4:56:34 GMT -5
Unlikely but possible. Basically, China has to beat Russia and then lose to Japan. Serbia is in, could possibly even win it. They have Kenya and Argentina left so they are going to finish 10-1. If Russia beats China, they are the winner of the tournament at 10-1 with a lot more pts than Serbia - even though they lost the head-to-head with Serbia (bad tie breaking procedure). They only have Algeria left after China. USA's only hope is for second by winning their last two matches in less than 5 sets against Japan and DR. And they also need China to beat Russia but then lose to Japan. This would leave: Serbia 10-1 27pts USA 9-2 28pts (have to win both matches in 3/4) Russia 9-2 27 or 28 pts if their loss to China is in 5 sets. China 9-2 26/27/28 pts (26 if they win in 5 but lose in 3/4, 27 if they win in 3/4 but lose in 3/4 (or win in 5 and lose in 5), 28 if they win in 3/4 and lose in 5) Both Russia and China cannot end up 9-2 with 28pts. So it will then come down to set w/l ratio. Russia at 9-2 has a best set record of 31-8 (.795) but ratio of 3.875 China at 9-2 w/ 28 pts at best would be 29-8 (.784) and ratio of 3.625 USA if they sweep their last 2 matches would be 29-6 (.829) and ratio of 4.83 (they could even lose a set and still be 29-7 (.806) 4.143. But if they were to win both matches 3-1 would put them behind Russia; 29-8 (.784) 3.625. Hell, even Japan has a shot a qualifying if they win their last 3 matches over SKorea, USA, and China to finish 9-2 and China beats Russia. Looks like I have a higher chance of winning the lottery than the US qualifying to Rio in the WC! No matter, US winning Norceca is a foregone conclusion...right?
|
|
|
Post by itsallrelative on Sept 4, 2015 8:19:06 GMT -5
The concern that I see based on this match is that USA seem to fall apart when pressure was applied, when things did not go their way....there didn't seem to be a whole lot of team unity, of pulling together on the court--it looked like 6 individuals out there. Obviously, this is just based on the impressions from one match, and may be way off...but it's concerning to me. ... to be brutally honest, this team doesn't normally face other teams that are as physical as they are, and that concerns me because I'm not sure they will build up the resilience and chemistry needed for rio to overcome them. Maybe the downside to not having Thompson, Murphy, hildebrand, etc..lots of new faces in the last year.
I thought Fawcett and Kreklow were two of the very few bright spots, and I was hoping Karch would start them for game three.... Lowe looks to me to be hitting her first rough patch in international volleyball, as other teams have tape on her, know her tendencies, and take them away from her.. now, we see if she adjusts...
One downside to hyperfast system is that setting and location is so critical.. It looked just okayed to me today, not great.
I will be interested in how the USA plays defense the next time they face Russia.... It seemed me there are a lot of balls falling behind them
Just my $.02...
|
|
|
Post by volleytology on Sept 4, 2015 9:07:06 GMT -5
Really like the Russian team, perfect mix of players who look like they enjoy playing together (which is rare for Russia). Both OH's are very good ball handlers, kill the ball and play with swagger. Setter is awesome, both middles know their role and do it with enthusiasm and Goncherova is a killing machine. USA got annoyed with each other after game 2 and never recovered. Body language wasn't good, although they tried their best to fake their way through it. Kreklow is really solid; Lowe just has to learn where the block is, how to hit around it, over it and use it better. Not a great blocker for her size either. They'll figure it out, lot of talent in that USA gym
|
|
|
Post by midnightblue on Sept 4, 2015 9:24:06 GMT -5
Ew.
|
|
|
Post by VolleyTX on Sept 4, 2015 9:34:21 GMT -5
Thoughts after the match:
Russia played great.... there is no denying that.
I've said this a thousand times already, but there is no use running such a fast offense if your opponent already knows where your setter is going with the ball. Glass is such a pattern setter... and easy to read. Even with 3 ball passes and lightening fast sets, USA has a solid two woman block to hit against almost every time. I'm really surprised Kreklow didn't start or at least be brought in during the second set. For the most part, I thought Glass' location was ok... again, it comes down to predictability. Watch the next match.... guess where she is going with the ball before she sets it.
Foluke.... she has not been blocking well for at least a year and 1/2. Not sure what is going on.
Both middles.... Why are they determined to stay in the middle of the court until the setter (or other player) makes the second contact? There are times when everyone in the gym knows who is getting the set (someone other than setter making second contact or court positioning).... yet there is foluke and Diezen standing in the middle of the net with their hands up. A couple times they even ended up late for the block.
Diezen's inability to consistently terminate is probably going to lose her the starting position to Dixon.
I'm a little surprised Karch didn't try Fawcett sooner.
Good God.... WTF is wrong with the Refs inability to understand what is supposed to be challenged. They seem to only get it right about 70% of the time. I know there is a language barrier.... but hand gestures are pretty obvious.
|
|
|
Post by Upfrontvb on Sept 4, 2015 9:38:34 GMT -5
Personally, I'd like to see Jordan put up some matches in a USA uniform like she apparently does for her club teams. She never will in this offensive system. She played the majority of her pro career in Russia. Don't hold your breath. Shhhhh. Can you explain this? Is it because we try to run a fast tempo and it's slower than her club team, different competition?
|
|
|
Post by ironhammer on Sept 4, 2015 9:45:04 GMT -5
Thoughts after the match: Russia played great.... there is no denying that. I've said this a thousand times already, but there is no use running such a fast offense if your opponent already knows where your setter is going with the ball. Glass is such a pattern setter... and easy to read. Even with 3 ball passes and lightening fast sets, USA has a solid two woman block to hit against almost every time. I'm really surprised Kreklow didn't start or at least be brought in during the second set. For the most part, I thought Glass' location was ok... again, it comes down to predictability. Watch the next match.... guess where she is going with the ball before she sets it. Foluke.... she has not been blocking well for at least a year and 1/2. Not sure what is going on. Both middles.... Why are they determined to stay in the middle of the court until the setter (or other player) makes the second contact? There are times when everyone in the gym knows who is getting the set (someone other than setter making second contact or court positioning).... yet there is foluke and Diezen standing in the middle of the net with their hands up. A couple times they even ended up late for the block. Diezen's inability to consistently terminate is probably going to lose her the starting position to Dixon. I'm a little surprised Karch didn't try Fawcett sooner. Good God.... WTF is wrong with the Refs inability to understand what is supposed to be challenged. They seem to only get it right about 70% of the time. I know there is a language barrier.... but hand gestures are pretty obvious. I always find it unacceptable that refs don't understand English (or don't understand enough of it) for international matches. For domestic matches in a non-English speaking country, sure, knowing English is not a prerequisite and a ref can get by perfectly fine without knowing a word of it.
But come on, this is FIVB's international tournament. And whether the French like it or not, English is the international language of communication. Its outrageous that so many refs don't even understand English volleyball terminology. I mean, fine, I accept they may not be able to speak English fluently. I don't necessarily expect them to speak like a native. But at the very least, a FIVB ref should understand the English terms for the volleyball challenges. That really is not asking much.
|
|
mrad
Sophomore
Posts: 208
|
Post by mrad on Sept 4, 2015 10:10:13 GMT -5
Karma just bites his azz. Karch is replicating the same mistakes Hugh did 3 yrs ago.
|
|
|
Post by c4ndlelight on Sept 4, 2015 10:12:18 GMT -5
I would have done 2 things differently: Pull Harmotto for Dixon to start Set 2 already, and then I wouldn't have unwound the double sub in that set. It was clear by that point the starting S/OPP combo was struggling. I believe that would have changed the course of the match.
|
|
mrad
Sophomore
Posts: 208
|
Post by mrad on Sept 4, 2015 10:32:02 GMT -5
Personally, I'd like to see Jordan put up some matches in a USA uniform like she apparently does for her club teams. She never will in this offensive system. She played the majority of her pro career in Russia. Don't hold your breath. It is not the system, please. Have you been watching her? Maybe the body can't take it anymore as she is getting older but she has not played consistent vb. Go back the WC in Italy recently, she had a great match in semi-final against Brazil then did nothing in the finals against China.
|
|
|
Post by jna on Sept 4, 2015 10:32:32 GMT -5
How about trying out Carli Lloyd and Micha Hancock on the team?. They are, without a doubt, the best setters with AVCA label. Dietzen shouldn't even be on the team anymore. Chiaka Ogbogu would be the perfect replacement for her.
|
|