Post by alwayslearning on Sept 4, 2015 23:17:06 GMT -5
Tonight was a workmanlike dismantling (-18, -8, and -11) of Murray St., a Kentucky team that won the Ohio Valley Conference last year (26-6 overall) and had a 2014 RPI of 114 (which is at least better than the Huskies' earlier opponent today, Buffalo, which had an RPI of 173). I've already expressed frustration with the marshmallow schedule put together by the Huskies this preseason, but I put most of the blame on JMac and his conservative preseason scheduling philosophy. We'll see what Coach Cook does in the future.
So, what did we see tonight? Frankly, I was impressed, notwithstanding the level of the competition. What I liked most was that the Huskies seemed focused mentally on just about every play, avoiding sloppiness and unforced errors. I see a team that won't beat itself most nights and that has the talent to make other talented teams sweat. UW hit .462 while holding MS to .062. The hitting didn't really impress me that much. Rather, it was the relative lack of errors, the overall good team defense, and better serving than I recall seeing in earlier efforts this season. Essentially, the Husky serve won the match as MS could not get any sort of consistent passing.
As far as individual performances, I will only single out Melanie Wade, who led the team in kills (with Schwan), hit .625, had 4 digs, and 3 block assists. She also served effectively with a long run in the third set when the Huskies could have stepped off the gas but did not.
If this team has an early personality, it seems to be focused, efficient, and low key. I can live with that.
Tomorrow the Huskies play the Canadian national team, who should give them their highest level of competition until they travel to LA the first weekend of October.
So, what did we see tonight? Frankly, I was impressed, notwithstanding the level of the competition. What I liked most was that the Huskies seemed focused mentally on just about every play, avoiding sloppiness and unforced errors. I see a team that won't beat itself most nights and that has the talent to make other talented teams sweat. UW hit .462 while holding MS to .062. The hitting didn't really impress me that much. Rather, it was the relative lack of errors, the overall good team defense, and better serving than I recall seeing in earlier efforts this season. Essentially, the Husky serve won the match as MS could not get any sort of consistent passing.
As far as individual performances, I will only single out Melanie Wade, who led the team in kills (with Schwan), hit .625, had 4 digs, and 3 block assists. She also served effectively with a long run in the third set when the Huskies could have stepped off the gas but did not.
If this team has an early personality, it seems to be focused, efficient, and low key. I can live with that.
Tomorrow the Huskies play the Canadian national team, who should give them their highest level of competition until they travel to LA the first weekend of October.