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Post by seeyajohn on Dec 15, 2015 12:27:55 GMT -5
I enjoy reading all of this analysis and opinions. But I also realize that the top two ranked teams this season were USC and Minnesota and no one had that duo picked at the start of the season to do well in their own conference let alone overall. Russ Rose picked Illinois to win the B1G this year.
So in the end we'll know how 2016 went at the end of that season. In the meantime, as a PSU supporter, I'll just hope for the best.
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Post by vbkid111 on Dec 15, 2015 12:32:56 GMT -5
Which pin-hitter will play all 6 rotations? I'm assuming that Frantti will continue to play all 6 rotations in 2016, as she did in 2015. We'll have to wait and see who else can step up. Only if she's really healthy...and she really didn't consistently play 6 rotations this year or last. Much of the late season and tourney of '14, she was pulled from back row. This year, even when she was in, they often shaded her on SR.
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Post by future on Dec 15, 2015 12:35:14 GMT -5
But I also realize that the top two ranked teams this season were USC and Minnesota and no one had that duo picked at the start of the season to do well in their own conference let alone overall. Russ Rose picked Illinois to win the B1G this year. kinda.
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Post by vbkid111 on Dec 15, 2015 12:41:14 GMT -5
I'm not sure what drinking the kool-aid means, but I do know that Russ has not made any significant mention to lack of OH firepower issues this year as Phillytom mentions. His main concern, in almost all his post-match losses quotes, was the back row - passing, digging, and communication. Russ' quote after the Hawaii lose, "Tonight was kind of a reflection of how it was during the year: We had flashes where we looked pretty good, and then times where we couldn’t make the right play or the right decision... We had about three set points: we had an overpass, and a player was not in a good position to make a terminal play on it, and kept the ball in play... We had a game plan, and it didn’t seem to materialize very well. But I really think its more that they had a lot more confidence. We had some people that just weren’t in the right mindset to get things done, and that’s our fault as coaches." Regarding Phillytom's lack of firepower comment, Frantti suffered from an early Sophomore slump, but I believe she will come back stronger next year. When Courtney went down for 2 weeks or so, the team actually played better, players stepped up and PSU won those games. I definitely agree with you about the injuries, coach mentioned those. Going back to players stepping up that has to do, in part, with leadership, which we were lacking this year. Most of the players on our roster this year are underclassmen. I only hope one of next year's juniors will grab the bull by the horns and help lead this team like Micha did. Coach said in an interview before the Howard match, "You can’t have the success we’ve had in the past without the seniors." BTW, I didn't know there was any other colored Kool-Aid. I don't read those underscored qoutes nor many other quotes from the season as necessarily commenting on the backrow. Obviously, the backrow had its problems. But so did every other aspect of the team's game (acknowledging the probably impossibly high standard to which we hold Penn State). Just to pick one: blocking. Tough to have good backrow play when the blocking disappears. Agreed. 8M pasted a post-match quote that really does not support what he claimed. In fact, net play IS mentioned, in particular PSU's poor handling of watch should be a routine score (pounding an overpass), which Washington misplayed. She then vanished on the ensuing Hawaii set to the left pin and the ball was crushed straight down. PSU couldn't terminate consistently and their block was all over the place.
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Post by future on Dec 15, 2015 13:01:45 GMT -5
I don't read those underscored qoutes nor many other quotes from the season as necessarily commenting on the backrow. Obviously, the backrow had its problems. But so did every other aspect of the team's game (acknowledging the probably impossibly high standard to which we hold Penn State). Just to pick one: blocking. Tough to have good backrow play when the blocking disappears. Agreed. 8M pasted a post-match quote that really does not support what he claimed. In fact, net play IS mentioned, in particular PSU's poor handling of watch should be a routine score (pounding an overpass), which Washington misplayed. She then vanished on the ensuing Hawaii set to the left pin and the ball was crushed straight down. PSU couldn't terminate consistently and their block was all over the place. Love the rally at 23's but some of what you speak to can be seen at 50:40 in game 2. PSU had a couple opportunities to take that set that just didn't happen. It would have been fun and interesting to see where this match went in PSU was fortunate enough to close out game 2. Both teams were battling as hard as I have witnessed ever.
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Post by akbar on Dec 15, 2015 14:07:34 GMT -5
So. For starters.
Next year let's hope:
Simone learns how to drop in and press blocking on the rightside.
Bryanna learns to dig a cutback 1 ball with her arms out.
Haleigh closes blocks better.
The team handle overpasses more efficiently.
The blockers recognize a front row setter sooner.
Wilma learns to dig a ball hit at her above her waist.
Let's hope that Ali develops more shots in her tool box: like the feet to the ball on a high tight set to push and wipe out of bounds at game point #2 25.....then Coach Rose doesn't have to chew her out and the others for these exact situations in the ensuing time out.
And all this was illuminated in the span of about pt. 20 in game 2 till the 25-27 loss.
I still contend that PSU 2015 was a good enough team to be there at the end, however too many things went wrong at the same time too often in crucial situations to overcome.
I'm positive all the players mentioned will be better players next year. Just gotta add a few more.
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Post by vbprisoner on Dec 15, 2015 14:34:56 GMT -5
PSU might have one scholarship available. There should be one or two big time transfers that occur that know one is aware of yet and if they do have a scholarship they need to get one impact transfer because I do not see anyone coming in over the next two years to add that may take Courtney or Whitney's place.
Yes, I expect Lee to improve and be a better player next season, Frantti will work hard and bounce back to have a better season, and the back row has no where to go but get better, but still need one more piece and some depth.
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Post by Boof1224 on Dec 15, 2015 15:06:20 GMT -5
PSU will have 8 hitters including their incoming freshman Demure Simone Lee, Nia Reed, Ali Frantti as outsides Haleigh Washington, Thelen and Gorrell as middles Washington, Lee and Frannti have all seen significant playing time, Thelen was worked in here and there, Reed has not seen any real time, Gorrell and Novakovic did not play, Demure is not listed on any list of ranked preps. PSU will still have Weiskircher and Rivera as their setters. Frantti struggled throughout the year, PSU fans (on VT at least) were unhappy with Lee mostly. I do not see PSU finishing in the top 5 in the Big Ten next year given the returning strength of other teams in the Big Ten and the returnees PSU has. [br I think demure has shot at setter
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Post by gnu2vball on Dec 15, 2015 15:13:19 GMT -5
Boof! You're back and you've ben missed,
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Post by Boof1224 on Dec 15, 2015 15:22:53 GMT -5
Boof! You're back and you've ben missed, [b Took a break. Was following till USC got eliminated. They are my second team. Busy watching my warriors tear it up. Also I watched psu soccer team win championship lol. I think white will have that Libero position next year and I'm not convinced bryanna has that position locked up. Think there's chance demure could take it.
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Post by akbar on Dec 15, 2015 15:35:33 GMT -5
Boof! You're back and you've ben missed, [b Took a break. Was following till USC got eliminated. They are my second team. Busy watching my warriors tear it up. Also I watched psu soccer team win championship lol. I think white will have that Libero position next year and I'm not convinced bryanna has that position locked up. Think there's chance demure could take it. A walk on is going to take a spot over two full scholarship players in a singular position? Indeed Boof is back in full force.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 15:38:19 GMT -5
[b Took a break. Was following till USC got eliminated. They are my second team. Busy watching my warriors tear it up. Also I watched psu soccer team win championship lol. I think white will have that Libero position next year and I'm not convinced bryanna has that position locked up. Think there's chance demure could take it. A walk on is going to take a spot over two full scholarship players in a singular position? Indeed Boof is back in full force. No, the Historic Boof would have taken 100 words, 110 of which were misspelled, posted four times, to say that
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Post by Boof1224 on Dec 15, 2015 15:41:22 GMT -5
[b Took a break. Was following till USC got eliminated. They are my second team. Busy watching my warriors tear it up. Also I watched psu soccer team win championship lol. I think white will have that Libero position next year and I'm not convinced bryanna has that position locked up. Think there's chance demure could take it. A walk on is going to take a spot over two full scholarship players in a singular position? Indeed Boof is back in full force. Nothing is impossible, like me being cool one day.
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Post by vbprisoner on Dec 15, 2015 15:46:17 GMT -5
[b Took a break. Was following till USC got eliminated. They are my second team. Busy watching my warriors tear it up. Also I watched psu soccer team win championship lol. I think white will have that Libero position next year and I'm not convinced bryanna has that position locked up. Think there's chance demure could take it. A walk on is going to take a spot over two full scholarship players in a singular position? Indeed Boof is back in full force. Is Demure the player you are referring to as the walk-on? I would think a 6'1 RS/S would not be a walk-on.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 16:22:31 GMT -5
I'm assuming that Frantti will continue to play all 6 rotations in 2016, as she did in 2015. We'll have to wait and see who else can step up. Only if she's really healthy...and she really didn't consistently play 6 rotations this year or last. Much of the late season and tourney of '14, she was pulled from back row. This year, even when she was in, they often shaded her on SR. Yes, the players being healthy is very important, not just for PSU but I'm sure all coaches worry about that. You're right about 2014, she didn't play back row. I know she was in the back row in many matches in 2015. She's the likeliest to play all 6 rotations in 2016. She's extremely dedicated and hard working. I feel she'll get to the level she needs to in order to play more consistently back there.
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