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Post by BuckysHeat on Dec 15, 2015 17:10:23 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. Welcome back boof, others have tried to maintain but the board is not the same without you and your boofanisms Now that I said that, it is up to others to decide if that is good or bad
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Post by ggopher on Dec 15, 2015 18:28:24 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer.
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Post by jagdpanther on Dec 15, 2015 20:03:33 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. Had some poor luck with getting the big name transfers of late, probably simply because the girls already on the roster were plenty good. Definitely need some help, though, now. If Demure doesn't play OH, we definitely need some help at the pins.
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Post by hammer on Dec 15, 2015 20:11:53 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. There is an answer, but you just need to think outside the box. The first coach that taps that gold mine will likely score BIG.
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Post by Disc808 on Dec 15, 2015 20:26:19 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. There is an answer, but you just need to think outside the box. The first coach that taps that gold mine will likely score BIG. Paola Egonu looks like Hodge lol
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Post by huskerjen on Dec 15, 2015 20:33:14 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. There is an answer, but you just need to think outside the box. The first coach that taps that gold mine will likely score BIG. Cuba
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 22:46:07 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. The quotes from coach Rose were not provided to support my views, but rather to point out that coach never really alluded to lack of hitting or having quality outside hitters as this year's team's problem. Russ' comments, to me, does not reflect an inability to terminate, but the lack of mental sharpness needed to play up to the hitters' potential. This is fixable, IMO. Phillytom (referring to next year's team) said that he sees a lack of firepower. MTC also pointed out that there were no hitting "beasts" which joined PSU in 2015. I just don't see Penn State suffering from lack of firepower this season, next year, or anytime soon. I agree with MTC's other comments about injuries and players not stepping up at times. Also agree with Phillytom's assessment of the increased parity in BIG10 teams and the fact that the coaching and PSU program are still top notch. I would NEVER be against getting more big hitters, but I don't believe that's PSU's main problem. They have other, more pressing, needs to solve in order to be competitive next year. My expectations were always low for 2015 (after losing Micha and Dom). I expect improvement next year and have high expectations for 2017 (when PSU's best recruiting class are all seniors), barring any serious injuries to key players. Look, Penn State had one of the worst seasons for the past 8 years or so (Wins/Losses and sweep losses); however, statistically they were still one of the top teams in the nation, both offensively and defensively. Also, I'd give the example of Minnesota's turn-around. They were 19-12 last year and didn't make the tourney. This year (after adding a good setter) they're the #2 team in the nation, playing in the final four, with a good chance to win it all. Sometimes, one or two players can make a world of difference. Losing Micha and Dom is a prime example of that. I would also argue that a fast tempo offense will help alleviate any perceived lack of the big, heavy-handed hitters. Tempo and serving = success at the college level. I'm not arguing against having big hitters, I'm just saying there is more than one way to be successful. Finally I think that "the grind" attitude, which the PSU program imbues it's players with, should be considered part of the formula for success.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 23:51:02 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. I think demure has shot at setter I'm definitely interested to see how she works out, at least as a setting option in tough serve-receive situations. However, first we'll have to see how she competes at the college level from a hitting and blocking standpoint. Do you know Demure's ranking? I think it's kind of low.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 23:57:51 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. One can only hope. PS - I heard SSS and H. Tapp want to transfer to Penn State. What??!!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 15, 2015 23:59:02 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. There is an answer, but you just need to think outside the box. The first coach that taps that gold mine will likely score BIG. Well now that you put it like that, you gotta spill the beans. Can't leave us hanging. If you are referring to international players, then I've been thinking about that all season long. That's the one pool of players which Russ and co. need to be look at more, although they did get Novakovic from Serbia. Actually, I think I know who you're referring too. Is it 16 year old 6'4" OH M. Vargas from Cuba who played in the 2015 Pan Am Games in Canada? She was carrying the Cuban team. Wow, could she pound the heck out of the ball. She'll most likely get picked up by a pro team and make a lot of money playing professionally. Unless, of course, she has dreams of visiting the good 'ol US of America. The US market is saturated with coaches recruiting tweenies. It's getting more and more difficult to assess talent in that age group. Most good high school players are verbally committing by their freshman and sophomore years. If anyone has coach Rose's ear, maybe they can make mention of her.
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Post by MTC on Dec 16, 2015 0:51:46 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. Had some poor luck with getting the big name transfers of late, probably simply because the girls already on the roster were plenty good. Definitely need some help, though, now. If Demure doesn't play OH, we definitely need some help at the pins. My source says that Demure was not brought in to play OH. Rose is very concerned about the setter position.
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Post by MTC on Dec 16, 2015 0:54:52 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. Without Courtney they will not be able to shade her next year. Yikes!!!!
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Post by mnsports255 on Dec 16, 2015 1:05:52 GMT -5
I gotta believe that RR is going to be bringing in some big name transfer. One can only hope. PS - I heard SSS and H. Tapp want to transfer to Penn State. What??!!! RR had interest in the Tapp twins in HS and scouted them at a few tournaments. Never quite offered. In hindsight, wow.... what a mistake
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Post by zenyada on Dec 16, 2015 2:53:00 GMT -5
No one will ever accuse you of not drinking the blue-and-white kool-aid. Injuries and players not stepping up are what got us into this situation. Even Rose said he wished he could wave a magic wand to fix it but he can't. I think PhillyTom got it right this time. 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. Regarding Phillytom's lack of firepower comment, Frantti suffered from an early Sophomore slump, but I believe she will come back stronger next year.
BTW, I didn't know there was any other colored Kool-Aid. Elsewherw in the country, college players are generally thought/expected to make their greatest improvement between their freshman and sophomore year. Apparently at Penn St you're allowed to have a Sophomore slump and then pick it up the following year and improvement is assumed. Phillytom I believe is acknowledging that this is certainly not a given. Drink away.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 16, 2015 3:08:14 GMT -5
One can only hope. PS - I heard SSS and H. Tapp want to transfer to Penn State. What??!!! RR had interest in the Tapp twins in HS and scouted them at a few tournaments. Never quite offered. In hindsight, wow.... what a mistake I'm sure he could say that almost every year he'd say he's missed out on some talent, in hindsight (20/20 thing an all). I've been wondering how that one 6'0" OH from FL (I think Schneider is her name) from MN didn't get recruited by Hugh and co.?
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