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Post by 2muchbs on Nov 27, 2016 23:27:20 GMT -5
This is disappointing and frustrating. We've watched this for the last four years, wasting talent. IMHO they could have and should have moved past Florida in the sweet sixteen '15. Criswell was injured in the last set and he left her in, after the overcame the vilunis injury. He pulled Criswell constantly in regular season but for some reason left her in barely able to jump. That was the year they could have taken in all handily.There was Vilunis, Dorn, McMahon,Stadick,Criswell and Birks. Before anyone jumps on me about Vilunis, she might not have been the best BIG setter but she sure had a way of calming her squad. Last year he had, yes I'll say it again, Birks playing the L2 position and admittedly used her for primarily OSS, why? Because he had no other hitter that could hit OS. I'm not sure why he thought Strizak could fill that void this season. It's hard as a spectator to understand, but we are not in the gym with the squad daily, he sees things we don't. I'm wondering why no one is questioning the obvious, a setter of her caliber yet can't get her team to produce How do you fix that ?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2016 23:28:36 GMT -5
Bastianelli is a very good blocker, but she doesn't do much offensively compared to other Big Ten middles. She's leading the entire nation in blocking by a substantial margin but she may not be looked at as an All-American due her lack of offensive production. Hopefully they can bring out more in her offensively next season. I think it's primarily serve receive is just horrible for Illinois. She does not get as many chances. She's hitting at a good percentage. Shes ranked in the top 125 in hitting percentage, but I don't know if that's good enough to warrant her an AA slot, even with her blocking numbers. There are about 100 middles with a higher hitting percentage regardless of number of attacks taken (and really a good offensive middle would have a higher hitting percentage the fewer swings they are taking.) Again this is not against Ali, I think she has potential to be first team AA. and I hope she is next year, but something's gotta change in the way the Illinois game is run first.
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Post by Northern lights on Nov 27, 2016 23:36:19 GMT -5
See it's not just me, Illinois is wasting Poulter's talents. There offence is slow and predictable. Every other team in the BIG, is pushing middle, even the bad ones.
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Post by tallcornfields on Nov 27, 2016 23:56:23 GMT -5
I find it's the lack of a consistent middle threat that hurts Illinois, at least every time I watch them play. Lots of high moon balls outside. Just wasting Poulter to me. Illinois needs another big, quick, athletic middle. Is there a possible incoming recruit that will fulfill this criteria? I saw Hranika (NC State transfer) play with Poulter on the club circuit. She is explosive and has a very fast arm. After seeing her in club, not surprised to learn she broke scoring records in ACC. Was excited to see ILL snag her. Given our need for more scoring in the middle, was surprised she did not rotate in more this year. Maybe Hambly is developing her for next year.
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Post by alt on Nov 28, 2016 0:18:57 GMT -5
Illinois needs another big, quick, athletic middle. Is there a possible incoming recruit that will fulfill this criteria? I saw Hranika (NC State transfer) play with Poulter on the club circuit. She is explosive and has a very fast arm. After seeing her in club, not surprised to learn she broke scoring records in ACC. Was excited to see ILL snag her. Given our need for more scoring in the middle, was surprised she did not rotate in more this year. Maybe Hambly is developing her for next year. I don't understand why she couldnt redshirt if she wasnt even going to play much. Hambly needs to stop being passive about volleyball he's way too relaxed. They need some fire and agression. They lose points on dumb errors. They really need a new coach I'm sorry.
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Post by alt on Nov 28, 2016 0:21:15 GMT -5
See it's not just me, Illinois is wasting Poulter's talents. There offence is slow and predictable. Every other team in the BIG, is pushing middle, even the bad ones. What do you think of Taylor Tashima there at NW? She's a great setter but players stay loyal to their team. Illinois has a very good offense its the serve/ backrow defense missing. Of course their pin hitters could be more terminal.
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Post by badgerbreath on Nov 28, 2016 0:24:57 GMT -5
Gees. Sorry guys.
As soon as I saw UNLV I knew they had dumped Illinois. I was surprised. Think Illinois is a better team and should be in the tournament. You'd think wins against MSU, Purdue and OSU would do it. That early season match against Stanford was close, too. Illinois can't entirely control what their OOC opponents do after they play them. If they had eeked out one more conference win they probably would be in.
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Post by BeiBei on Nov 28, 2016 5:49:26 GMT -5
Has a team with a No.1 class missed the tournament ?
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Post by illinois on Nov 28, 2016 8:18:38 GMT -5
Earlier posts "losing to Missouri State, Colorado, Stanford, and Oregon in that stretch early didn't help. They scheduled good teams...if they had won one of those matches or one more in the B1G, they get in." This post" If I recall correctly, that was when Hambly was attempting to use both OH in all 6 rotations. Hitting was also very error prone. All of these areas improved but not enough to counteract these early losses.
I think this is a "spot on" observation.
Illinois has three potential AA Players
Poulter as a tremendous setter. Donnelly as a libero leading the big 10 in digs. Bastianelli leading the big 10 in blocking.
Find an outside, make this team great again!
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Post by Hawk Attack on Nov 28, 2016 9:35:16 GMT -5
Earlier posts "losing to Missouri State, Colorado, Stanford, and Oregon in that stretch early didn't help. They scheduled good teams...if they had won one of those matches or one more in the B1G, they get in." This post" If I recall correctly, that was when Hambly was attempting to use both OH in all 6 rotations. Hitting was also very error prone. All of these areas improved but not enough to counteract these early losses. I think this is a "spot on" observation. Illinois has three potential AA Players Poulter as a tremendous setter. Donnelly as a libero leading the big 10 in digs. Bastianelli leading the big 10 in blocking. Find an outside, make this team great again! Illinois hasn't been "great" since 1988.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 12:48:27 GMT -5
Earlier posts "losing to Missouri State, Colorado, Stanford, and Oregon in that stretch early didn't help. They scheduled good teams...if they had won one of those matches or one more in the B1G, they get in." This post" If I recall correctly, that was when Hambly was attempting to use both OH in all 6 rotations. Hitting was also very error prone. All of these areas improved but not enough to counteract these early losses. I think this is a "spot on" observation. Illinois has three potential AA Players Poulter as a tremendous setter. Donnelly as a libero leading the big 10 in digs. Bastianelli leading the big 10 in blocking. Find an outside, make this team great again! Illinois hasn't been "great" since 1988. Not since since sideout scoring? ouch. How would you characterize 2011?
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Post by Hawk Attack on Nov 28, 2016 14:09:12 GMT -5
Illinois hasn't been "great" since 1988. Not since since sideout scoring? ouch. How would you characterize 2011? It was a political joke
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2016 14:43:24 GMT -5
Not since since sideout scoring? ouch. How would you characterize 2011? It was a political joke i was trying to play along.
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Post by Hawk Attack on Nov 28, 2016 14:52:28 GMT -5
It was a political joke i was trying to play along. Well... damn it.
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Post by ilalum92 on Nov 28, 2016 14:55:26 GMT -5
I agree with an earlier post. With the size and ability of the 2017 class coming in -- we will contend in 2 years. We just didn't have the firepower this year to contend. Wondering if Cooney will play MB or OH at 6'4" she will be a beast at either position. Van Dijke was getting recruited by everyone before her injury.. NEB, WISC, FLORIDA. Deburg is a get too - she could fill the OPP position. I wasn't a fan of BIRKS, her career hitting % was at or under .200 ( for a star OH , thats abysmal) but she pulled the team thru. Poulter needs to be a more vocal leader. I know Hambly doesnt name a captain but maybe thats the leadership role we need..
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