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Post by ugopher on Dec 9, 2016 10:21:08 GMT -5
Forgot that they will play on Sport Court for the regionals.
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Post by JT on Dec 9, 2016 10:40:26 GMT -5
I (jokingly) complained to the VB staff last weekend that they were starting on the wrong (the west rather than the east) side of the court. Apparently, it's an NCAA requirement that you start on the opposite side that you normally do, if you're the host team, in order to give up any advantage you might have from it.
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Post by biohazard on Dec 9, 2016 12:06:20 GMT -5
But the popularity of the sport (JO participation) and home-grown players is not new. Hugh is definitely new, but I'm not convinced people paid that close attention to the NT. And Mike was much more open with the Gopher following than Hugh has been. This is not a knock on Hugh. It's just a difference in personality and program philosophy. It's become a less accessible program -- but that has not harmed its popularity either. Maybe it's been the additional TV exposure? I really don't have a good explanation. Having Hugh on board may add to the impression that the Gopher program is big time, but I doubt that Hugh's pedigree can explain the big jump in attendance. The biggest boost from having a NT name become coach should have come in 2012, when he joined the team immediately after the Olympics ended; yet we weren't talking about attendance boosts in Hugh's first three years. I wasn't following the program in 1996 when Hebert was named head coach. (I was however following my middle school classmates volleyball team...) But I think we need to remember how much press Hugh got in 2008, both for the success of the team and his families tragedy. I think the name recognition for the program was Hugh, I mean huge. That with the additional TV exposure over the last couple of years. And a successful program. And girls who are great role models for young kids. And winning. And those introduction videos... Ok, maybe not that last one. There are a ton of reasons attendance is up, but I do think a lot of it has to do with Hugh.
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Post by biohazard on Dec 9, 2016 12:19:11 GMT -5
Chris Hewitt nails another article on the Gophers!
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Post by gophervbfan on Dec 10, 2016 18:05:17 GMT -5
For those volleyball fans wanting more press coverage, I think our day has arrived. Here was today's StarTribune sports section.
FRONT PAGE: Gopher VB on top headline, huge picture of Sarah hitting on match point, coverage of match by Rachel Blount, nice article on the Gophers with a feature on Missouri's Carly Kan by Pat Reusse.
BOTTOM OF PAGE ONE: Coverage of the Wild game.
PAGE THREE: Coverage of the Timberwolves game.
PAGE TEN (BACK PAGE): Coverage of the Gopher men's basketball game.
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Post by JT on Dec 10, 2016 18:37:46 GMT -5
And the article on the back page about MBB mentioned the VB match happening next door (favorably).
I will wait, before saying we've started getting actual coverage, until I see the articles at the start and middle of -NEXT- season.
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Post by biohazard on Dec 11, 2016 9:37:36 GMT -5
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Post by lovebugsm on Dec 11, 2016 10:00:48 GMT -5
It really hit me yesterday that this senior class at most only has 2 games left. I actually like the Stanford draw. I was not overly excited about trying to beat a really good team with a really good setter 3 times in one season and 5 times in a row. We have never beat Stanford in history, so I think it's Minnesota's time to stop that streak. I can't wait for Thursday!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2016 10:13:19 GMT -5
It really hit me yesterday that this senior class at most only has 2 games left. I actually like the Stanford draw. I was not overly excited about trying to beat a really good team with a really good setter 3 times in one season and 5 times in a row. We have never beat Stanford in history, so I think it's Minnesota's time to stop that streak. I can't wait for Thursday! Of our four losses this year (Stanford, PSU, MSU, Nebraska), we have avenged three of them (PSU, MSU, Nebraska). Hope we go into this match hungry to avenge our only other loss of the season. Although Stanford is a great team and we have struggled against them historically, they do have weaknesses we can exploit.
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Post by Draco_MN on Dec 11, 2016 10:32:19 GMT -5
By the way, what I WANT to believe is that people came to try it out and liked what they saw. They not only came back but brought others with them. I just don't know why it took so long. This is what I think happened, in part because I'm a student and have been doing exactly that; making different friends go with me and they always want to go back. Now we travel in packs. I've talked to other students and it's happening with them too. As to why it's happening more now, it's because we're winning a lot more consistently. Back in '13 and '14, it was a little more of a toss up, even at the pav. So when I'd bring people, it maybe would be a smaller crowd and the team would do so-so and it would end up not being that exciting and then not as worth it in the eyes of busy non-volleyball students. Now, people get hooked from the atmosphere right away. I've had so many of my friends (mostly guys who have never played volleyball) tell me that games like vs. NEB and vs. WI were among the most exciting sporting events they've ever been to, and definitely while they've been at the U.
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Post by mcmike on Dec 11, 2016 10:33:09 GMT -5
Risk/Reward
We've been characterized as a 'clean' team. Am not a stat hound but is it not a rarity for a team to have more aces than service errors? We had no service errors last night, but I found it concerning that so many of our serves led to 3pt passes by UCLA. Can't speak to Stanford, but we won't get past NEB with a tepid style of serving. Teams with termination talent can end points early if they aren't ever OOS after their first contact. We need to serve more seams and more deeply to the back of the court.
SSS seemed to have some trouble connecting with the Tapps on the slides last night. And Lohman should be given a DVD of Lawrence of Arabia: NO PRISONERS!
In set 3 the Gophers had a run from 8-8 to 13-8. Next thing you know the score is 14-14. Rosado makes a diving dig that hits the top of the tape and leaks over. Why does she not get credit for a kill there? Did it ricochet off Paige?
Night after night the Gophers versatility spells the difference. Even when we aren't firing on all cylinders it always seems that someone is rising to the occasion. This team is unbeatable when all 5 hitters are on: we hit .351 Friday when everyone had 10+ kills.
Never better!
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Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Dec 11, 2016 10:56:46 GMT -5
Risk/Reward We've been characterized as a 'clean' team. Am not a stat hound but is it not a rarity for a team to have more aces than service errors? We had no service errors last night, but I found it concerning that so many of our serves led to 3pt passes by UCLA. Can't speak to Stanford, but we won't get past NEB with a tepid style of serving. Teams with termination talent can end points early if they aren't ever OOS after their first contact. We need to serve more seams and more deeply to the back of the court. SSS seemed to have some trouble connecting with the Tapps on the slides last night. And Lohman should be given a DVD of Lawrence of Arabia: NO PRISONERS! In set 3 the Gophers had a run from 8-8 to 13-8. Next thing you know the score is 14-14. Rosado makes a diving dig that hits the top of the tape and leaks over. Why does she not get credit for a kill there? Did it ricochet off Paige? Night after night the Gophers versatility spells the difference. Even when we aren't firing on all cylinders it always seems that someone is rising to the occasion. This team is unbeatable when all 5 hitters are on: we hit .351 Friday when everyone had 10+ kills. Never better! I have heard a lot of second guessing of the serving at MN, even in my own head, but its hard to argue with our success. I think UCLA has the best Libero in the PAC. She is their JWO and there have been arguments made here on VT that she might be better. I see where they were coming from, she is awesome. Why so many of our serves went right to her? IDK. If there is one area for improvement on this team it would be the slide, agreed. Rosey is one of those under the radar players. The stats people probably don't even know who she is. I agree with most of what you say - versatility is the difference. Save
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Post by Wiswell on Dec 11, 2016 10:59:23 GMT -5
Minnesota fans:
Thanks for being so nice!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2016 11:39:02 GMT -5
It wasn't just Formico. Buechler, from what I've seen, is a great passer, too. I don't think the Gophers were serving passively, but I did wish they'd served Van Winden more than those two.
Paige touched that ball, to answer your question. Kill would go to her. That was a pretty big point, btw.
wiswell, really bummed about Badger loss. Easily my 2nd favorite team this year.
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Post by Wiswell on Dec 11, 2016 12:51:05 GMT -5
I'll be there next week rooting for the Gophs. Got some maroon colors. I'd wear #badgerpride but I don't want anyone to think I am rooting for Nebraska.
I can't get behind the "spelling" part though. Have to draw the line somewhere!
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