|
Post by guest2 on Sept 21, 2016 10:12:40 GMT -5
Hughes is much too young to be focusing primarily on the Olympics. She should be trying to win and make money. Her best option for next year is either Kerri or April and I don't think April is available or willing to make the changes to her game she would need to play with Sara (and who knows if Sara would)
If she plays with Kerri (assuming April is out on baby break) she wins every AVP, with maybe one exception, and a couple FIVBs - Maybe Opens. Her average finish is probably 5th.
With Kelly, I think her average finish drops to around 9th and she wins maybe 1 or 2 AVPs and possibly an Open.
|
|
|
Post by love2vball on Sept 21, 2016 10:35:38 GMT -5
I think Sarah can get everything she could playing with kerri from a top level coach. I think Sarah, after next year should hold a tryout for her partnership like Misty did. There may be a player who isn't the best in their 1st year, but will be in Year 2,3,4 (Tokyo). I thiink Sarah will sign a "major" sponsorship deal when she is done, and may influence someone who wasn't necessarily thinking about beach to come out. And maybe that first call to set up an "interview" should be to the interested Kim Hill?
|
|
|
Post by haze on Sept 21, 2016 10:35:44 GMT -5
If April is done for next year, I see Kellt and Sarah winning a lot more than 1 or 2 AVP's. There's nobody that stands in their way. You have the best team on tour not playing, you have another top 3 team in Summer Lane no longer playing, nobody in that young middle range looks to take that next step as of now, I think it's already set for them moving forward. They have already committed to next summer together both AVP and Internationally. That could change....but I don't think it will.
|
|
|
Post by guest2 on Sept 21, 2016 10:53:29 GMT -5
If April is done for next year, I see Kellt and Sarah winning a lot more than 1 or 2 AVP's. There's nobody that stands in their way. You have the best team on tour not playing, you have another top 3 team in Summer Lane no longer playing, nobody in that young middle range looks to take that next step as of now, I think it's already set for them moving forward. They have already committed to next summer together both AVP and Internationally. That could change....but I don't think it will. I am assuming she plays 5 or so AVPs (International commitments). So predicting they will win 20%-40% is not exactly an insult. Decrepit and ancient though she may be, Kerri Walsh is still the best non-April US woman by a mile and back on her natural side with something to prove? I dont know who she ends up with, but assuming Sara and Kelly beat her more often than not is a big assumption. Its very nice there are finally some interesting elements on the domestic womens side.
|
|
|
Post by downtheline on Sept 21, 2016 11:10:57 GMT -5
The Witt twins are no slouches either. They have that rare communication and comfort together, but split up, they add 2 more excellent all around players into the mix next year. Put them in a blender with some of these bigs in the discussion and now there are 2-3 new solid teams to watch.
|
|
|
Post by digdugg on Sept 21, 2016 11:19:05 GMT -5
Playing AVP's for beer money? I could see it, even though Brad has a real job and Casey has...well, something, I guess. The fewer international events she plays the more being Mr. Walsh seems like a job. If Kerri can maintain her standard of play (doubtful) I think Walsh/Hughes would be better than Walsh/Ross within two years. I could not disagree with this statement more. Sarah is very good with huge upside. She has had a few stretches in games/matches with greatness - she looked incredible in San Fran against/Kerri/April and average the next time they played. She had an incredible run in pool play and beat Ludwig etc. but then average in playoffs. April Ross has had years stretches with greatness. If Ross remained committed to fitness over the next two years the way she has over last few years - no way. Having said that, I am a big fan of Hughes but not ready to crown her even on a 2 yr projection basis as best American, which April clearly is...
|
|
|
Post by downtheline on Sept 21, 2016 11:36:31 GMT -5
Well. April was playing with Kerri & Jen, both at the time, world class players.
I love Kelly's upside, but the games where you say SH was average, KC disappeared. Check the tape. In the finals of SF, Kerri set her on her heels with 9 shanked serve receives in a row. How does that make her partner seem average?
After beating the Olympic champions and the Swiss who have been finishing well, again, KC does not show up and a weak Brazil takes them in 3, after losing the first set 21-14.
Ask yourself, why does SH end up in more than 5 or 6 jousts per match? Which by the way she owned both Kerri & Talita. Because her partner cannot set consistently.
SH is not perfect, and I agree has a lot to grow and learn on the big stage, but I don't think you can call her average in a loss when the true facts of the match aren't considered.
|
|
|
Post by guest2 on Sept 21, 2016 11:58:38 GMT -5
The fewer international events she plays the more being Mr. Walsh seems like a job. If Kerri can maintain her standard of play (doubtful) I think Walsh/Hughes would be better than Walsh/Ross within two years. I could not disagree with this statement more. Sarah is very good with huge upside. She has had a few stretches in games/matches with greatness - she looked incredible in San Fran against/Kerri/April and average the next time they played. She had an incredible run in pool play and beat Ludwig etc. but then average in playoffs. April Ross has had years stretches with greatness. If Ross remained committed to fitness over the next two years the way she has over last few years - no way. Having said that, I am a big fan of Hughes but not ready to crown her even on a 2 yr projection basis as best American, which April clearly is... I think your casual acceptance of the idea that April will be better at 36 than any player, other than Kerri ever has is not justified (I did the same thing with Kerri though), but even if, it isnt about whether April is better than Sara, its whether April/Kerri are better than Kerri/Sara Kerri/April are a poor fit in a few ways that Kerri/Sara are not. Speed on defense, the sides they play, and the issue of who is the team leader are all ways in which I believe Kerri/Sara are a much better fit together than Kerri/April. Kerri/April are a team that succeed because of how good the individuals are, not the whole. I posit Sara/Kerri could be better due to the way they would play together
|
|
|
Post by JB Southpaw on Sept 21, 2016 12:21:29 GMT -5
Right now I can see SH just buckling down in her business classes & focusing on a three peat. Usc looks to be poised for another strong run. With some time left in the quad to make a run for 2020, she was said to be contemplating earning a masters degree with a stint as a graduate assistant coach. There were several offers to return for a fifth year indoors but that option has been removed for consideration. The rumor mill may churn for some time but the likes of Summer, Emily & Alix & of course Kelly have already dropped their dime for a shot at playing with her in 2017. Summer & Sara would make a good team. If Klineman worked hard she could be a good indoor transition back to the beach where she did well as a youth. It's a ways off but I still see K. Plummer & SH getting together since they both came out of the same famous youth beach camp in HB. That would be post 2020 since the current qual system all but eliminated college athletes.This is something I hadn't thought about. KP and Milica lost in 3 to Eduarda Lisboa / Victoria Lopes in the age group tourney, and Lisboa has won 2 FIVB events this year. KP at a legit 6'6" and can move in the sand is a game changer.
|
|
|
Post by JB Southpaw on Sept 21, 2016 12:21:57 GMT -5
I think Sarah can get everything she could playing with kerri from a top level coach. I think Sarah, after next year should hold a tryout for her partnership like Misty did. There may be a player who isn't the best in their 1st year, but will be in Year 2,3,4 (Tokyo). I thiink Sarah will sign a "major" sponsorship deal when she is done, and may influence someone who wasn't necessarily thinking about beach to come out. And maybe that first call to set up an "interview" should be to the interested Kim Hill? I'd love to see it.
|
|
|
Post by love2vball on Sept 21, 2016 15:14:19 GMT -5
And maybe that first call to set up an "interview" should be to the interested Kim Hill? I'd love to see it. Seconded, JB. It was in recent memory that a certain player took a chance on a strictly to date indoor player and together they rewrote the record books. Sara is the closest thing I have seen to Misty and sometimes, you just have to make a move in sports that defies the stats and feels good in your gut. It certainly wouldn't hurt to make the call and play a few sets while you are concentrating on your senior year.
|
|
|
Post by digdugg on Sept 21, 2016 15:42:53 GMT -5
I could not disagree with this statement more. Sarah is very good with huge upside. She has had a few stretches in games/matches with greatness - she looked incredible in San Fran against/Kerri/April and average the next time they played. She had an incredible run in pool play and beat Ludwig etc. but then average in playoffs. April Ross has had years stretches with greatness. If Ross remained committed to fitness over the next two years the way she has over last few years - no way. Having said that, I am a big fan of Hughes but not ready to crown her even on a 2 yr projection basis as best American, which April clearly is... I think your casual acceptance of the idea that April will be better at 36 than any player, other than Kerri ever has is not justified (I did the same thing with Kerri though), but even if, it isnt about whether April is better than Sara, its whether April/Kerri are better than Kerri/Sara Kerri/April are a poor fit in a few ways that Kerri/Sara are not. Speed on defense, the sides they play, and the issue of who is the team leader are all ways in which I believe Kerri/Sara are a much better fit together than Kerri/April. Kerri/April are a team that succeed because of how good the individuals are, not the whole. I posit Sara/Kerri could be better due to the way they would play together This is a fair point of view the way you explain. I still believe April is a better defensive player than you give her credit for and a significantly better offensive player/server etc. Experience as you know in beach is also incredibly important, more so than almost all athletic sports. I feel like Kerri/April team synergy proved fairly strong over past 2 yr run. I get your point it looks like Sarah is a much more dynamic defensive player that would fit an aging Kerri perhaps better but there is also the reality that Kerri/Sarah team chemistry could really struggle particularly if Sarah is required to side out every serve and doesn't. Maybe she can at elite level consistently but maybe not...she may be the next Misty May (over the next two years) or she may be a better version of Whitney Pavlick in her prime (over the next two years)...too early to make such a prediction I guess is my thought particularly when comparing to established Top 5 player (now) April Ross.
|
|
|
Post by JB Southpaw on Sept 22, 2016 7:57:53 GMT -5
Seconded, JB. It was in recent memory that a certain player took a chance on a strictly to date indoor player and together they rewrote the record books. Sara is the closest thing I have seen to Misty and sometimes, you just have to make a move in sports that defies the stats and feels good in your gut. It certainly wouldn't hurt to make the call and play a few sets while you are concentrating on your senior year. Could be a possibility if that's what she wants. She played against some good teammates at PEP, and I think she's gotten stronger as a player since then. Sarah will play this season with Kelly (NCAA & others probably). Kim could pick up someone and show what she has.
|
|
|
Post by guest2 on Sept 22, 2016 9:29:03 GMT -5
This is a fair point of view the way you explain. I still believe April is a better defensive player than you give her credit for and a significantly better offensive player/server etc. I think April is a great offensive player, top 3 in the world, and when she is hitting her jump serve I think she is the best server - the idiocy of her float serving her way through the season still boggles my mind - so its hard to say I underrate either. I also rate her defense, and I don't think she is a poor defender, but April is better against driven balls than she is chasing. Since Kerri takes away a lot of driven balls, April's strength is largely duplicative of Kerri's. Where Sara is a better than April is in chasing, so if Kerri can force players to shoot, she will get many balls April would not, even if they are comparable defenders. Experience as you know in beach is also incredibly important, more so than almost all athletic sports. People always say this, but I don't rate experience much at all. A year or so is needed, but after that many players have won almost immediately, and some sooner - Kerri, Karch, Sinjin, Steffes, Whitmarsh, Rego, etc. I feel like Kerri/April team synergy proved fairly strong over past 2 yr run. I get your point it looks like Sarah is a much more dynamic defensive player that would fit an aging Kerri perhaps better but there is also the reality that Kerri/Sarah team chemistry could really struggle particularly if Sarah is required to side out every serve and doesn't. I definitely agree here. Over the last three years I think Kerri/April have been the best team, but with the rise of the Germans and Kerri's decline, I think they are in a tie for second against a team they match up poorly with. Kerri/April would definitely win tournaments next year and the year after if they played together Maybe she can at elite level consistently but maybe not...she may be the next Misty May (over the next two years) or she may be a better version of Whitney Pavlick in her prime (over the next two years)...too early to make such a prediction I guess is my thought particularly when comparing to established Top 5 player (now) April Ross. Its a fair point, and I think April is the second best player right now, but I don't think she likes playing with Kerri and I don't think it suits her
|
|
|
Post by digdugg on Sept 22, 2016 10:10:02 GMT -5
People always say this, but I don't rate experience much at all. A year or so is needed, but after that many players have won almost immediately, and some sooner - Kerri, Karch, Sinjin, Steffes, Whitmarsh, Rego, etc. My point regarding experience was less about the amount needed to win per se and more about how experience specifically in beach volleyball extends the useful life of aging volleyball players. You mentioned April's age at 36 - is she takes care of herself the right way (big if), she has at least 4-5 high level productive years left if committed. Very few sports have this phenomenon. It also does not hurt she is legit 6 foot plus by the way. This "experience" which translate into ability to guess player tendencies, court vision, shots etc. Specifically on defense, April basically has a very large mental storage bank as a defender that will allow her to anticipate situational defensive outcomes mitigating the youthful athleticism of Sarah as a defender in comparison.
|
|