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Post by ay2013 on Aug 20, 2018 12:44:54 GMT -5
Hi again everyone. Looking forward to hearing from all of you for another season. As usual, Always has put together a really insightful summary and I agree with almost all of it. I found myself watching Crenshaw more, just because it seemed that the servers were actually targeting her more with serves. If I recall last year at this event, the serves seemed to be focused on Schwan in a like proportion. Last year, I thought it could have been a direction from coaching staff, knowing that she would be carrying such a big part of the passing load. If it is similar this year, I thought Crenshaw did a pretty good job with the receptions. Not always pretty, but it ended up in a 3 option location most of the time. I also liked her hitting selection, though thought that Dreshel showed a potential for hitting power that we have not seen for a while (Brie?). Dreschel has always had a decent arm. She played left mostly in club, then went right transitioning to college. I think that if we had more terminal depth on the LS, she'd be good stay and train on the right for a size on the block, but as I've been saying for some time now, we need to load up our arms on the left....the passing and freshmen setting is too much of a question mark with his team to make the RS a true offensive outlet in a conference like the Pac-12.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 20, 2018 14:30:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm thinking the "big guns" are going to be Bajema, Drechsel, and Sanders. Whatever we get from anywhere else will be a bonus. Apparently, Julye played mostly on the right in the scrimmage.
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Post by alwayslearning on Aug 20, 2018 16:50:50 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm thinking the "big guns" are going to be Bajema, Drechsel, and Sanders. Whatever we get from anywhere else will be a bonus. Apparently, Julye played mostly on the right in the scrimmage. From what I've seen, the wild cards at the moment are Crenshaw (who looked like a viable attacker at the scrimmage) and Cole (who did not play at the scrimmage). But given the amount of time Drechsel played on the left side at the scrimmage, my guess is that's where you'll see her Friday night. Maybe Julye on the right. We may also see some experimentation during this preseason. The word that K-Cook used to describe this team in terms of expectations was "mystery."
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Post by mikegarrison on Aug 20, 2018 17:47:25 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm thinking the "big guns" are going to be Bajema, Drechsel, and Sanders. Whatever we get from anywhere else will be a bonus. Apparently, Julye played mostly on the right in the scrimmage. From what I've seen, the wild cards at the moment are Crenshaw (who looked like a viable attacker at the scrimmage) and Cole (who did not play at the scrimmage). But given the amount of time Drechsel played on the left side at the scrimmage, my guess is that's where you'll see her Friday night. Maybe Julye on the right. We may also see some experimentation during this preseason. The word that K-Cook used to describe this team in terms of expectations was "mystery." Ah. Like when the cafeteria is serving "mystery meat".
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 23, 2018 14:12:14 GMT -5
UW has previews up on all but Outside Hitters: Middle BlockersLiberosSettersOutside HittersThe clear frontrunners to start: Sanders and Niece (MB), McPherson (L), and Powell (S). The only really significant comment by Cook is: So, a situational "dub-sub" looks to be part of the plan. However, while Bajema is virtually certain to start at L1, the other "outside" spots look to be up for grabs. The dub-sub could be a role for Bogomolova: On Drechsel: Where she ends up, on the left or right, will key the opportunities for others. On the left, then Cole likely starts at OPP (and Bogomolova in the dub-sub); on the right, then Crenshaw could start at L2.
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Post by alwayslearning on Aug 23, 2018 17:48:44 GMT -5
The Huskies' preview of the San Diego matches is also online now: San Diego PreviewIt looks like the Huskies will face an experienced and talented middle blocker duo for USD: "Last season San Diego won a share of the West Coast Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, finishing 25-5 overall. The Toreros were picked to finish second in the 2018 WCC preseason coaches poll and San Diego's senior middle blocker combo of Kaity Edwards and Addie Picha were both voted to the All-WCC Preseason Team. Picha was an All-America honorable mention last season when she hit .413 for the year with 2.36 kills per set and 1.32 blocks per set. Edwards was also efficient, hitting .382 with 2.68 kills and 0.59 blocks per set. The Huskies have won all three previous meetings with the Toreros."
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Post by ay2013 on Aug 29, 2018 3:04:28 GMT -5
What’s the over under on attendance for the Illinois game? I’m guessing people will be too drunk on excitement or depressed from the football game to attend.
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Post by dawgs4life on Aug 29, 2018 3:06:17 GMT -5
What’s the over under on attendance for Illinois game? School started Monday but I’m guessing people will be too drunk on excitement or depressed from the football game to attend. School at UW doesn't start until the end of September.
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Post by ay2013 on Aug 29, 2018 3:25:41 GMT -5
What’s the over under on attendance for Illinois game? School started Monday but I’m guessing people will be too drunk on excitement or depressed from the football game to attend. School at UW doesn't start until the end of September. Oops read the calendar wrong. Forgot UW was on quarter system
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Post by redbeard2008 on Aug 29, 2018 14:38:45 GMT -5
Well, ~1,800 showed up last Saturday for the Toreros, so ~2,000 for the Illini isn't unreachable. It will be broadcast on Pac-12 Networks.
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Post by ay2013 on Sept 9, 2018 21:59:50 GMT -5
Well..... all things considered, I'm happy with Washington's non conference record. It hasn't been easy, I expected losses to Illinois and Pitt. I said long ago this team would struggle with everything backcourt, a new setter, the serving wouldn't be as effective, and the blocking wouldn't be as good. Still much to improve on, and that is what really matters, continuing to improve.
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Post by alwayslearning on Sept 10, 2018 13:33:59 GMT -5
Well..... all things considered, I'm happy with Washington's non conference record. It hasn't been easy, I expected losses to Illinois and Pitt. I said long ago this team would struggle with everything backcourt, a new setter, the serving wouldn't be as effective, and the blocking wouldn't be as good. Still much to improve on, and that is what really matters, continuing to improve. Yep, it's all about improvement. I'm generally pleased with the play of Ella May Powell, who has continually had to make lemonade out of lemons when it comes to UW's serve receive. And I'm also pleased with the play of Shayne McPherson, who is our best serve receiver and has generally been solid in the back row. Kara Bajema has had her ups and downs but when playing well is a real force. Those three players have been indispensable to UW's success so far. Cook and the rest of the coaching staff have a massive job in front of them in just about every phase of the game. As others have noted, the blocking and passing are in dire need of improvement. The next three games in Boise should provide an opportunity to get better and perhaps see more of the freshmen play. But UW shouldn't be looking past Boise State on Thursday, which is 6-1.
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Post by tomclen on Sept 10, 2018 13:42:41 GMT -5
Assuming UW wins all their remaining non-conference matches (a big assumption, I know) it will make the Thursday 9/20 conference opener against WSU one of the most intriguing conference openers ever for the Huskies.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Sept 10, 2018 14:48:20 GMT -5
I noticed that they've changed the primary blocking technique from a 3-step crossover movement to a 2-step crossover movement. McLaughlin's teams primarily did the first, while Cook's current team is primarily doing the second. For examples, see 1:45 and 4:35 in the following video:
The knock on the first movement was that it was slower, but it resulted in a further and more stable press-over.
While the second movement is quicker (to counter "fast" offenses?), with the blocker skipping the third (stopping or torque) step, it results, it seems to me, in a shorter and less stable press-over, with the blocker continuing to float toward the post, until landing. If the blocker doesn't get fully turned toward the hitter, the chance of being "tooled" increases. If too soon, the blocker can fly past the hitter.
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Post by tomclen on Sept 10, 2018 14:57:58 GMT -5
Speaking of which, has anyone seen or read anything about JMAC?
Hope he's doing better. It's a real shame the guy is on the sidelines. He should be coaching somewhere.
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