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Post by wang pu on Jul 14, 2018 13:50:40 GMT -5
Alix also isn’t young, age wise compared to other US women, but she is just starting her beach career.
In addition to learning how to play against tougher competition (I wish they would prioritize FIVB over AVP), she needs to learn how to travel and train in international locations.
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Post by haze on Jul 14, 2018 14:57:47 GMT -5
Klineman was really bad. HAve to kind of wonder aboutr mental ability I think at some point. Is she tough enough mentality to stay strong throughout matches against good teams. I think that's a legitimate concern for her.
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Post by wang pu on Jul 14, 2018 15:58:27 GMT -5
Klineman was really bad. HAve to kind of wonder aboutr mental ability I think at some point. Is she tough enough mentality to stay strong throughout matches against good teams. I think that's a legitimate concern for her. They need to play against better teams to get better. Playing down to the level of AVPers is not helping their growth.
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Post by pepperclove on Jul 14, 2018 16:32:45 GMT -5
I agree that the biggest question about Alix is mental. The great players step up and play their best in big situations. April has done this over her career - that's why she has Olympic medals and world championships. Alix looked like she had that mental toughness when they won in the Hague and, I would argue, in Austin. (I know that one's debatable because of the level of competition, but for me the eye test indicated that both she and Sponcil stepped up and played great under pressure.) But other than those two tournaments, she has really struggled late in tournaments. She is still really inexperienced - this is her first year playing internationally and, I think, only her second playing beach full-time - so there's no reason to panic. But, if she continues to struggle the rest of this season, does April look at Larsen or Claes as a better prospect, given that both are having success with partners who are considerably weaker than April?
Side is an issue, too. I don't think Alix is a natural right-side, and right now they'd be better with April on the right. I know April doesn't want to play right, and it would limit her on two game, but they might consider switching. Given Alix's size and great arm swing, she shouldn't need her partner to go on two a lot, like say Brooke does. Of course, side could be an issue with most of the other blocker options, too. Some players can switch easily (Nicole, Taylor Crabb, Rosie), but others struggle on their off side (Phil, Stafford, arguably Kerri). I think Claes could switch since she seems to like to run plays behind Brit and was a setter indoors, but I don't know if Larsen has ever played any right side or how she would do over there.
All that said, I don't think fifth in a 5-star major is a bad result for this team, just not a great result.
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Post by haze on Jul 14, 2018 17:47:06 GMT -5
April's inability to play right side is imo one of the readons I just can't put her up with the greats. She's playing with Alix, and if Alix is a more natural left side and she is always going to get served than put Alix on the left and learn to play right side. The great players can adapt.
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Post by pepperclove on Jul 14, 2018 18:00:59 GMT -5
I think April can play right but just doesn't want to. I'm not sure if that's better or worse though.
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Post by ajm on Jul 14, 2018 18:09:22 GMT -5
I think April can play right but just doesn't want to. I'm not sure if that's better or worse though. I think she’d extend her career by five years by moving over to the right. It will always be easier to find a young blocker who can play left side.
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Post by ajm on Jul 14, 2018 18:18:38 GMT -5
Alix also isn’t young, age wise compared to other US women, but she is just starting her beach career. In addition to learning how to play against tougher competition (I wish they would prioritize FIVB over AVP), she needs to learn how to travel and train in international locations. Didn’t she travel and train in international locations for seven years playing indoors? That shouldn’t be an issue for her. It does seem like for most players making the transition from pro indoors to the beach that if they are not highly successful within the first two or three years, they probably never will be.
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Post by donnyw on Jul 14, 2018 18:50:24 GMT -5
I think April can play right but just doesn't want to. I'm not sure if that's better or worse though. I think she’d extend her career by five years by moving over to the right. It will always be easier to find a young blocker who can play left side. Didn’t April switch sides at some point with Kerri? Or was that just in Fort Lauderdale. Then they split...
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Post by guest2 on Jul 14, 2018 18:58:20 GMT -5
April's inability to play right side is imo one of the readons I just can't put her up with the greats. She's playing with Alix, and if Alix is a more natural left side and she is always going to get served than put Alix on the left and learn to play right side. The great players can adapt. I think April is pretty good on the right and when it looked like she and Kerri were going to play that way I was excited about it. I dont think we can limit greatness to only players that can play both side since a certain Mr. Kiraly was absolutely awful on the right. More awkward than a twelve year old Guest2 at his first middle school dance
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Post by donnyw on Jul 14, 2018 19:03:50 GMT -5
April's inability to play right side is imo one of the readons I just can't put her up with the greats. She's playing with Alix, and if Alix is a more natural left side and she is always going to get served than put Alix on the left and learn to play right side. The great players can adapt. I think April is pretty good on the right and when it looked like she and Kerri were going to play that way I was excited about it. I dont think we can limit greatness to only players that can play both side since a certain Mr. Kiraly was absolutely awful on the right. More awkward than a twelve year old Guest2 at his first middle school dance I was excited when they finally switched sides too..I think they were going to be a better team...
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Post by recleague on Jul 15, 2018 3:16:56 GMT -5
Brazil has been in complete control early in the match. Canada making hitting errors and Brazil doing great from the service line. Canada was down 5-12 but has brought it to 9-12 now.
Duda looking really good and is picking up everything and transitioning for kills with ease.
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Post by recleague on Jul 15, 2018 3:25:13 GMT -5
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Post by recleague on Jul 15, 2018 3:35:32 GMT -5
Canada up 13-8 in the second set. Brazil making a few more errors and Canada is doing a better job keeping it away from Duda.
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Post by recleague on Jul 15, 2018 3:40:27 GMT -5
Canada takes the second set 21-12. Brazil with 8 errors. Who knows what is going to happen in the 3rd.
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