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Post by craftylefty on Aug 25, 2019 9:15:36 GMT -5
About Miyabe — I was also slightly disappointed with her overall play. But, in fairness, I don’t think I was watching or analyzing any player as closely as her either, and I think that might be the case for a lot of other people too. She had a couple REs on the day (most on the team) and a handful of poor to so-so passes, but players were serving her hard. I believe she passed the most of any player by quite a wide margin. So, could partially be a testament to our overall serving getting tougher too - which I think it is.
That all being said, I think that the other outsides still all outplayed her, at least yesterday. Sheehan had a slower start as she seems to usually do, but around the third set caught fire offensively. She is extremely good defensively, as frisky as a player can be for her size. Her passing was good and mostly held up well throughout the day. She hits a very heavy ball. Had a couple of effective pipes. Kind of the best of Rollins and Hart. I don’t expect her to start necessarily, but dang is it nice having another outside on the bench who can do that. Many teams (see: Wisconsin) do not have that.
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Post by courtwatchers on Aug 25, 2019 9:26:01 GMT -5
Well, the only position undecided IMO is DS. As I stated before Sheehan and LItzau were making their case for starting.
I also might add that I felt Rollins is still struggling a little in the back court. So could both Hart and Rollins be swapped out with Sheehan and Litzau? We will have the answer to that question next week.
While trying to get a feel for his starters, Hugh was mixing it up a lot on the first team. Except for Samedy/McGraw. They were always on the second team. IMO that is telling me Hugh could still have questions at some of the other positions or just trying to give everybody an opportunity to prove their worth. Seriously, we are just SO DEEP WITH A LOT OF POTENTIAL at all the other positions.
I thought this was one of the most COMPETITIVE SCRIMMAGES at all positions I have seen. Really really fun to watch. One of the negatives at this point for our 5'8" setters is that they cannot defend the net on over pass balls. They both looked good and just fit in. I felt the offense on both teams flowed really well in that 5th set.
For starters, I do not think Hugh will have too many surprises....
S - Miller (The edge goes to Miller. But McMenimen could come in and get the job done/she reminds me of Palmer) OH - Hart OH - Rollins MB - Pittman MB - Morgan Opp - Samedy L - McGraw DS - Sheehan, Litzau or Miyabe (after this open scrimmage, I honestly do not know)
Could there be a 6-2 for the Gophers in the works? Just asking.............
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 25, 2019 9:33:40 GMT -5
About the 6-2 ~~ I do think Miller has the best overall command of the setting position and just moves and plays like a much more seasoned setter than the smaller ones. Intangible stuff, maybe. But, the 5’8” setters both impressed me overall with their overall soft hands and clean balls they were putting up. McMenimen in particular was digging rockets and had a ton of digs. Both the smaller setters were also able to do some creative things with setting Pittman, for instance, that I honestly did not expect from them. I certainly would not be opposed to seeing either of them playing situationally or in a modified 6-2 situation. The 4th set with both of them setting against each other was very competitive and great overall volleyball.
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Post by permagrin on Aug 25, 2019 9:41:05 GMT -5
6-2 would take samedy off the court for 3 rotations unless they came in for the outsides or something so i dont think that will happen
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 25, 2019 9:46:23 GMT -5
A double sub/blocking sub type situation would also be a good opportunity for the smaller setters to get time. Maybe have Rubright (as one example) come in to block for Miller with one of the smalls setting out of the back.
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Post by permagrin on Aug 25, 2019 9:48:17 GMT -5
I saw what i thought i would see, miller will do a great job but the majority of the offense will come from behind her, samedy and pittman will excel with her sets
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Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Aug 25, 2019 10:02:09 GMT -5
I don't think we saw the starting line-up yesterday. I suspect we will see some different combinations during the preseason. Samedy was sharp and clean. The passing was solid, serving was good but not overwhelming. I think our new DS Kilkelly showed some serving prowess but the most effective seemed to be Sheehan.
My DH thought all the setters did well with the caveat that newcomer, Dolonga, could have been more creative with her choices. That would come with time. I. on the other hand, actually thought that McMenimen was the standout setter and her defense at the net was quite good, a lot of good touches and even a block or two. My opinion may be shaded by my low expectations. Our probable starter, Miller, appears to be setting quicker and may have taken a small step backwards. She was very good except, at times, in transition, the connection with her hitters was not as good. Her defense was solid and I'm pretty sure she will be our starter with McMenimen #2.
Minnesota's middles are great. That seems to be a theme for the decade, doesn't it? The two newcomers were confident and not holding back but the upperclassman still outshined them. I would not be surprised though if one of those two worked their way on to the court this season. I think the blocking will be better this year - a great place for Minnesota to improve, IMO. I love to watch Pittman so for me she is a sure starter. Taylor looked good too and still the quickest side to side. Her vertical doesn't seem to have suffered much from the last surgery.
Outside hitters are the toughest to evaluate. I kept watching serve receive. It was good. Hart passed better than I remembered and is competing for a 6 rotation position. I was most impressed with Sheehan; her all around game is great. The highest vertical I observed was Rollins but timing up there is tougher. Miyabe's passing was not as good as the others but she is fast and has a very quick arm swing. There is a lot of upside with her. Good luck picking a starter here - I have no clue.
I've said too much by now people have moved on to the next post LOL.
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Post by JT on Aug 25, 2019 10:20:52 GMT -5
She played all 4 sets full out and was her normal self, hart also was very explosive off the floor and looked good It was a little odd. It looked for a while like she was not going to play and not just because she was in warmups for a long time. But then she did and seemed perfectly healthy, other than the huge leg brace she always wears. TayMo wore warmups last weekend, too. I don’t think she like the A/C!
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Post by courtwatchers on Aug 25, 2019 10:57:41 GMT -5
Can anybody comment on the ranking of our two new MB's? Why Rubright was ranked #12 in the polls and Husemann #86?
Freshman always bring such enthusiasm to the sport. It showed in their performances yesterday. Blocking in the middle needs to improve on this team and it certainly appears it is headed in that direction.
Agree, Sheehan at DS the most effective. Yes, to Hart's passing being better. Yes, I too feel Miller has not necessarily improved that much more since Spring.
I am sure we all agree that competitiveness just brings out the best in everybody.
On a new note and a FYI, I know I can watch the matches next weekend on my ROKU on the ESPN app. It carries the ACC Network EXTRA which will be televising them. That is according to the North Carolina Athletic website.
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 25, 2019 11:30:34 GMT -5
I also like the idea of maybe using Sheehan as the DS. I believe she was also the only player with more than one kill (2) from a backrow attack, as well as the only player who actually put some heat on a backrow attack -- so that could be a nice option.
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Post by spikerthemovie on Aug 25, 2019 11:33:12 GMT -5
Can anybody comment on the ranking of our two new MB's? Why Rubright was ranked #12 in the polls and Husemann #86? Freshman always bring such enthusiasm to the sport. It showed in their performances yesterday. Blocking in the middle needs to improve on this team and it certainly appears it is headed in that direction. Agree, Sheehan at DS the most effective. Yes, to Hart's passing being better. Yes, I too feel Miller has not necessarily improved that much more since Spring. I am sure we all agree that competitiveness just brings out the best in everybody. On a new note and a FYI, I know I can watch the matches next weekend on my ROKU on the ESPN app. It carries the ACC Network EXTRA which will be televising them. That is according to the North Carolina Athletic website. A. It’s early. B. That poll is eminently fallible. Recall what a great job it did of identifying the talent and potential of Rollins last year.
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Post by craftylefty on Aug 25, 2019 11:55:25 GMT -5
A couple oddities from yesterday:
1. Rubright, Miyabe, and Dolonga lined up at the net when their team served. Really made their height difference apparent! 2. Taylor Morgan actually hitting out of the back row once. Never thought I’d see that. It was more of a bailout thing than by design, but still. 3. Samedy passing in set 3 when she played OH. She did well! Also hitting from the middle in some sequences and getting some monster kills from those. What can’t she do?!
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Post by lovebugsm on Aug 25, 2019 11:57:54 GMT -5
Could they run a 6-2 with setters coming in for the outsides since that seems to be the biggest question mark?
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Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Aug 25, 2019 12:05:43 GMT -5
Could they run a 6-2 with setters coming in for the outsides since that seems to be the biggest question mark? I would say no. For one, Minnesota's OH are our primary passers. They all pass well. The question mark is which one will stand out and become the starter. We would be better off using a DS or serving sub when needed.
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Post by courtwatchers on Aug 25, 2019 12:25:08 GMT -5
Here is my question. Would we move Samedy to OH and then allow the MB's to play middle and right side? I liked what I saw yesterday from many of them when they ran the middles that way.
Sheehan by far was the best passer/DS yesterday. IMO better than Hart or Rollins. However, the latter two are probably better at the net. But is that due to the fact that they have a better vertical than Sheehan? Some players are just blessed with better hops than others. Could you argue that all three are about the same in their blocking technique?
I know this is our Minnesota thread, but where are all the Wisconsin fans in this Volleytalk? Didn't they have a scrimmage yesterday too?
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