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Post by exit237a on Nov 2, 2019 11:59:58 GMT -5
JQ had another strong night on the attack, hitting .302, after notching her personal B1G conference match season high .324 mark against Ohio State last weekend. She also added four service aces on the night, including two on a service run in the third set which tied the score and brought us out of our seats at Huff. Thought her connections with Diana were strong and she had some nice back row swings.
Let's bounce back tonight against Sparty and keep building!
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Post by alt on Nov 2, 2019 12:37:33 GMT -5
I cant even feel bad for this team anymore. They had many opportunities to win against good teams but they shut down on important points. I'm sorry but I cant feel bad for this team. They need to have the fire power and I think its more mental game than it is physical tbh. Our backrow players are so choppy its like they dont have any communication back there anymore. O'Brien isnt going to get this team to the next level. We need an actual libero not a DS.
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Post by jgoodson on Nov 2, 2019 12:56:08 GMT -5
Heading into the summer before last season, Illinois needed a middle. And they got one, Ashyln Fleming, who proved talented enough to make All Big Ten second team.
They needed to stay healthy through the season and thankfully that was the case.
They needed to win some close matches to have a chance to get a top four seed and an inside track to the final four. And they did so. Including winning a match into the 30’s at Wisconsin with Caroline Welsh making it through three rotations in the front row. That match was the turning point in the season. They then got on a roll and the result was a season to remember. It took some good fortune to get there.
This season commenced without two of the 10 best players in Illinois vball history. One of whom may be on the next Olympic team. Add in some injuries and not as many things have gone the way of the Illini. As an Illinois fan with some years accumulated, I will happily take the trade off in good fortune between this year and last to have last season in the memory bank.
Rational expectations for this year’s team were probably to make the tournament and win one or two matches in the tournament. Making the tournament is not guaranteed at this point. On the other hand, with some close matches against top teams in the books, there is still the potential for this team to have something click and get on a nice run and have a very satisfying season. They need to be at .500 to be tourney eligible. It’s almost backs against the wall time. Let’s see what happens tonight . I hope they come out swinging.
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Post by exit237a on Nov 2, 2019 15:00:10 GMT -5
The TV broadcasters last night said Ashlyn has been playing the past three weeks with a torn meniscus. Love her grit and intensity. Gotta keep getting her the ball out there.
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Post by vbkahuna on Nov 2, 2019 15:17:20 GMT -5
Now don't get your blood pressure up over a post. Its not my fault your inexperienced coaching staff got schooled by the Rosens. The Rosens are very fine coaches, but Mark has been coaching at Michigan for 20 years now and has never made it to the Final Four. Tamas took the Illini to the Final Four in only his 2nd year as a head coach and as an assistant coach the previous two years helped take Nebraska to a National Championship and a Final Four. So exactly what experience of Rosen's do you want Tamas to gain?
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Post by ilikewaffles on Nov 2, 2019 18:11:33 GMT -5
The Rosens are very fine coaches, but Mark has been coaching at Michigan for 20 years now and has never made it to the Final Four. Tamas took the Illini to the Final Four in only his 2nd year as a head coach and as an assistant coach the previous two years helped take Nebraska to a National Championship and a Final Four. So exactly what experience of Rosen's do you want Tamas to gain? You might want to check the record book before stating the Michigan has never made the final four under their current head coach...
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Post by jgoodson on Nov 2, 2019 20:57:07 GMT -5
Chris Tamas has without question shown that he is a top caliber volleyball coach. He has worked to put together an impressive resume including working for coaches at the top of the volleyball coaching profession (McCutcheon, Cook). He obviously performed well enough to be recommended for the head job at Illinois. While at Illinois he has accomplished a lot in a short period of time. For some, getting to a final four is a career accomplishment and Tamas has already accomplished that. His players get better with time and so do his teams. For someone to pop up on the Illinois thread and assert otherwise reflects poorly on the intellect or intentions of the person making the comments. I am a social media dinosaur and even I am familiar with the term troll (at least I think I am). Based on what I have read, I would give both Chris Tamas and the players that transferred an A+ on how the coaching change was handled. It is not unreasonable for a player to want to transfer with a coaching change (or other matters). A player has only four (or five) years for a college career and it is rationale for a player to want to play and to value each year of her career. Just like any one of us would value each year of our lives. Kylie Deberg probably would not have played much last year. She transferred to Missouri and played six rotations I believe. I was a bit surprised that Tyanna Omazic transferred because she was playing. Still she moved closer to home. If all the Illinois players involved at the coaching change ended up in a situation they feel good about, that is a good end result. Chris Tamas was able to adjust and Illinois has benefited from the transfer process with Ashlyn Fleming and Mica Allison. If you want to see what kind of dumpster fire that can happen with a coaching change just look into the Matt Bollant era for Illinois women’s basketball. And yes, Michigan made it to the final four under Mark Rosen in 2012. What I remember from that time was the role a speech by Bo Schembechler, the famous football coach, played in the Michigan run to the Final Four (The Team). I am an Illinois alum not predisposed to like anything Michigan but I could not help but be impressed by Bo’s speech. A little self serving toward the college game but impressive nonetheless. Years ago I attended an Illinois game against Michigan and I still remember Bo stomping around on the sidelines. Story including Bo's speech www.annarbor.com/sports/thirty-years-later-bo-schembechlers-the-team-speech-motivates-u-m-volleyball/
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Post by brucks on Nov 2, 2019 21:40:17 GMT -5
Looked very good tonight vs. Sparty. Hit .394 as a team, got their serves in and had a nice blocking night. Brown did a nice job of spreading the ball around. Sparty looked out of sorts all night long.
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Post by exit237a on Nov 2, 2019 22:40:03 GMT -5
The biggest ovations tonight in Huff were for Madison Chi- a big, sustained cheer when she came in as a serving sub in Set 1, her first game appearance at home, and an even bigger cheer when she served up her first ace as an Illini. Cool moments at Huff- looking forward to many more in the future when Madison gets an increased role in the back row!
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Post by exit237a on Nov 2, 2019 23:48:00 GMT -5
How much court time did Madison Chi play? It's past time the backrow saw shake up...tired of A player saying "my bad", then next play same player saying "my bad", and then again next play same player saying "my bad". She came in twice as a serving sub for Ashlyn, then was replaced once Michigan sided out. So, she still hasn't been in there for serve-receive this season.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 3, 2019 9:51:00 GMT -5
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Post by finalthoughts on Nov 3, 2019 11:26:34 GMT -5
How much court time did Madison Chi play? It's past time the backrow saw shake up...tired of A player saying "my bad", then next play same player saying "my bad", and then again next play same player saying "my bad". She came in twice as a serving sub for Ashlyn, then was replaced once Michigan sided out. So, she still hasn't been in there for serve-receive this season. Didn't watch this match but why sub out Fleming on serve? Her serve is fantastic
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Post by Wiswell on Nov 3, 2019 11:37:45 GMT -5
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Post by exit237a on Nov 3, 2019 11:43:36 GMT -5
She came in twice as a serving sub for Ashlyn, then was replaced once Michigan sided out. So, she still hasn't been in there for serve-receive this season. Didn't watch this match but why sub out Fleming on serve? Her serve is fantastic Both times Madison came in for Ashlyn last night, the Illini had big leads nearing set point. More of an opportunity for her to get some in-game reps than a game strategy move. At times this season Kylie Bruder has subbed in to serve for Ashlyn.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Nov 3, 2019 13:31:46 GMT -5
I do not know exactly what your problem is? You seem to be fixated with me and Illinois volleyball. And, you could not be more wrong. Let me make it clear. Contrary to your totally ignorant statement, I would not want any other coach coaching my beloved Illini than the one we are so fortunate to have...Chris Tamas. Do everyone on Volleytalk a favor and focus on Wisconsin. The comments you make when you insinuate yourself onto other team's threads are uninformed, unknowledgeable, and unwelcome.
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