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Post by zlionsfan on Oct 27, 2019 21:11:28 GMT -5
If you had told me before the match that I'd be disappointed Purdue didn't sweep Nebraska, I would have been paralyzed with laughter. Or if you'd said that Nebraska would call timeouts before the 8-point mark in four of the five sets, I would have asked you repeatedly if you meant Purdue instead.
I didn't expect Purdue to win, much less to outplay Nebraska nearly from start to finish. It was nice to have both a lesson and a result in the same match: when you have a good team down, finish them off, because it's easy to end up with a quality loss in a match you should have won.
The way they started the fifth set reminded me a lot of the Kentucky match: quick start, kept it going, built a solid lead and held it. 15-13 is too close for comfort; 15-8 is a great way to win.
Having said that, I found out that someone near me in the stands was a former HS coach, and they had some of the same questions we've had here. It was great to see Purdue work through some of those issues, but it was also troubling to see them come up again, especially in a match where the Boilers were the better team. OTOH, there were also multiple times when the closest Boiler called Hayley off and took second hit - a big deal against a team that passes like NU does. Don't need the setter sprinting from the front row into the backcourt, then back to the front row, then etc etc.
It's not easy, especially for a young team, to blow a lead, drop a set, and come back and win anyway. Glad to see it happening on multiple occasions! It may not end up being enough to get Purdue to host this year, but it does make me feel better about next year. Get just a little help at MB and they might have a really high ceiling ...
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Post by bmg3 on Oct 27, 2019 22:05:21 GMT -5
Agree at MB for 2020, but for now let’s enjoy the fact that we have Mohler for the rest of the year.
Rewatched the match today and one other aspect I observed was the interaction between Otec and Hornung. These two are battling for the coveted libero jersey and during one time out they embraced each other for a job well done in an ultimate display of sportsmanship. It looks like the chemistry on this team is awesome and it’s very awesome to see it here.
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Post by lawnmowerfan on Oct 27, 2019 22:14:04 GMT -5
Let’s hope they don’t fall asleep at the wheel. Indiana might be limping into Wednesday’s match with a 1-9 B1G record - but the last four matches have all gone 5 sets between these two teams. Purdue has the talent to sweep, but if they allow Indiana a chance, this could very well go five sets yet again.
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Post by boilermaker5 on Oct 27, 2019 22:52:48 GMT -5
I'll admit, I was a huuuuge downer in the game thread, I'll happily eat crow for that. This team showed resilience that I didn't have, i gave up on the match after the first set. Hopefully that mental toughness and maturity will carry through to future games.
Now I'd love to see Purdue come out and bury some of these big ten opponents lower in the standings, they go 5 sets far too often for my taste (I realize that the opponent has something to say about it, but as I see it more often than not it's caused by Purdue). as seen with Notre Dame, it's easy to get burned in the 5th.
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Post by bruinsgold on Oct 28, 2019 5:33:59 GMT -5
Agree at MB for 2020, but for now let’s enjoy the fact that we have Mohler for the rest of the year. Rewatched the match today and one other aspect I observed was the interaction between Otec and Hornung. These two are battling for the coveted libero jersey and during one time out they embraced each other for a job well done in an ultimate display of sportsmanship. It looks like the chemistry on this team is awesome and it’s very awesome to see it here. Re: Otec and Hornung... I've been thinking the same thing all season. Those two are probably the best back row duo we've had in a long time and they're both so supportive of each other. There have been quite a few times all season where they've shown they genuinely are each other's biggest cheerleader. I think we're at our greatest when both of them are on the court. During his post-match interview with BTN, the announcers praised Hornung's play and Coach Shondell was quick to say he thinks it's been a collective effort by Hornung, Otec, Schermerhorn, and Bush that made that Nebraska win happen. Really happy we get those four for another season.
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Post by bmg3 on Oct 28, 2019 10:26:31 GMT -5
I see Hornungs sister has committed to Purdue. If she’s anything like Marisa we got a good one!
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Post by bruinsgold on Oct 28, 2019 18:09:34 GMT -5
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Post by zlionsfan on Oct 28, 2019 18:31:37 GMT -5
I see Hornungs sister has committed to Purdue. If she’s anything like Marisa we got a good one! IIRC Ali committed last year - basically, as soon as Marissa started. (I'm not even sure if the new recruiting rules would allow that, since I think that would mean committing without coach contact, but it's not retroactive so I'm just thinking aloud.) Love to see players that excited about joining the program. Also nice because we don't yet have a DS in that class. Added one to 2020 - Savana Chacon - so there might not be another one in 2021. Attrition always happens but unless they change the number of scholarships you can offer or more people are willing to walk on, there are only so many spots available, and as much as I might want to see 6-7 DS that's probably not a thing if you carry 16 players.
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Post by zlionsfan on Oct 28, 2019 18:47:02 GMT -5
Agree at MB for 2020, but for now let’s enjoy the fact that we have Mohler for the rest of the year. Rewatched the match today and one other aspect I observed was the interaction between Otec and Hornung. These two are battling for the coveted libero jersey and during one time out they embraced each other for a job well done in an ultimate display of sportsmanship. It looks like the chemistry on this team is awesome and it’s very awesome to see it here. Fair point. It's also true that the three MB recruits in the 2020 class are all top-100 Senior Aces. If just one of them hits, the Boilers are likely set in the middle; if two or three hit, it'll be the problem Shondell wants to have in the next year or so at OH. Worst case is that an OH slides over to MB, and while that probably won't work out like Danielle Cuttino moving back in 2017, OH is a position of depth right now and all they'd really need to start with is someone who can be a good-enough #2 middle, at least until someone seizes the job.
Hey, Grace was a MB when she committed. Maybe they could ... (looks at her 2019 video so far) ... never mind.
Mohler and Shavona Cuttino have lived up to expectations, I think. If Purdue keeps playing like this, the Michigan match won't be their last home match ...
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Post by bmg3 on Nov 2, 2019 11:50:55 GMT -5
Hoping so ... but Kentucky imploding right now (lost to A&M) and Louisville losing to Boston College this week... Purdues non conference strength of schedule is taking a hit along with their RPI. If they want to host they absolutely must beat a couple of the big dogs in conference including this Minnesota team tomorrow.
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Post by zlionsfan on Nov 2, 2019 15:23:35 GMT -5
The Illinois loss is starting to look worse as well. The Illini might be the team that lost to Colorado and Illinois State rather than the team that beat Marquette and ... uh, Purdue, I guess.
You're right. Purdue's running out of opportunities to boost their RPI - home vs Minnesota and at Penn State are their two solid chances. Michigan could go either way, but I'm guessing a home-and-home split would just keep the two schools about where they are now. Everything else is a must-win match.
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Post by ilikecorn on Nov 9, 2019 19:01:35 GMT -5
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Post by bruinsgold on Nov 13, 2019 15:12:55 GMT -5
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Post by bruinsgold on Nov 13, 2019 15:13:21 GMT -5
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Post by bruinsgold on Nov 13, 2019 15:14:08 GMT -5
Two great gets for next year. Should be a nice pair to go along with Johnson in the middle.
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