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Post by kimdc on Nov 12, 2023 15:32:41 GMT -5
If there's a pin Rita trusts, it's Sofia. She has told me a number of times that Sofia is someone who can talk about the intricacies of the game in ways a lot of college players can't. I'm not saying one way or the other whether she "should" be back. I'm just saying that Rita values her very much.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 12, 2023 15:46:41 GMT -5
If there's a pin Rita trusts, it's Sofia. She has told me a number of times that Sofia is someone who can talk about the intricacies of the game in ways a lot of college players can't. I'm not saying one way or the other whether she "should" be back. I'm just saying that Rita values her very much. Rita wants to play more international style, which is what Sofia knows best. if Sofia wants to come back, you take her. I’m just worried about dynamics and player development. I’m thinking maybe a 6-2: Carlie/Sofia (but hits on right) Transfer/Johnson Heath/Jaelyn | Tortorello/Wilson (hits on left when possible) Transfer L
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 12, 2023 16:19:10 GMT -5
If there's a pin Rita trusts, it's Sofia. She has told me a number of times that Sofia is someone who can talk about the intricacies of the game in ways a lot of college players can't. I'm not saying one way or the other whether she "should" be back. I'm just saying that Rita values her very much. I just don’t know why Rita would take that risk. I get she trusts her, but there’s a difference between being knowledgeable about the game and playing. We have nearly four seasons worth of data that would point to Sofia underperforming. Last night we saw what Sofia could be, and we continue to make evaluations based off games like this, rather than her whole body of work. She doesn’t play good defense, she can’t help in serve receive and she’s error prone. For me, it doesn’t make sense to keep her. Follow the ASU model. Find some pins who are good ball handlers. You lose some offensive potential but make up for it with good defense and more in system sets.
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Post by kimdc on Nov 15, 2023 19:52:56 GMT -5
Because of the weird schedule next week, we talked to Joy and Sofia today. Jaelyn was sick. Sofia still hasn't decided about next year but Joy will transfer for her 5th year.
On a side note, with the major Western women’s sports programs scattering to the winds soon, I would like to put together a project that covers just Western schools so that those of us who have loved all the great teams can continue to follow them in one place. I have a few people on board already. It will cover women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s soccer, gymnastics, softball, and whatever else people are interested in. It will only cover teams in the Mountain and Pacific time zones regardless of conference. If you love Western teams and are interested in writing about volleyball or any other sport, DM me here. It won't be a money making venture. Just a place to celebrate female excellence in our part of the country. We're aiming at a Dec. 1 launch.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 21, 2023 17:47:13 GMT -5
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Post by kimdc on Nov 24, 2023 18:44:51 GMT -5
No, just regular senior day post. We haven't heard anything yet. Sofia won't even decide until next semester. She said she plans to train with the team in spring as of now. Jaelyn, we haven't heard from in weeks. She was sick the day we talked to Sofia and Joy. Joy is gone, of course. She will play elsewhere next season. By the way, here's the article from that interview.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 24, 2023 18:46:01 GMT -5
No, just regular senior day post. We haven't heard anything yet. Sofia won't even decide until next semester. She said she plans to train with the team in spring as of now. Jaelyn, we haven't heard from in weeks. She was sick the day we talked to Sofia and Joy. Joy is gone, of course. She will play elsewhere next season. By the way, here's the article from that interview. thanks for clearing that up. I got scared! lol
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 24, 2023 19:09:32 GMT -5
I just don’t think you can risk another year with the same pins not delivering. IMO if you are going to bring them back, it should be one or the other, not both. Az needs serious roster reconstruction and running people off just to keep these two is not the right strategy.
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Post by JJVb on Nov 24, 2023 19:11:42 GMT -5
I just don’t think you can risk another year with the same pins not delivering. IMO if you are going to bring them back, it should be one or the other, not both. Az needs serious roster reconstruction and running people off just to keep these two is not the right strategy. Agreed. 1 not both. Need passing pins.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 24, 2023 19:13:10 GMT -5
Jaelyn is the more likely to stay of the two imo with her current relationship status. she’s also a much better passer than Sofia.
the sticky part is she doesn’t like playing opposite, so where does that leave Carlie and Jordan? Jaelyn is a much better opposite than either, and probably a better opposite than outside.
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 24, 2023 19:36:00 GMT -5
Jaelyn is the more likely to stay of the two imo with her current relationship status. she’s also a much better passer than Sofia. the sticky part is she doesn’t like playing opposite, so where does that leave Carlie and Jordan? Jaelyn is a much better opposite than either, and probably a better opposite than outside. I think playing opposite needs to be a condition if Rita does give Hodge a fifth year. And to be frank, I don’t really care if she doesn’t like playing on the right. She’s a career .200 hitter, she isn’t in a place to make demands. Rita was quoted saying something along the lines of, we have done what the players wanted to do and it hasn’t worked. I don’t think it was referring to Hodge specifically, but the point remains that you can’t let the players run the team. This team desperately needs passing and defense. Sofia can’t fulfill that need and Hodge is suspect as well. If Hodge doesn’t want to play opposite than she can go along with Sofia.
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Post by kimdc on Nov 25, 2023 22:31:34 GMT -5
I talked to Jaelyn and Rita after the match. This isn't really a recap of the match as much as a discussion of the program's present and future, so I'm going to put it here instead of the game thread. There's coaching staff news here and discussion of spring ball.
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 25, 2023 23:08:46 GMT -5
I talked to Jaelyn and Rita after the match. This isn't really a recap of the match as much as a discussion of the program's present and future, so I'm going to put it here instead of the game thread. There's coaching staff news here and discussion of spring ball. A big off season for Stubbs and company. I hope this season will be an anomaly that we quickly forget. I do want to know how she plans to keep Hodge and Sofia, plus adding other players when there is a scholarship crunch. Time will tell.
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Post by volleyspot10 on Nov 26, 2023 16:23:03 GMT -5
I talked to Jaelyn and Rita after the match. This isn't really a recap of the match as much as a discussion of the program's present and future, so I'm going to put it here instead of the game thread. There's coaching staff news here and discussion of spring ball. A big off season for Stubbs and company. I hope this season will be an anomaly that we quickly forget. I do want to know how she plans to keep Hodge and Sofia, plus adding other players when there is a scholarship crunch. Time will tell. I'm sure Stubbs will go out and fix the ball handling issue in the off season, recruiting is where she thrives. I don't see her replacing the firepower they lose with Hodge and Maldonado though. Ain't no way those two are coming back. Arizona will be a brand new team when they take the floor next year, for better or for worse...
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 26, 2023 17:12:16 GMT -5
A big off season for Stubbs and company. I hope this season will be an anomaly that we quickly forget. I do want to know how she plans to keep Hodge and Sofia, plus adding other players when there is a scholarship crunch. Time will tell. I'm sure Stubbs will go out and fix the ball handling issue in the off season, recruiting is where she thrives. I don't see her replacing the firepower they lose with Hodge and Maldonado though. Ain't no way those two are coming back. Arizona will be a brand new team when they take the floor next year, for better or for worse... I have reservations about putting my faith in the transfer portal for help. Last year after Z graduated and we needed another middle, we couldn’t get one. We brought in a backup setter in Kasen and she doesn’t play. Brought in a JUCO DS who never stepped on the court this season. What makes you think Sofia and Hodge are gone?
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