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Post by JB Southpaw on Sept 19, 2023 7:39:48 GMT -5
For all the excellent qualities she has for indoor: hitting, setting, digging... the beach game best encompasses her ability to do all three to such a high level. She is a special athlete. I really hope she finds the right partner and is a top contender for LA 2028. The partner is the real question, idk maybe she can find an indoor player who wants to transition. She’s got the time given she has to be planning for 2028 at this point and it might be easier to find a big on the indoor circuit than the outdoor one at this point. Only playing AVP next year, she should have every option available to her outside the top 4 blockers. I think it is smart for her to do this, the indoor $$ will replace her FIVB $$ and lessen the travel load & expenses. |
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Post by moderndaycoach on Sept 19, 2023 8:30:35 GMT -5
The partner is the real question, idk maybe she can find an indoor player who wants to transition. She’s got the time given she has to be planning for 2028 at this point and it might be easier to find a big on the indoor circuit than the outdoor one at this point. Only playing AVP next year, she should have every option available to her outside the top 4 blockers. I think it is smart for her to do this, the indoor $$ will replace her FIVB $$ and lessen the travel load & expenses. Exactly, this is what I was saying yesterday. This isn't about getting wealthy, no one gets rich in volleyball. This was about opportunity, this quad is over for her, she can re group for the next year and a half while supplementing her income and hopefully getting her mind right. It is basically a different variation of what the Taylor's decided to do. |
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Post by occasionallystupid on Sept 19, 2023 8:32:32 GMT -5
The partner is the real question, idk maybe she can find an indoor player who wants to transition. She’s got the time given she has to be planning for 2028 at this point and it might be easier to find a big on the indoor circuit than the outdoor one at this point. Julia Scoles has made a very rapid rise in her transition from indoor to beach...she improves every time I see her. If she decides to stick with Flint, maybe there is a Scoles 2.0 about to graduate from a top program. 😊 The problem there is that for every good big that comes up from the college game, 3-4 good defenders also come up simultaneously, plus many undersized bigs that could transition, so she still stands a good chance of losing that game of musical chairs. Idk she’s just gonna have to be patient and proactive if she wants to nab the partner she needs to thrive. |
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Post by moderndaycoach on Sept 19, 2023 8:34:52 GMT -5
This honestly is a great move for her and where she stands with herself, it is obvious her head is all over the place and we all know you can not compete at a high level if you aren't 100% there to begin with.
She may find herself some opportunity to be back around a "team" environment where she likely feed off that comradery and different kinds of support from a group rather than being basically 1 on 1 with a coach and trainer.
This may present another opportunity to learn how to lead again and gain some confidence back. If the bigs don't shake out accordingly, perhaps there is even potential to find a diamond big in the rough playing in the league a la Alix, although much more unlikely with the explosion of college beach.
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Post by occasionallystupid on Sept 19, 2023 8:39:54 GMT -5
Haaaa, I’m not gonna say anything Why? Pavan was a better beach player than Sponcil and so much better at indoor there isn't even a comparison. And unlike Sarah, who quit when she couldn't get a good partner, Sarah stuck it out with Bansley, who was lousy, played with Mel as she redefined inconsistency, then tried Sophie and is now playing with a partner way below her level despite being 37. Sarah is a example of the dedication to the sport that Sponcil just doesn't have. Pavan would be the best available partner if she follows through on playing only AVP for the next few years That’s actually not a bad idea, if Sarah can survive pavan. Paven is nothing if not intense with partners. But it is probably the best pairing she can get that isn’t klineman for the avp events. She’d probably really enjoy playing with a real blocking presence for a change. Neither cheng nor cannon are particularly intimidating as blockers. I wonder though, at least for next year, if pavan wouldn’t still rather play with her Canadian partner, given the Paris cycle. |
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Post by occasionallystupid on Sept 19, 2023 8:41:40 GMT -5
This honestly is a great move for her and where she stands with herself, it is obvious her head is all over the place and we all know you can not compete at a high level if you aren't 100% there to begin with. She may find herself some opportunity to be back around a "team" environment where she likely feed off that comradery and different kinds of support from a group rather than being basically 1 on 1 with a coach and trainer. This may present another opportunity to learn how to lead again and gain some confidence back. If the bigs don't shake out accordingly, perhaps there is even potential to find a diamond big in the rough playing in the league a la Alix, although much more unlikely with the explosion of college beach. If nothing else a change of setting/pace is occasionally really helpful as a chance to reset. |
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Post by occasionallystupid on Sept 19, 2023 8:45:37 GMT -5
But she may have trouble seeing the court as a setter with Ashley Evans on the team. Not sure of subs allowed but a 6-2 is probably out of the question as well with Dimitrova playing opposite - I’d think you would always want her on the floor. Her best bet may be libero. And this is why she should be playing beach- she’s so versatile and skilled that is highlighted in the beach game, as opposed to indoor where it’s more specialized. They have her listed as a libero. This also sounds nothing more than a 5 month commitment which may get reupped or not. Klineman is a big question mark. She's shown no commitment to coming back for a full season let alone a quad. Sponcil, why Michigan? In the winter? Gross I take offense, Michigan is great in the winter, for about a month, when there is new snow and it’s pretty. But the skiing is subpar, and the wind chill sucks, and feb-April are cold wet and ugly, and damn, I may see your point. But I still resent you pointing it out to me. |
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Post by haze on Sept 19, 2023 10:26:09 GMT -5
They have her listed as a libero. This also sounds nothing more than a 5 month commitment which may get reupped or not. Klineman is a big question mark. She's shown no commitment to coming back for a full season let alone a quad. Sponcil, why Michigan? In the winter? Gross I take offense, Michigan is great in the winter, for about a month, when there is new snow and it’s pretty. But the skiing is subpar, and the wind chill sucks, and feb-April are cold wet and ugly, and damn, I may see your point. But I still resent you pointing it out to me. Only people live in Michigan like the winters there, and it's only about half of the people that live there. I've spent half my life living in winters like those, amd quite honestly it isn't bad, but then middle of January hits, and you still realize you have at least 2 and a half more months before seeing any nice temperatures starts weighing on you |
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Post by blackmambabeto on Sept 19, 2023 10:42:43 GMT -5
Why? Pavan was a better beach player than Sponcil and so much better at indoor there isn't even a comparison. And unlike Sarah, who quit when she couldn't get a good partner, Sarah stuck it out with Bansley, who was lousy, played with Mel as she redefined inconsistency, then tried Sophie and is now playing with a partner way below her level despite being 37. Sarah is a example of the dedication to the sport that Sponcil just doesn't have. Pavan would be the best available partner if she follows through on playing only AVP for the next few years That’s actually not a bad idea, if Sarah can survive pavan. Paven is nothing if not intense with partners. But it is probably the best pairing she can get that isn’t klineman for the avp events. She’d probably really enjoy playing with a real blocking presence for a change. Neither cheng nor cannon are particularly intimidating as blockers. I wonder though, at least for next year, if pavan wouldn’t still rather play with her Canadian partner, given the Paris cycle. |
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Post by moderndaycoach on Sept 19, 2023 11:13:01 GMT -5
That’s actually not a bad idea, if Sarah can survive pavan. Paven is nothing if not intense with partners. But it is probably the best pairing she can get that isn’t klineman for the avp events. She’d probably really enjoy playing with a real blocking presence for a change. Neither cheng nor cannon are particularly intimidating as blockers. I wonder though, at least for next year, if pavan wouldn’t still rather play with her Canadian partner, given the Paris cycle. Am I missing what is so funny? This is totally logical and makes complete sense for them both in a success and financial mindset. Pavan has shown she is seemingly frustrated and annoyed with players she feels are inferior or not at her level and has not been a good teammate in regards to mentorship or showing patience, especially when younger. I am not sure even if she made Paris, she would have a finish she was proud of. Sponcil has proven her ability on the court, that has already qualified for an Olympic Games, and needs a real dog to take the reigns while she just does her thing. |
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Post by ajm on Sept 19, 2023 12:46:29 GMT -5
Only playing AVP next year, she should have every option available to her outside the top 4 blockers. I think it is smart for her to do this, the indoor $$ will replace her FIVB $$ and lessen the travel load & expenses. Exactly, this is what I was saying yesterday. This isn't about getting wealthy, no one gets rich in volleyball. This was about opportunity, this quad is over for her, she can re group for the next year and a half while supplementing her income and hopefully getting her mind right. It is basically a different variation of what the Taylor's decided to do. Ultimately, I don't think what the Taylors did worked out for them. You just can't play AVP only for a year and expect to walk right in and be competitive on the FIVB. Certainly the AVP is stronger on the women's side but it's still nowhere near the depth of talent you see on the FIVB. I'm skeptical that Sponcil can stay at the top of her game without competing with the best. I think it's very unlikely she could take a couple years off from the FIVB tour, come back in 2026 or 2027, and then successfully qualify for LA 2028. |
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Post by moderndaycoach on Sept 19, 2023 13:12:48 GMT -5
Exactly, this is what I was saying yesterday. This isn't about getting wealthy, no one gets rich in volleyball. This was about opportunity, this quad is over for her, she can re group for the next year and a half while supplementing her income and hopefully getting her mind right. It is basically a different variation of what the Taylor's decided to do. Ultimately, I don't think what the Taylors did worked out for them. You just can't play AVP only for a year and expect to walk right in and be competitive on the FIVB. Certainly the AVP is stronger on the women's side but it's still nowhere near the depth of talent you see on the FIVB. I'm skeptical that Sponcil can stay at the top of her game without competing with the best. I think it's very unlikely she could take a couple years off from the FIVB tour, come back in 2026 or 2027, and then successfully qualify for LA 2028. The Taylor's, we know now, very clearly decided that making money on the AVP and fulfilling sponsorships opportunities was far more important to them than going to the Olympics after they realized they were not that good. They capitalized on the monetary opportunity domestically while not having the huge stressors of international play. Sponcil isn't done playing as the article states and even the dude that DM'd her. If anything it is going to offer some cross training not only for her physically but mentally, and we have seen that her head just isn't in the right spot to compete at a high level. What is stopping her from filling her bank account on the AVP as often as possible then cherry picking some international play, even if it is with no intention of making Paris but still keeping international points and seeing that higher level competition? I am not sure why people are acting like she is walking away from beach when it has been confirmed multiple times she isn't doing that. This is nothing more than her conceding her Paris expectations and truly capitalizing on the monetary opportunities until everyone comes comes home from Paris. |
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Post by ajm on Sept 19, 2023 14:02:03 GMT -5
Ultimately, I don't think what the Taylors did worked out for them. You just can't play AVP only for a year and expect to walk right in and be competitive on the FIVB. Certainly the AVP is stronger on the women's side but it's still nowhere near the depth of talent you see on the FIVB. I'm skeptical that Sponcil can stay at the top of her game without competing with the best. I think it's very unlikely she could take a couple years off from the FIVB tour, come back in 2026 or 2027, and then successfully qualify for LA 2028. The Taylor's, we know now, very clearly decided that making money on the AVP and fulfilling sponsorships opportunities was far more important to them than going to the Olympics after they realized they were not that good. They capitalized on the monetary opportunity domestically while not having the huge stressors of international play. Sponcil isn't done playing as the article states and even the dude that DM'd her. If anything it is going to offer some cross training not only for her physically but mentally, and we have seen that her head just isn't in the right spot to compete at a high level. What is stopping her from filling her bank account on the AVP as often as possible then cherry picking some international play, even if it is with no intention of making Paris but still keeping international points and seeing that higher level competition? I am not sure why people are acting like she is walking away from beach when it has been confirmed multiple times she isn't doing that. This is nothing more than her conceding her Paris expectations and truly capitalizing on the monetary opportunities until everyone comes comes home from Paris. She won't be able to keep her international points without a documented medical issue or pregnancy. Actions speak louder than words. I don't think she's walking away from beach. But it sure looks like she's walking away from high-level international beach as her primary professional volleyball goal. If that weren't the case, she'd be playing in World Champs, which she qualified for. Nothing wrong with that if she's no longer interested. |
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Post by guest2 on Sept 19, 2023 14:11:46 GMT -5
This honestly is a great move for her and where she stands with herself, it is obvious her head is all over the place and we all know you can not compete at a high level if you aren't 100% there to begin with. She may find herself some opportunity to be back around a "team" environment where she likely feed off that comradery and different kinds of support from a group rather than being basically 1 on 1 with a coach and trainer. This may present another opportunity to learn how to lead again and gain some confidence back. If the bigs don't shake out accordingly, perhaps there is even potential to find a diamond big in the rough playing in the league a la Alix, although much more unlikely with the explosion of college beach. The first part simply isn't true, throughout the history of sports there are dozens of examples of players competing and winning while distracted, less than fully committed etc. But why is it a good move anyway? She goes from competing against, and to be, the best in the world to playing a level which will likely be lower than college indoor. And for lower middle class money. She could go get a teaching certificate and make more. If we take money out of the equation the point of sports is to compete and win, not to be in a trust circle and do choreographed high fives in front of 412 fans in Grand Rapids. Like your criticism of Kerri this is a heavily gendered take. No chance Miles Partain making the same decision would have been applauded the same way |
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Post by moderndaycoach on Sept 19, 2023 14:14:05 GMT -5
The Taylor's, we know now, very clearly decided that making money on the AVP and fulfilling sponsorships opportunities was far more important to them than going to the Olympics after they realized they were not that good. They capitalized on the monetary opportunity domestically while not having the huge stressors of international play. Sponcil isn't done playing as the article states and even the dude that DM'd her. If anything it is going to offer some cross training not only for her physically but mentally, and we have seen that her head just isn't in the right spot to compete at a high level. What is stopping her from filling her bank account on the AVP as often as possible then cherry picking some international play, even if it is with no intention of making Paris but still keeping international points and seeing that higher level competition? I am not sure why people are acting like she is walking away from beach when it has been confirmed multiple times she isn't doing that. This is nothing more than her conceding her Paris expectations and truly capitalizing on the monetary opportunities until everyone comes comes home from Paris. She won't be able to keep her international points without a documented medical issue or pregnancy. Actions speak louder than words. I don't think she's walking away from beach. But it sure looks like she's walking away from high-level international beach as her primary professional volleyball goal. If that weren't the case, she'd be playing in World Champs, which she qualified for. Nothing wrong with that if she's no longer interested. I must be missing where she is going to stop playing international competition for an extended period of time. What is the timeframe she would be gone for her to lose ALL her points? Because my understanding of this is she is going to play indoor in the offseason for some extra cash. |
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