Ameritas Players Challenge '24 - NU/OU/TCU/TAMU-CC - Fri/Sat

[rjaege]

Aug 31, 2024 22:32:04 GMT -5 justavolleyballfan13 said:

Aug 31, 2024 22:18:08 GMT -5 jwvolley said:

Lmao ok first time ever poster. Did you wait 8 months to comment this? 

Your point? Oh, right. How dare I try to join the discussion with a post expressing a different view that is directly on point to several posts in this very thread.

I have been mad about it since it happened, and I posted it now because it kept coming up in this thread.

Landfair:
1) Reading between the lines of Cook-speak, it appears IMO (no inside info) that NE is working to change some of Landfair's fundamentals, including footwork. If so they may want to limit her playing time to establish more muscle memory lest she revert. Also they may feel she needs more time to jell within the team. Either way, IMO, she will see more playing time as the season progresses.

2) Judging her on last year's performance is iffy, IMO. She transferred at the end of the season, indicating (again IMO, no inside info) that the new coaching staff and her were not on the same page. That's rarely conducive to maximum output.

(I.e., the only exception I can think of is Ditka-Ryan-McMahon at the Chicago Bears in mid 1980's. I think those guys hated each other, ditto many of players. But that was a different sport in a different time.)

3) Back to Landfair: too laid back? Madi Kubik was also laid back. Also present day Larson. Again a conflict with the coaching staff may have accentuated.

4) NE has shown great commitment to injured players and there rehab (recent examples: Sun, Knuckles and Orr, there are others). Guaranteed playing time based on longevity on tbe team: NOT! The best players should play as determined by the coaches evaluating intrasquad competition.


Just a note: There are some VT commenters saying WI expected Landfair to go there, contributing to them having only 3 OH's on the team at this time. Two seniors with minor injuries and a freshman.

[belgianhusker]

Just watched the game: 

• JB on Andi : Gravity only an annoyance   That's funny and accurate at the same time. 
• Merritt digging a missile from Parra from the back row in the first set. That was impressive on both sides. 
• Orr serving and then still getting to a tip over the block with a pancake/save. "More tipping than a restaurant" is hilarious! Again very accurate. 
• Rebekah with the slides!! Yeah girl, go off! Would have loved to have seen more of them though. She certainly wasn't a present as our previous game. 
• The rally at 3-2 in the second set! OMG! Bergen & Liv with spectacular saves and Harper with a beautiful out-of-system swing to the corner.  
• There's some camera shots that show just how much floor Lexi is covering in serve receive. That's incredible. 
• Merritt, despite not having the best start of the season, still took a big swing at 23-23 in the 2nd set to bring us to set point. 
• The "carry" by Rebekah at 3-0 in the 3rd set. I thought that was a bit of a light call. I've seen her throw balls way worse than that. If these calls are being made consistently, I don't mind them at all, but unfortunately, it's very referee/situation-dependent. 
• I think the Merritt-Harper switch was a good one. Harper certainly carried a great load for the team this game. Also loved seeing her smile on the court. I hope that love for volleyball is being rekindled. 
• With Merritt at 0.069 and Lindsay at 0.129, I think it's a real shame that Taylor was brought in so late in the game, and then not even get to swing. I hope Cook holds true to his post-presser of having to play more players. Same with Rebekah at 0.063. What's the point of having a roster stacked with talent if we don't use them when others struggle. 
• Great to see that first block on Parra to start off the match, but the block was pretty much non-existant for the rest of the game. 
• Parra remains a joy to watch.