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Post by lalalaluuuke on Mar 3, 2004 15:20:50 GMT -5
www.longbeachstate.com/vol/mvol/index.htmlPredictions on the game? It's a toss up to me. I think these teams are evenly matched. Sean Rooney should be having a better season than he is. He could be the most dominating OH in Pepperdine history if he wanted it bad enough. He has the ability to take over a match. If Pepperdine shuts down Touzinsky they will win. UCSB set the mold last weekend on how to quickly beat LBSU[nothing against BYU's 2 wins at the Pyramid]. I think Pepperdine steps up to the challenge and avenges their February 4 loss. Pepperdine over LBSU 3-2 in a close match. P.S. Is the "Goldmine" a different gym than the Pyramid?
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Post by Smooth "954" Mike on Mar 3, 2004 15:44:24 GMT -5
You’re right both teams are evenly matched overall but the middles for
Pepperdine are a little streaky at times because they are still young. I believe this game will come down to who is going to control the net on blocking. If you can get a team out of their system early they can panic and ultimately fall apart especially when they are used to successfully executing against most teams.
It will be an exciting game to be at. I got my money on Long Beach in a VERY close 5 games.
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Post by Beachy on Mar 3, 2004 16:40:27 GMT -5
Yes, the Gold Mine is the older gym located near the center of campus. The Pyramid is exactly that.... a giant blue pyramid that houses many of the athletic offices, a gym and the playing courts for volleyball and basketball.
I don't know why the match is being played in the Gold Mine. It is smaller and could make it a bit more hostile environment for the Waves. The ceiling is lower but no lower than the Fieldhouse where Pepp usually plays so that advantage would go to Pepp.
Good match, should be fun to watch. I think that LBSU will come out fired up and ready to win (unlike SB) I don't think the key will be shutting down Tousinzky. It will be in the middle. That is where SB did a great job....forcing bad passes by LB, thereby forcing the set outside, limiting options.
My money is also on Long Beach but I say 4 games.
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Post by vballmom on Mar 3, 2004 16:41:28 GMT -5
The Gold Mine is a different gym than the Pyramid. It is much smaller and older. That will make it even more interesting.  I can't wait!! |
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Post by lalalaluuuke on Mar 3, 2004 16:52:28 GMT -5
Thanks for the clarification on the GoldMine. I've been to the Pyramid a number of times but never the Goldmine. Wasn't sure if it was a nickname of the Pyramid or a separate gym. I agree that shutting down the middles is key to overcoming Pepp, but the same is true for LB. Like what was said before, it will probably come down to who has the better middles. I think the better blocking team wins. Both teams have the ability to serve well.
I don't know that the low ceiling is an advantage for Pepp.; it wasn't on Feb. 4. Could be why they moved the game to the GoldMine.
I still think the edge goes to Pepp for vengeance purposes. It is hard to sweep Pepp and rarely done these days.
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Post by VolleyWave on Mar 4, 2004 0:15:59 GMT -5
I think playing in the gold mine is to Pepperdine's advantage. Pepperdine never plays well in the Pyramid, for example last year in the final four against Lewis. Does anyone know why the game is being played in the Gold Mine rather than the Pyramid?
So anyways, my prediction: Pep in 5 (would've been LB in 3 if it were in the Pyramid)
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Post by mvbdad on Mar 4, 2004 1:25:05 GMT -5
The game is being played at the Goldmine because the girls Basketball CIF playoffs are being held at the Pyramid this Friday and Saturday.
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Post by My2Sense on Mar 4, 2004 1:36:04 GMT -5
Boy, how do you like that! The school builds a shrine for VB for ITS teams to play their matches in, and they get bumped from their home court advantage for a girls high school basketball game.
The last time the Beach's home court advantage was deprived of them they played LMU (w/ Priddy) in the first round of the MPSF tourney and they got beat, if I recall correctly, in overtime in game 5. That was because it was Holy Saturday and the Pyramid was set up for Easter services. The low cieling did hurt the Beach that night. I was not a happy camper.
It's too bad the Beach can't have its own court as an advantage. Did anyone think to move the match up one night? I wish they had because I'd be able to attend it.
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Post by beachman on Mar 5, 2004 8:13:25 GMT -5
In actuality, the Beach players actually LIKE playing in the GoldMine......it's where they practice EVERY DAY!  |
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Post by Roofan on Mar 6, 2004 0:23:14 GMT -5
Red Yukon
Can you please clarify to me why you think Rooney should be having a "better" season?
The kid is only averaging about 4.5 kills a game and hitting an ABSURD .401.
If I have a left side hitter in the MPSF leading my team in attempts AND he is hitting over .400, I'd do a BACKFLIP!!!!!
Seriously, you people kill me sometimes!!!
Later
Roofan
p.s. Any updates on the match?
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Post by BarcelonaBob on Mar 6, 2004 0:31:29 GMT -5
Boy, how do you like that! The school builds a shrine for VB for ITS teams to play their matches in, and they get bumped from their home court advantage for a girls high school basketball game. The last time the Beach's home court advantage was deprived of them they played LMU (w/ Priddy) in the first round of the MPSF tourney and they got beat, if I recall correctly, in overtime in game 5. That was because it was Holy Saturday and the Pyramid was set up for Easter services. The low cieling did hurt the Beach that night. I was not a happy camper. It's too bad the Beach can't have its own court as an advantage. Did anyone think to move the match up one night? I wish they had because I'd be able to attend it. The CIF Southern Section championships will draw a much larger crowd, and the gate will earn LBSU alot more revenue than a LBSU/Pepp men's match ever could. |
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Post by lalalaluuuke on Mar 6, 2004 0:42:25 GMT -5
I don't disagree that Sean is having a good season. And if something like this "kills" you, man you are sensitive. As a third-year starter, 2 time All American it would just seem like he would dominate matches more. Maybe I just expect to see Touzinsky-like numbers from Sean because he is a 6'8" OH. He just seems to hold back a lot. Maybe he just doesn't get enough sets. Whenever I watch him I just know if they gave him more sets he could put the match away for them. Don't die on us Roofan, we aren't trying to kill you.
I think Pepp is the sleeper of the top 5 waiting to have a breakthrough match over someone like LBSU. Since they lost their top ranking they have been kind of under the radar. They have too much talent to be down for long.
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Post by BarcelonaBob on Mar 6, 2004 0:54:10 GMT -5
Rooney's a great passer for his size, but his armspeed/armswing is slow-to-average. And his repetoire of shots is somewhat limited.
That's one of the biggest weaknesses of the men's game in the United States - we haven't produced great hitters in almost a generation. Alot of guys can hit the ball hard if they are hitting it straight down in warmups or against no block. It's easy to bury the ball at the ten foot line when it's crossing the net an inch above the tape. How many of them can bring high, hard heat while hitting it to 29 feet in the opponent's court? Only guy currently playing right now that I've seen do that is Clay Stanley on the National Team. Additionally, the ability to slime hit (ala Bob Ctvrtklik) is a lost art, as is the ability to speed up your armswing and exploit the low seam in the block.
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Post by Roofan on Mar 6, 2004 1:28:12 GMT -5
Red Yukon
I am actually not very sensitive and my post was actually directed at people in general who just say things without backing them up. Like in the case of Rooney...many people are quick to say he isn't playing well or that Pepp is down without factual evidence. And as far as putting up "Touzinsky" type numbers...Rooney has had a MUCH better career than Scotty, Scotty has finally had a season that many people expected of him when he entered college. Besides, in Rooney's case he has Winters to take the load off of him night in and night out. To get to what Barcelona Bob had to add, Rooney ISN'T the type of hitter who should get the most amount of sets, but more of a #2 hitter who sets the table with his passing and overall game.
Bob, I couldn't agree more. (Now there's a shocker!!!) I think at the next level Rooney makes an IDEAL L2, a guy who keeps his team in system but only gets the 3rd to 5th amount of sets. Stanley is the only current bomber on the Men's team. Guys like Lambert and Roumain were supposed to fill those roles in the past, but for whatever reason they didn't come through in the clutch. As bad as we have been on the pins, in my opinion we have been even worse in the middle. Hoff has been serviceable and Millar still has time to emerge in the long run, but we are WAAAAY behind other country's up the gut.
But is anyone really surprised that we as a counrty don't turn out better Olympic and International teams when there are less than 15 decent teams in the NCAA. (and some would say less than 8) Throw in the fact that our best athletes choose almost anything else to play than Volleyball?
On the international level, I am not surprised at all.
Roofan
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Post by VBCrusin on Mar 6, 2004 4:20:01 GMT -5
RedYukon stated: "I think Pepp is the sleeper of the top 5 waiting to have a breakthrough match over someone like LBSU. Since they lost their top ranking they have been kind of under the radar. They have too much talent to be down for long." Hey RedYukon... I beg to differ. Everyone knows that I am a long term Pepperdine supporter, but I have to say, I'd be very surprised to see Pep in going to the Final Four, let alone finishing 1st or 2nd in the MPSF. I believe they're going to be left out. Am I a traitor or disgruntled Pep fan? NO. Just a realistic fan. Something is missing this year. True, Rooney and Winters are carrying the team and get their share of kills, but the biggest area of concern is the lack of dominant middle blockers. Sure they're tall, but they lack the aggressive play Pep enjoyed in years past. It definitely leaves a big hole in the middle with "suspect" blocking. Pep doesn't have a "go to" MB. Period.  I attended many Pepperdine games, and was disappointed in their overall team play. Tonight at Long Beach, it was a good match, but the 49ers were hungrier than the Waves. In defense of the Waves, they are a young team and should get better in the coming years. However, don't see them in the Finals this year...not unless the MBs step up and take charge. Sue me...I miss Brad Keenan.  All in all, I'm pretty disappointed in the MBs in the MPSF. One tenancious MB stands out in my mind and that's Chris Pena of UCLA. He plays with more fire than anyone else. Too bad he's not taller (6'5" or 6'6"). He's like a bulldog in the middle, unlike anyone else I've seen this year. There are a couple of other MBs who appear talented BYU Mike Burke, Long Beach's David Lee, a healthy Chris Gorny from BYU, but no one who "owns the middle." What about the MIVA and EIVA...any middles out there worth mentioning? I LOVE the fire, but am very disappointed this year at the middles. VBCrusin P.S. Incidentally, Long Beach executed great team play, and illustrated the lack of Pep's middle blocking. Pretty weak!  |
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