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Post by palo on Aug 21, 2006 15:11:32 GMT -5
Just curious to see what the perception of the Champaign Program is these days. Watching from a far the last few years I have not been very impressed with the caliber of play and it looks like it is steadily going downhill. None of the recruiting classes in the last three or so years have been producing top flight players. I think this team will struggle mightily without Van Meter. What does the starting lineup look like? And how many more years will Coach Hardin be around? I for one wouldn't mind seeing a new face leading this program. I'd like to see some results. I haven't been impressed with the team since they beat USC a few years ago. With the amount of prospects coming out of Illinois each year you would think this program could lock up some better talent. They should be challenging for a Big Ten title year in and year out.
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Post by Wolfgang on Aug 21, 2006 15:17:05 GMT -5
Yes, exactly. Not only is there a lot of talent out of the Illinois area (esp. Chicago), the University of Illinois is a great school and has a great campus! Whatever you want to major in, the U. of Illinois has a decent-to-great program, nationally ranked and respected.
Someone remind me...why did Hebert leave for Minnesota?
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Post by palo on Aug 21, 2006 15:36:12 GMT -5
I would think with the addition of Hambly, a former USA men's coach, this program would really be taking off too. I just find it strange that many of their best recruits over the last several years have come out of Kentucky and not Illinois. Maybe they should take a look at PSU's rosters the last few years! Time to lock down the borders. You can't let the top talent leave each year. Who is at fault here?
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Post by Wolfgang on Aug 21, 2006 15:40:25 GMT -5
Time to lock down the borders. You can't let the top talent leave each year. Who is at fault here? Yes! This is exactly the type of bold ideas they need up there in Illini Land! I like it, although it may decrease Interstate Commerce a bit, but you can't move forward without taking a couple steps back!
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Post by Keystonekid on Aug 21, 2006 17:46:22 GMT -5
I think they should hire Sufjan Stevens for their staff. Does anyone own the Album "Come on feel the Illinoise" ? It is one of the best albums released in recent memory.
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Post by baldyballer on Aug 21, 2006 18:12:35 GMT -5
As an old friend of Hambly's and someone who recently has visited with Coach Hardin, I can tell you that they run a high class operation at Illinois. You can count on those kids getting the right message day in and day out from those two. Although I'm a Big 12 fan, Illinois is a school I will cheer for this season!
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Post by Revbang on Aug 21, 2006 21:04:43 GMT -5
In regards to the recruiting question at U of I: In '06 they secured Prepvolleyball Libero of the year. She is from near Chicago in Indiana. Also in '06 is a excellent player with great hops who played for Illini Elite in club. In '07 U of I has verbal commitments from 4 of the top players in Chicago in the class. I think three of them were High School AA. They got another AA in 'O7 with one of the top players from St. Louis. It seems as if U of I has turned at least a small corner in the recruiting game and in "securing the boarders". You are right, Don Hardin is a class act, as is the rest of his organization. I will be cheering for them this year too.
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Post by VBCOACH on Aug 21, 2006 21:11:49 GMT -5
I just find it strange that many of their best recruits over the last several years have come out of Kentucky and not Illinois. You can't let the top talent leave each year. Who is at fault here? While there is some truth here, let's remember: 1. Illinois recruited the highly regarded setter Betsy Eiserman (out of Lake Forest IL) who, unfortunately was only a very average setter at the collegiate level. Happens to a lot of recruits. 2. Lost star setter Erin Virtue ( St. Charles IL) to injury early in her senior year. 3. Recruited the VERY highly regarded Jen Hynds (6' 3" middleblocker, Mundelein IL) who retired after two years of almost constant injury.
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Post by Pasquale on Aug 21, 2006 21:16:55 GMT -5
For all Illinois fans, not to worry. The program is good shape. I agree that the addition of Hambly is going to help the program and Hardin runs a first-class operation.
It was actually only two seasons ago that the Illini upset #1 USC and were ranked #9 before the untimely injury to Virtue. Last season, they also battled numerous injuries and illinesses (Hynds, Rasa, Henderson). However, I'd say their biggest problem last year was a lack of chemistry, their one-dimenisonal game (ie. set Rachel, set Rachel, repeat as necessary), and lack of depth. From what I can tell during the early scrimmages this season, everyone is finally healthy and they're looking vastly improved. Their offense will be more balanced this year and the chemistry looks good. Brown is hitting a very pretty slide, Turner is a legitimate terminator, and Bazetta is an athletic setter. Vrdsky and Edinger make a very solid tandem in the back row. I expect them to surprise this year and finish higher than projected in the Big 10. Fortunately or not, they have a weak non-conference schedule - so it may be a while before we know how good they really are.
Yes, I'd like to see them retain more in-state players, but credit Hardin for finding and developing talent. Spicer, VanMeter, and Brown were all recruited WAY under the radar and have provided Illinois with some of their best talent in the past few years (Spicer and Rachel were both unanimous All Big 10). Next year's class is a jewel and will compliment the many returning players. Now if we can only get Murphy and Ward . . .
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Post by bucky415 on Aug 22, 2006 1:12:42 GMT -5
The new libero will help, but I don't think they will be very good this season. Their offense was two dimensional last year, in my opinon, with them either setting VanMeter or running the slide to Brown or McDonald. The injuries didn't help them, but they just weren't all that talented. VanMeter was scary from the opposing perspective, because she was good enough to beat you when she got going. Anyone else will have to improve a lot to get to that level. I think Brown and Turner have upside, so maybe they can emerge, but I don't think they'll be the threat VanMeter was last year. I have heard that 2007 class will be really good, but I think this season will probably be another less than spectacular one. You can never count them out at Huff Hall, though. Still, I think you can say that the program is in a pretty serious downturn. Getting top recruits from the Chicago area will be a very good sign for them. I wondered why Hardin didn't get more players from there, even when they were going well a few years back, seeming to recruit Louisville, St. Louis, and areas to the south quite a bit. I guess you go where you need to for players, but I think any Big Ten school, and especially Illinois, needs to have a major presence in Chicagoland in pretty much any sport.
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Post by palo on Aug 22, 2006 10:05:29 GMT -5
For all Illinois fans, not to worry. The program is good shape. I agree that the addition of Hambly is going to help the program and Hardin runs a first-class operation. It was actually only two seasons ago that the Illini upset #1 USC and were ranked #9 before the untimely injury to Virtue. Last season, they also battled numerous injuries and illinesses (Hynds, Rasa, Henderson). However, I'd say their biggest problem last year was a lack of chemistry, their one-dimenisonal game (ie. set Rachel, set Rachel, repeat as necessary), and lack of depth. From what I can tell during the early scrimmages this season, everyone is finally healthy and they're looking vastly improved. Their offense will be more balanced this year and the chemistry looks good. Brown is hitting a very pretty slide, Turner is a legitimate terminator, and Bazetta is an athletic setter. Vrdsky and Edinger make a very solid tandem in the back row. I expect them to surprise this year and finish higher than projected in the Big 10. Fortunately or not, they have a weak non-conference schedule - so it may be a while before we know how good they really are. Yes, I'd like to see them retain more in-state players, but credit Hardin for finding and developing talent. Spicer, VanMeter, and Brown were all recruited WAY under the radar and have provided Illinois with some of their best talent in the past few years (Spicer and Rachel were both unanimous All Big 10).quote] 1. Yes the USC match was unforgettable (not to mention the after party), but what happened the next match at Loyola Chicago (prior to Virtue's injury)? 2. Hynds was the real deal, very unfortunate. She could have been very good. But isn't it someone's job to recruit backups? 3. I agree Rachel got a lot of sets last season, but in no way does that make me think the chemistry or team will be better without her. Now who will they set out of system when they are in trouble? 4. Solid back row players are good, but when other teams in your league have spectacular liberos (see PSU and MN the past few years) solid won't win championships. 5. Where does Bazzetta rank among the Big Ten's setters? 6. Spicer was very good, could have been a great outside or opposite in my opinion. Would have had more impact on the team at a different position. She was best running the slide down line anyway. Not as effective on the quick. 7. Rachel was very hit or miss. Not a consistent performer. True she has skills to take over matches just wish she did it every match. 8. Not impressed with Brown yet...
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Post by palo on Aug 22, 2006 10:12:26 GMT -5
In regards to the recruiting question at U of I: In '06 they secured Prepvolleyball Libero of the year. She is from near Chicago in Indiana. Also in '06 is a excellent player with great hops who played for Illini Elite in club. In '07 U of I has verbal commitments from 4 of the top players in Chicago in the class. I think three of them were High School AA. They got another AA in 'O7 with one of the top players from St. Louis. It seems as if U of I has turned at least a small corner in the recruiting game and in "securing the boarders". You are right, Don Hardin is a class act, as is the rest of his organization. I will be cheering for them this year too. What are the names of these kids? Glad to hear they have something in the pipeline. But it just seems like the last three or four years the classes have been poor or average. And with talent so nearby they should have been doing a better job. I've seen Russ Rose at more club events in Illinois than Hardin. Coach Hardin may be a class act, but what are his goals? Where is this program going? Preseason pick 9th in the Big Ten isn't what I expect.
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Post by Wolfgang on Aug 22, 2006 10:40:32 GMT -5
Sometimes it's very hard to go to club vb events. I won't name names but some coaches dread it and compare it to root canal. I'm not saying Hardin feels this way. Heck, I don't know what Hardin's position is on this issue.
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Post by Keystonekid on Aug 23, 2006 11:18:15 GMT -5
Let's get one thing perfectly straight, there is not a single coach out there who doesn't hate going to club or hs matches, but there is no way around it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 23, 2006 11:47:19 GMT -5
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