High school volleyball

[Thrill of the 'ville]

So today a local high school that I work at (Gainesville High) is playing a regional match and there have been a few requests for me to be there because people like how I act at UF matches. I don't like high school volleyball that much, I went once last year for the first time and the playing was very sloppy (but its high school so its understandable) and I vowed I'd never go again although the student section was a lot of fun. Well, since people begged me to go I figured I might as well and I hope this match is a lot better than last year's. Although its sloppy I would still go if was cheaper but $6 for a match is kind of steep to me for a HS volleyball match.

Anyways, I got to thinking, people on here are mostly college volleyball die-hards but how much do people on here like high school volleyball?
Hopefully I put enough choices in the poll.

Oh and Go 'Canes

[BearClause]

I went off and on the previous two seasons to see a team coached by a former Cal volunteer assistant. Frankly - they played at a much higher level (hitting, blocking, defense) than the rest of their league opponents. More often than not their playoff opponents weren't even close to being at the same level.

I went to a whole boatload of HS matches last season. That team I was talking about had a once in a lifetime stacked roster for a smallish public school, including four current NCAA D-I freshmen (with regular playing time). Their current team is still dominating their league, but don't have the hitting firepower they previously had.

I've seen this team once this season. Their opponent had this 6'2" (maybe 6'3"?) hitter who was reasonably athletic but very raw. Maybe she was new to the game, but I was thinking she could be extremely effective at the HS level if she developed a textbook 3-step approach. As it was she shuffled her feet and just sort of found her way into the hitting position. She'd end up hitting the ball when it was about six inches behind her with low velocity/topspin. Her height compensated a bit, but a good deal of reps ironing out that technique, and I think this girl is getting D-I scholarship offers.

[Wolfgang]

I can't stand high school volleyball. The level is too low and the seats are too damn hard. And most importantly, nobody treats me like a celebrity in the gym, more like a celery. So, I can't stand it.

Also, I see waaaay too many child pedophiles in the stands. I'm always itchin' to get my shovel out of the trunk of my car and flatten their faces with it. Well, they look like pedophiles. You know the type. White male, loner, fairly clean-shaven, tries hard to be invisible, they're idea of "casual" is a dress shirt with no ties and the top button unbuttoned. They smell of vaseline.

[ugopher]

I enjoy high school volleyball. It is, obviously, not at the level of college but there can be some good match-ups among the better teams.

The MN state sections start this week with the state tourney in 3 weeks. I will be attending the high school tournament again this year and time it so that I have a good opportunity to see each team involved.

I think we sometimes get spoiled by following the college teams.

And ranking controversies are not unique to the AVCA. In class AAA in MN there are 3 teams tied for the conference championship with identical conference and overall records. Two teams are ranked 9 and 10 in the state while the third did not receive any votes.

[BoilerUp!]

You need a positive choice between these:

I go once...maybe twice a year

I wanted to go, but didn't make it again this year
because it is not well advertised in the local newspaper.

I went once and am never going back

[foreignball]

ugopher said:

And ranking controversies are not unique to the AVCA. In class AAA in MN there are 3 teams tied for the conference championship with identical conference and overall records. Two teams are ranked 9 and 10 in the state while the third did not receive any votes.

It means your teams":
a) were not ranked high enough in the pre-season poll
b) they didn't play head to head competition with the teams ranked above them
c) they don't have enough number of "good wins"
d) the teams ranked higher don't have "bad losses"
e) any combination of the above
;D

[au73]

It is not club, nor college BUT remember. all of the ladies you/we watch in college came from a HS prograqm somewhere.....in season tournaments and the state championships are fun to watch as the top programs fight for the trophy....some top notch players in all of these games.....and you can always say you saw so and so play in prior to their careers in college....enjoy it for what it is, volleyball.....

new to this board, been reading for awhile, just love the game.....the team aspect, the ups and downs, such a great sport....

[Wolfgang]

One thing I like about high school volleyball: the sexy vb moms. Some of them are obviously there to "advertise" their station in life, if ya get my meanin'.

[Thrill of the 'ville]

wolfgang said:

I can't stand high school volleyball. The level is too low and the seats are too damn hard. And most importantly, nobody treats me like a celebrity in the gym, more like a celery. So, I can't stand it.

Also, I see waaaay too many child pedophiles in the stands. I'm always itchin' to get my shovel out of the trunk of my car and flatten their faces with it. Well, they look like pedophiles. You know the type. White male, loner, fairly clean-shaven, tries hard to be invisible, they're idea of "casual" is a dress shirt with no ties and the top button unbuttoned. They smell of vaseline.

Yeah, I know the type you are talking about. I was sitting by a few like that when I went last year so I moved over to the student section...although I wasn't GHS student I look like one.

[BearClause]

au73 said:

It is not club, nor college BUT remember. all of the ladies you/we watch in college came from a HS prograqm somewhere.....in season tournaments and the state championships are fun to watch as the top programs fight for the trophy....some top notch players in all of these games.....and you can always say you saw so and so play in prior to their careers in college....enjoy it for what it is, volleyball.....

new to this board, been reading for awhile, just love the game.....the team aspect, the ups and downs, such a great sport....

It certainly does give the warm and fuzzies when one mentions a certain college program and can point to a certain player observed at the HS level. I once just walked into a HS playoff (it was close to where I work) and stumbled across possibly the most sought after recruit in the area - and she was 14. Trust me - this girl will be a star when she plays in college.

[ugopher]

It is fun to see future stars when you do happen across them. I was attended a couple of matches during my daughter's senior year (she lives in a different state than I) and was able to see Tara Mueller as a freshman, along with Whitey Philips. It was a treat to see these young ladies perform at such a young age. And then follow their HS careers as they became college recruits.

[BearClause]

ugopher said:

It is fun to see future stars when you do happen across them. I was attended a couple of matches during my daughter's senior year (she lives in a different state than I) and was able to see Tara Mueller as a freshman, along with Whitey Philips. It was a treat to see these young ladies perform at such a young age. And then follow their HS careers as they became college recruits.

Well - I remember last Spring I was at a Spring scrimmage between Cal and St Mary's. A local club team had rented the Haas Pavilion club room for some function. After the function was over, one of the players I'd watched in HS noticed me and said hi. BTW - she wasn't a Cal recruit, so there was no problem with me talking to her. I then pointed out one of the St Mary's players to her, who she'd played against in the 2004 CIF NorCal D-III finals. Small world, although I'm pretty sure she was trying to block that night out of her mind.

[Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU]

I'm in Seattle, WA. I went to a high school vball match earlier this year that was held at Eastlake High School in Eastlake WA. It was a tournament that featured some of the best high school programs in WA with the special apperance of national powerhouse from Hon. Hawai'i, Punahou. It was championship match between Bishop Blanchet probably the best high school team in the state, and Punahou. Bishop Blanchet were monsters at the net averaging 6'1 across the front. Punahou on the other hand wasn't all that tall but the girls can simply jump out of the gym, all of 'em. That was the best high school vball I have seen in years. Punahou eventually came out on top winning easily over Blanchet. Punahou simply had wayyyyy more of thee advantage of experience players that feat. Sidney Yogi, the YNT libero and both outside hitters were recruited by D1 programs such as UC Irvine and Hawaii. It was a really good high school match to watch..............

Just though I would share it with everyone....

[GatorVball]

I don't go to as many matches as I used to, but I still make it to some. Used to be the volleyball played at the hs level in Florida wasn't very good. But that has changed, esp. in the Gainesville area. I like watching the future stars of the college game. I've only made one match this year, but it was the match to go to in the area, if not the state, when 6A #1 ranked Winter Park, led by UF commit Callie Rivers(as well as Kentucky commit Sarah Mendoza), came to face 6A #2 ranked Buchholz. Everyone was there, coaches and players from all over Gainesville, Mary and the UF team, as well as Urban Meyer(UF football coach; his daughter plays for Buchholz). It was quite the turnout. WP won, but it was a very high level match for high school. It's too bad the best 2 teams in the state are in the same region, meaning only 1 will get to the final 4. I hate that. I should go watch more matches, cause the area is loaded with great teams and talent and coaches. Just not enough time anymore. Over the years, I've seen the likes of Sam Carter, Angie Pressey, the Kirkwood sisters, Foluke, Janet O, most of the current and past UF players, among others, play during their high school years. You could tell they were all gonna be very good at the next level.

[Thrill of the 'ville]

gatorvball said:

I've only made one match this year, but it was the match to go to in the area, if not the state, when 6A #1 ranked Winter Park, led by UF commit Callie Rivers(as well as Kentucky commit Sarah Mendoza), came to face 6A #2 ranked Buchholz. Everyone was there, coaches and players from all over Gainesville, Mary and the UF team, as well as Urban Meyer(UF football coach; his daughter plays for Buchholz).

I was going to go to that but I totally forgot about when it was and missed it.


Anyways, I just got back and it was kinda boring. Gainesville won easily but the playing was sloppy all-around. It was interesting being in a high school gym again, the rules they have for fan chants are so dumb and it was interesting seeing a volleyball match in such a small bulding.