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Post by Gelatinous Mass on Oct 28, 2006 23:50:07 GMT -5
Texas sweeps Colorado 3-0. Engle and Hooker combine for 29 kills, 15 for Engle, 14 for Hooker. Engle hits .385, Hooker hits .520. Engle went down early in the 2nd game when a Colorado player came under the net. She rolled her ankle and had to be carried off the court. She came back and played all of game 3. Texas looked as good as I've seen them all year, great blocking tonight, good setting. There was a Ruth Ann Fiest sighting, she replaced Engle and played well.
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Post by starsky on Oct 29, 2006 6:58:58 GMT -5
Ithought the block was weak. With the exception of Todd and Engle I thought the positioning and hands of the Texas blockers was poor. Especially Hooker. She however has got incredible ability, Not terribly impressed with Moriarty either.
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Post by VolleyTX on Oct 29, 2006 9:24:10 GMT -5
I have to agree with you. Texas is a horrible blocking team.... especially considering their size and athleticism. There must have been at least a dozen balls that should have been blocked, but the players just don't know how to get their hands over the net.
There is something about the way Texas plays that bothers me. I don't know exactly how to describe it..... but they sort of play "scared" or "nervous". Even in system, they don't seem to have the same flow that other top teams have. They sort of look like robots out there.
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Post by starsky on Oct 29, 2006 9:49:40 GMT -5
The only one that seemed in control the entire match was Engle. Moriarty I felt made poor descisions sometimes with the ball. Is she a freshman, sophomore?  |
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 29, 2006 10:28:49 GMT -5
Moriarty is a junior and third year starter. I get the problems with blocking for the Longhorns, but it is strange to hear how they have struggled this year. They looked very, very good in the AVCA showcase.
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Post by wiscvball on Oct 29, 2006 11:16:33 GMT -5
Moriarty is a junior and third year starter. I get the problems with blocking for the Longhorns, but it is strange to hear how they have struggled this year. They looked very, very good in the AVCA showcase. True... and Wisconsin looked very very bad at the AVCA showcase. Since then it seems like their ships have been sailing in the opposite direction for much of the season. UW improves every week while Texas struggles against some teams you wouldn't expect them to given the athletic ability and talent on the team. |
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 29, 2006 22:03:17 GMT -5
I saw some of this match on the taped broadcast this afternoon, and it seems as if Texas has lost the ability to dig, which I saw as a major improvement from them in the AVCA. They swept this match, and I don't know how many balls from CU fell untouched to the floor. The Longhorn blocking also seemed to continue to have a lot of holes, although they did get a lot of blocks. It was either all or not much for them in that regard. Moriarty's setting did leave something to be desired at times, preventing the hitters from getting their best attacks. Christian played front row for Acevedo for some stretches; is Acevedo banged up or just not that effective? In any case, Texas looked like a team that is talented but doesn't have it all together, even in a win. At least Engle didn't get hurt so badly that she couldn't come back. It looked bad at the time.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 30, 2006 8:57:30 GMT -5
What has happened to Leticia? She was an animal last year and hardly see's the court and when she does struggles at times.
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Post by VolleyTX on Oct 30, 2006 9:33:15 GMT -5
I agree. I don't know what is wrong with her. You can tell how absolutely pissed she gets (with herself I'm assuming) when she can't seem to find the court with her shots. Her facial expression says it all. I'm guessing it is a mental/confidence thing.
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Post by TexasVB on Oct 30, 2006 11:56:35 GMT -5
What has happened to Leticia? She was an animal last year and hardly see's the court and when she does struggles at times. I am sure her having this average season is a combination of a lot of things. Maybe she is still not %100. It is hard for a middle to be successful when you continuously run the slide so it might not be a bad idea for her to hit in front of the setter more often. To me it seems like a timing issue, I dont think she has lost her confidence she is just often too early and jumping to tight to the net to get a real armwing. Other teams are keying on her now that she had a breakout year last season so that hasn't exactly worked in her favor. Even though she has seen playing time reduced, I think Jerrit would still consider her his MB1. |
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Post by OverAndUnder on Oct 30, 2006 12:08:19 GMT -5
Watch the tapes. Elliott always runs a "fast tempo outside" system. Almost every set is the volleyball equivalent of a Hail Mary pass. Moriarty has been commanded to shoot the pins every single time. 90% of plays are either left side or low slides. That means the middles sometimes get more attacks than traditional quickset middles. but it also makes the offense extremely predictable. With Acevedo having an off year, Engle is the only attacker who can mix it up from all over the court.
It's weird that when his system fails him he brings in Paolini who quickly gets several points on blocks and attacks in front of the setter. Then once they get out of the desperation zone, he pulls her out and goes right back to the same "Michelle-row-the-boat-ashore-alelujah."
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Post by TexasVB on Oct 30, 2006 12:26:39 GMT -5
I agree with you, I think Texas runs a "fast tempo outside system" and they will be a better team for it even if they struggle with it now. The sets to Armstrong are hittable because Todd has success with those same sets, (although there are obviously diff. matchups). Armstrong just has to widen her repertoire of shots. I would spend time practicing swiping the ball when the set or the connection is not there. Since she loves to run slides why not have her run step-ins? I am not sure Paolini is the answer to the mb position, she is a step slower than any of the middles but she does hit better 1's and 31's. Next year will be a big relief when Brandy is back and keeping other teams blocks honest.
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Post by hoosierman on Oct 30, 2006 13:16:14 GMT -5
It's weird that when his system fails him he brings in Paolini who quickly gets several points on blocks and attacks in front of the setter. Then once they get out of the desperation zone, he pulls out and goes right back to the same "Michelle-row-the-boat-ashore-alelujah." Hilarious. You should win some sort of award with that. |
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Oct 30, 2006 16:46:36 GMT -5
Nice win Longhorns, you made me proud...
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Post by Gelatinous Mass on Oct 30, 2006 23:38:09 GMT -5
If Hooker and Engle are on, Tood, Armstrong and Paolini will get plenty of chances in the middle if Michelle is mixing it up. Acevedo has to be hurting, as athletic as she is, she is still not moving well. Armstrong seems to be healthy but more in pre-season form. Todd has been playing really well lately and Paolini has been the best pinch-hitter. Christian is getting some chances as the designated hitter nad has great attitude and enthusiasm. Considering that Texas can't really block that well they've had back to back games where they've finally done better.
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