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Post by cardfan15 on Oct 30, 2006 0:57:29 GMT -5
The World Championships start in two days and it doesn't seem like there is a whole lot of excitement out there for USAVball (there really is hardly anything on the website yet). This is the first chance we will get to see Lang Ping and team in action for a major competition. I guess the big question for me is can Lang Ping get it done? We are half the way to Beijing and Lang Ping was brought in to reestablish the US. She has to be considered one the best coaches in the world so how do you think the US team will do?
I am excited about the tournament and can't wait to see how team USA does. Is anyone else excited for the start of the tourney?
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Post by cbrown1709 on Oct 30, 2006 0:59:12 GMT -5
I know she has worked hard on developing new and younger players, but do you really think that this team will be any different or make noise like everyone is expecting?
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Post by pedro el leon on Oct 30, 2006 1:05:32 GMT -5
i think they might be able to make noise by 2008, the young talent coming up is much better than what they got right now, IMO.
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Post by foreignball on Oct 30, 2006 8:40:52 GMT -5
As it’s been discussed numerous times, in order to succeed in the international game one has to have certain types of players but the current USA system is not encouraging their development. This fact makes JLP job very hard – she has to find/teach them first and only after that she would be able to build a team. If not anything else it takes time ….as the saying goes “Rye flour doesn’t make white bread”.
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Post by VolleyTX on Oct 30, 2006 8:40:53 GMT -5
I tend to agree with you. As has been mentioned many times, USA volleyball's major weekness is a solid left side hitter who can pass. The middles are world class (Scott and Bown)... good setters in Ah Mow Santos and Berg (if she returns.... I hope so. I think the team plays better with her setting). Solid opposite in Metcalf (with Busse really improving). Even without two solid passing outside hitters, USA is playing competitively with the world's best. I would love to see Tom come back to the team. She is by far the best left side player USA has right now. I really hope to see Barboza get back with the team soon. I think she is probably the one college player that has everything the USA needs right now.... strong offense... high volleyball IQ... with SOLID PASSING.
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Post by Wallyball on Oct 30, 2006 12:52:49 GMT -5
It just seems to me that the USA just doesn't have the speed in their offense that the other world class teams do. Unless they learn to mix it up and speed it up a bit, we still are second rate, even with all the power we have.
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Oct 30, 2006 16:52:30 GMT -5
I tend to agree with you. As has been mentioned many times, USA volleyball's major weekness is a solid left side hitter who can pass. The middles are world class (Scott and Bown)... good setters in Ah Mow Santos and Berg (if she returns.... I hope so. I think the team plays better with her setting). Solid opposite in Metcalf (with Busse really improving). Even without two solid passing outside hitters, USA is playing competitively with the world's best. I would love to see Tom come back to the team. She is by far the best left side player USA has right now. I really hope to see Barboza get back with the team soon. I think she is probably the one college player that has everything the USA needs right now.... strong offense... high volleyball IQ... with SOLID PASSING. What the US national team needs is Logan Tom and Kim Willougby on the leftside not Collymore and Wilkins though they are very good outsides but not good enough.
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Post by OverAndUnder on Oct 30, 2006 17:28:24 GMT -5
All the speed in the world won't compensate for a lack of precision. Having precision, however, will allow you to speed up / diversify your attacks
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Post by Murina on Oct 31, 2006 0:04:49 GMT -5
It's on! South Korea d. Costa Rica 3-0 in the first match.
Peru d. Egypt 3-0.
Germany d. Dominican Republic 3-0.
Kenya takes set 3 from Poland!!! Poland now up 2-1.
Brazil d. Puerto Rico 3-0.
Mexico v. Russia, Netherlands v. Cameroon, and Turkey v. Cuba up next.
The Turkey v. Cuba match should be the first competitive match of the day.
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Post by sIsam on Oct 31, 2006 6:32:48 GMT -5
In what could be seen as the first surprise result of the tournament, Serbia and Montenegro defeats defending champions Italy 3-1
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Post by cardfan15 on Oct 31, 2006 9:34:11 GMT -5
I got to watch the China-Azerbaijian match. Azer has a player, Mammadova, who really packs some heat in her attacks. She had a hit out of the back row off a broken play that was incredible. Look out for China. Even though they dropped a set (it was because of bad passing in the final 2 points), they looked very very good. The scary thing about China is how they combine precision with power. They run such a fast, complex offense but can also put the ball high and outside and be effective. Kun Feng had the Azer. block stunned on many plays throughout the match leaving her hitters with no blockers. China looked very relaxed the whole match. I think Chen Zhonghe has trained this team to be a machine in their performance...
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Post by Huskyfan on Oct 31, 2006 10:47:02 GMT -5
Taiwan upset Japan 3-1. One of the players from Taiwan: Lin, Chun Yi, didn't she play for BYUH a few years ago?
Cuba beat Turkey 3-0. Is that considered an upset also?
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Post by topgun on Oct 31, 2006 10:55:11 GMT -5
Cuba is no longer the same dominating force as they were in the 90's, when they won 3 Olympic Gold Medals in a row. However, they remain one of the world's top volleyball teams along with China, Russia, Brazil and Italy, so Cuba beating Turkey isn't really an upset.
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Post by foreignball on Oct 31, 2006 12:50:06 GMT -5
.....but I think SCG beating ITA (3-1) is an upset.
BTW KOR has a player born in 1989 who was their top-scorer against Costa Rica (18 pts) and also another couple who were both in 1988 (one of them started against CRC)
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Post by sIsam on Oct 31, 2006 13:15:22 GMT -5
Taiwan upset Japan 3-1. One of the players from Taiwan: Lin, Chun Yi, didn't she play for BYUH a few years ago? Cuba beat Turkey 3-0. Is that considered an upset also? I'm suprised it was this easy for Cuba though this is not an upset. Along the same lines, while I expected Germany to beat Dom Rep, I did not expect it this easy....
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