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Post by pnwvb on Nov 22, 2006 21:48:21 GMT -5
It is quite interesting the impact that transfers and foreign players had on these teams. I was curious to know what some people think about where these teams might be without players such as Djuric, Kazcor, Cutura, Maywether, Sandell, Daley, Mussie, and others. It is seems that PAC 10 in past has never had such number of transfers or foreigners that influence there success.
Now that the regular season is beyond us I am not sure these teams would be as strong without these players.
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Post by BearClause on Nov 22, 2006 22:13:02 GMT -5
I'm not sure about that. Washington had Tomasevic as Pac-10 Player of the Year. Mia Jerkov may have been the best international player in Pac-10 history. There might not have been the sheer numbers, but the influence of these two players was incredible.
Cutura has been impressive at times, but slowed down after that foot injury and playing a higher level of competition in the Pac-10. I think she's starting to regain her form and I think she'll be an AA candidate next season.
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Post by roofed! on Nov 23, 2006 1:17:13 GMT -5
Candelas had a big impact on USC's championship run in 2002-03. Despite her late clearance from the NCAA (while she was still playing in the 2002 World Championship for Mexico) and subsequently, Olsovsky and Adams having locked in their MB starting positions, Candelas was the X-factor for the team. Anytime the team struggled during matches, Haley would sub her into the 6-2 rotation and had her hitting at the OH position (despite being a MB), except for the 3-2 defeat to Stanford when Haley held her out so that Dunning could not prepare for her in the post-season.
To me, she is the most versatile player in recent years, as she can hit effectively from the left, right and in the middle as well as the pipe, and she was a go-to hitter for the team in 02, 03 and 04 seasons. Clearly the experience she had gained in international competitions playing for Mexico benefitted USC.
BC may have tagged Jerkov as the best international player in Pac-10, but my vote would go to Bibiana Candelas.
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Post by StuffU on Nov 23, 2006 1:28:53 GMT -5
My vote for best foreigner in the Pac-10 ~ Barbara Ifejika. She was an all-around MB that was an asset in the backrow. The Championship rings don't hurt her standing either.
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Post by BearClause on Nov 23, 2006 1:42:30 GMT -5
My vote for best foreigner in the Pac-10 ~ Barbara Ifejika. She was an all-around MB that was an asset in the backrow. The Championship rings don't hurt her standing either. Does Canada really count?
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Post by BearClause on Nov 23, 2006 1:56:44 GMT -5
BC may have tagged Jerkov as the best international player in Pac-10, but my vote would go to Bibiana Candelas. Candelas was quite good, but she needed that crazy-good lineup of teammates to put up those numbers. Mia played all around and there was no better back-row attacker in the Pac-10 since Kerri Walsh. Mia had a decent team around her, but she virtually willed Cal into a top 10 team. It was an insult that Mia didn't make 1st team AA in 2003.
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Post by cbrown1709 on Nov 23, 2006 3:18:42 GMT -5
BC, you might have to add Ogonna to your list. She hit as well out of the backrow as the front.
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Post by 2c on Nov 23, 2006 3:36:04 GMT -5
My vote for best foreigner in the Pac-10 ~ Barbara Ifejika. She was an all-around MB that was an asset in the backrow. The Championship rings don't hurt her standing either. Does Canada really count? As much as Mexico. And even more than Puerto Rico.
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Post by StuffU on Nov 23, 2006 10:59:59 GMT -5
My vote for best foreigner in the Pac-10 ~ Barbara Ifejika. She was an all-around MB that was an asset in the backrow. The Championship rings don't hurt her standing either. Does Canada really count? We'll soon be required to carry passports to cross that border, so, yes it does. But if it doesn't count, then lets get Stacy Gordon in a USA uniform!
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Post by BearClause on Nov 23, 2006 11:14:48 GMT -5
BC, you might have to add Ogonna to your list. She hit as well out of the backrow as the front. Certainly she was a formidable back-row attacker, but not at the level of Mia Jerkov. I remember a huge Stanford fan telling me that he thought Mia was the best back-row attacker in the Pac-10 since Kerri Walsh; this was while Nnamani was still active. I was at a men's club tournament just relaxing with "gobears" and a ref. When I mentioned Mia, this ref (who called a lot of Pac-10 women's) volunteered that he thought Mia was a better attacker out of the back row. It wasn't that she hit all that hard, but the court opened up for her incredible court vision, and she could shape her shot around blockers/diggers and hit it on a dime.
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Post by roofed! on Nov 23, 2006 11:59:34 GMT -5
Candelas was quite good, but she needed that crazy-good lineup of teammates to put up those numbers. Mia played all around and there was no better back-row attacker in the Pac-10 since Kerri Walsh. Mia had a decent team around her, but she virtually willed Cal into a top 10 team. It was an insult that Mia didn't make 1st team AA in 2003. Candelas put up big numbers in all her 3 years of starting for the team (Soph-Senior; for her freshman year, she was cleared to play only by midseason). In her senior year when USC was very inexperienced -- Copenhagen and Bishop moved into passing rotations, new setter in Siljegovic -- Haley had Candelas played all 3 hitting rotations (while blocking in the middle), and she was the top hitter (slightly less than 5 kills per game) for the USC team that year. She also hit very well out of the pipe. Of course Candelas did not play all the way to the back because she was a MB, but a MB that can hit all across the net and backrow too.
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Post by bigfan on Nov 23, 2006 14:53:05 GMT -5
Mia Jerkov is the best I've seen.
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Post by pavbfan on Nov 23, 2006 18:43:37 GMT -5
I assume Oregon would be even more competitive if they still had Sarah Mason and Dariam Acevedo.
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Post by StuffU on Nov 23, 2006 19:52:13 GMT -5
I assume Oregon would be even more competitive if they still had Sarah Mason and Dariam Acevedo. Same could be said of Washington State with Jenn Todd and Kristen Carlson. Imagine if Prince, Larson, Carlson, and Todd were still at Washington State last year!!!
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Post by BearClause on Nov 23, 2006 19:55:27 GMT -5
I assume Oregon would be even more competitive if they still had Sarah Mason and Dariam Acevedo. Acevedo would have been a senior last season. There's no guarantee that she tears her ACL (2004 medical redshirt after two matches) if she stayed at Oregon.
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