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Post by Greenie on Dec 1, 2006 0:38:00 GMT -5
Have you seen his coaching strategy since last December? Copy Washington. I should find the article from the beginning of this season. I even saw him at UW's camp to learn some drills. From an article this week: "The spring observation of Washington, Hilbert said, was to learn what kinds of standards McLaughlin sets for himself and his players and how he gets his players to understand the team philosophy and play to it rather than focusing on statistics. Schemes, Hilbert said, weren’t his concern at the time." www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061128/CSUZONE08/611280318/1122And having seen both teams play, I really don't see a lot of similarities. UW and Utah seem similar though. Both disciples of McGowan perhaps?
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Post by VolleyTX on Dec 1, 2006 13:47:17 GMT -5
So what is the deal with Washington? They seem to be playing their worst volleyball of the season. They played horrible against Stanford..... played decent against Cal.... then stunk it up again against Colorado State. What's going on?
In particular, Morrison and Deesing have really been struggling. Morrison seemed like she had no energy in the Stanford match. Does anyone know if she is suffering from an injury?
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Post by MightyMouse on Dec 1, 2006 16:48:25 GMT -5
This Washington team is not the same as last years team, which is to be expected when you lose 5 regular rotation players and all but one of your primary passers. I think fatigue is likely their biggest challenge right now as they have been playing all year with a short roster. Their are 4 available OH with only two (Morrison and Mussie) able to play all-around up to UW standards. Deesing and Swarbrick have played every point of every match this year also. Jim has chosen to redshirt Fr OH Becky Perry (who came in recovering from a hand injury) and Fr MB Shantell Durrant to give both a chance to learn the (very different) system and to be able to play with confidence next year. (As a side note, I think Perry will be a stud for this team in the future). Washington was really hurt, I think, by one of their MB recruits not making the roster for this season because I think they were counting on her to get playing time this year in a rotation with Deesing and Swarbrick. As it is, if one (or both) are struggling, there are no other options. What this team does have is fight, Thompson, and Miyashiro. Morrison (who is not hurt as far as I know, but I believe has had off-season knee surgury each of the past 3 years) and Deesing are adjusting to taking high-pressure swings and shouldering a bigger load. Mussie is coming off knee surgery and not having played in a game in over a year (I love Stevie's fire and grit!). Swarbrick is seeing her first extended action this year. Miyashiro has been fabulous in the back row taking over for Candace Lee! (Must be all that training to play under pressure in Hawaii and getting to see her sister play in the limelight at UH) We love our Hawaiian backcourt of Aratani and Miyashiro. I don't see the short bench situation getting any better for UW either as they have been a bridesmaid in two consecutive recruiting battles (Hodge and Klineman). The amazing thing is that Washington has avioded injury this year for the most part. I know coach McLaughlin has been really concerned about that. There have been many articles where the players have stated they wanted to keep practicing, but Jim has sent them home trying to get quality and then save legs. I think they have all learned about fighting through a bad night this year and just playing hard. If they make it back to the FF this year I think it will be a HUGE accomplishment considering what they lost. (Of course their goal, and the fans hope is to win it all). Next year they lose Thompson which will be a huge blow, but they will have more expereinced hitters and passers return. By the way, how about Thompson?! That girl took a program that had only ever been to the elite 8 to 1 elite8, 2 FFs, 1 NC, and ... (2006). Jim has said that when he recruited her she wasn't a great jumper and didn't have great hands, but that she knew how to work hard ... and has she ever worked hard! She had a quote in a recent article about how she's not having to step it up because it's her senior year because she has used each of her days to the fullest and she has no regrets. Getting to watch her for four years that is quite true. Courtney goes hard EVERY day. While she's not the prettiest technical setter that girl is a WINNER with a work ethic second to none! Go Dawgs!
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