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Post by clivehusker on Dec 20, 2006 14:25:32 GMT -5
Have to agree, with Spicer directing the action, UCLA will still be tough.
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Post by baywatcher on Dec 20, 2006 14:58:08 GMT -5
As all the anti-Meriwether for POY have pointed out, she only played 1/2 the time; rest of team must have been doing something right.
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Post by Wolfgang on Dec 20, 2006 16:26:30 GMT -5
A good barometer of how UCLA will fare during the regular season and the NCAA postseason is the annual Hawaiian Airlines Tournament in Hawaii. When they've dominated, they've done well during the season. Usually though, Hawaii spanks them handily.
By the way, I don't have any data to back up the above statement simply because I'm too lazy to look it up. But I'm sure BearClause or Gorf the Chartmeister will do wonders with this project.
Thanks, in advance.
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Post by Charlie on Dec 20, 2006 16:31:08 GMT -5
Actually, I've always gotten the sense that Rachelle Johnson doesn't get along well with the rest of her team. She often has a surly look. This is one of the dumbest posts I've seen in a long time. If there was ever one word that did NOT describe Rachell Johnson, it's "surly". I just laughed at this. Anyone who knows anything at all about the UCLA team knows that Rachell is a sparkplug and a cheerleader, and that the young ladies on her team really like her a lot. Stanfordfan, if you need something to worry about, worry about Barboza, who I've yet to see take over a match like people expect that she should.
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Post by ay2013 on Dec 20, 2006 17:29:56 GMT -5
You are all greatly underestimating UCLA. As long as Nellie Spicer is the setter, they will have a great team. She make the hitters great. Without Nellie, Nana would never have been an All-American. Just look at some of the past UCLA teams. Wiz Bachman has been on the National Team since she graduated. But at UCLA she was never a star because she didn't have a setter who could make her great. Nellie will make Ali Daley and Kaitlin Sather into All-Americans. Rachell Johnson will move back to OH in Katie Carter's spot. Top-10 recruit Katie Mills will step into Nana's MB spot. Meghan Schoen will finally be healthy and will fill the other MB spot. The Libero spot will be fought for by Jordan Smith, Becky Mehring, Jade Machado and possibly some of the incoming freshmen. UCLA will certainly be in the top 5 next year. OTOH, the team that will tumble next year in Washington. With Courtney Thompson gone, their All-Americans from this year (with the exception of Morrison) will be ordinary next year. You won't find Deesing or Swarbrick on any All-American teams next year without Courtney to set them. Morrison is still great, but she can't do it by herself. Washington will struggle to stay in the top 10. I disagree that Washington will struggle... all of the hitters and defenders will be experienced players, with the setter being the only new addition. We already have a vetran setter in Simmons, and Mclaughlin is arguably the best coach in college volleyball so he's not going to bring in a nobody freshmen setter.... she could very well make the same impact that Thompson, Spicer, Kehoe, and Holloway had for their teams at young ages. UCLA lost their #1 MB, #1 OH, and #1 defender.... Washington keeps all of those .... UW will be the #2 team in the Pac-10... and rarely does the #2 team in the top conference struggle to stay in the top 10 in the polls!
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 20, 2006 18:21:10 GMT -5
The Libero spot will be fought for by Jordan Smith, Becky Mehring, Jade Machado and possibly some of the incoming freshmen. Really? Mehring is going for libero next year? I think Jordan will get it because she has experience as a libero. UCLA should be good next year. The OHs tried as best they could in that final match, especially Daley and Sather. They will be good for them. Because Nana plays like 1/3 or 1/2 the time, they shouldn't have such a big drop off with Katie Mills and Schoen. Lyman wasn't a libero until far later and the bruins got a lot of DS. The will be fine. Washington has their big guns left, but with no Thompson. They played awful the last match. They'll be fine too, but its a question mark
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Post by beachman on Dec 20, 2006 18:56:36 GMT -5
The Libero spot will be fought for by Jordan Smith, Becky Mehring, Jade Machado and possibly some of the incoming freshmen. Really? Mehring is going for libero next year? I think Jordan will get it because she has experience as a libero. UCLA should be good next year. The OHs tried as best they could in that final match, especially Daley and Sather. They will be good for them. Because Nana plays like 1/3 or 1/2 the time, they shouldn't have such a big drop off with Katie Mills and Schoen. Lyman wasn't a libero until far later and the bruins got a lot of DS. The will be fine. Washington has their big guns left, but with no Thompson. They played awful the last match. They'll be fine too, but its a question mark I wouldn't be surprised to see Becky leave the team!
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Post by StanfordFan on Dec 20, 2006 18:57:10 GMT -5
Wow, testy testy. Every match I've seen of UCLA's this year (4), Rachelle has turned around and given a nasty look at one of her teammates, usually after she whacks a ball into the net. Usually, it's at Spicer. I'm not too worried about Barboza. She and the rest of stanford dealt with UCLA pretty handily this year, and will again for the next few years. Actually, I've always gotten the sense that Rachelle Johnson doesn't get along well with the rest of her team. She often has a surly look. This is one of the dumbest posts I've seen in a long time. If there was ever one word that did NOT describe Rachell Johnson, it's "surly". I just laughed at this. Anyone who knows anything at all about the UCLA team knows that Rachell is a sparkplug and a cheerleader, and that the young ladies on her team really like her a lot. Stanfordfan, if you need something to worry about, worry about Barboza, who I've yet to see take over a match like people expect that she should.
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Post by rubyredslippers on Dec 20, 2006 19:24:21 GMT -5
You must not know her very well.... Or read her well. They are telling each other the plays they are going to do next..She get's along well with her teammates.
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Post by blastingsand on Dec 20, 2006 20:32:47 GMT -5
Wow, testy testy. Every match I've seen of UCLA's this year (4), Rachelle has turned around and given a nasty look at one of her teammates, usually after she whacks a ball into the net. Usually, it's at Spicer. I can see what you mean with Rachelle and some of her facial expressions, but she really does get along with her teamates. All of them are best of friends as you can see if you guys really know them. I've seen them around LA and there is no hatred between any of them. Cynthia seems like a nice girl as well.
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Post by pavbfan on Dec 20, 2006 20:56:09 GMT -5
I like Rachel's demeanor on the court. She may give a quick smile in celebration, then she puts her game face on -- back to business. I don't see her sliding on on knees like other teammates. That, I don't like. I don't buy the commentators comments that Nana's teammates encouraged her to show more emotion.
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Post by hwy101 on Dec 21, 2006 1:55:34 GMT -5
Wow, testy testy. Every match I've seen of UCLA's this year (4), Rachelle has turned around and given a nasty look at one of her teammates, usually after she whacks a ball into the net. Usually, it's at Spicer. I'm not too worried about Barboza. She and the rest of stanford dealt with UCLA pretty handily this year, and will again for the next few years. This is one of the dumbest posts I've seen in a long time. If there was ever one word that did NOT describe Rachell Johnson, it's "surly". I just laughed at this. Anyone who knows anything at all about the UCLA team knows that Rachell is a sparkplug and a cheerleader, and that the young ladies on her team really like her a lot. Stanfordfan, if you need something to worry about, worry about Barboza, who I've yet to see take over a match like people expect that she should. Well, UCLA hasn't won a match in 5 years against Stanford! McPeak and Kiraly pointed this out at their match in Stanford. Heading into the match, the Stanford-UCLA series was tied at 38 matches apiece. I wouldn't worry about Barboza. She just came back from an ACL injury. I don' think she was 100% most of the time this season but she will get better by next year.
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Post by 5100 on Dec 21, 2006 11:26:05 GMT -5
How long was Lyman a libero? Wasn't she a starting OH at some point?
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Post by brybry2 on Dec 21, 2006 12:34:12 GMT -5
How long was Lyman a libero? Wasn't she a starting OH at some point? Lyman was starting OPP for about 3/4 of the season then switched to libero. I partially liked this move because it gave room to Sather who has been hot lately. However, Lyman didn't have a very good match in the National semifinal. UCLA did a good job setting up a block around Pavan (unlike Stanford). Lyman should have been able to dig up a lot of Pavan's spikes, but didn't. Also, if Lyman played OPP against Nebraska, UCLA would have been able to sub out the struggling Katie Carter. It's these type of moves or lack of moves that makes me think that UCLA will do a lot better w/o Banachowski. I wouldn't be surprised to see them win their next title a few years after he retires. That school should be drawing more top 5 recruits too.
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Post by bigfan on Dec 21, 2006 13:02:20 GMT -5
I wouldn't be surprised to see Becky leave the team! Don't tell me she is transferring to LBSU?
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