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Post by wolverine on Apr 30, 2007 18:52:57 GMT -5
Will Zimmerman set for the Wolverines this season? I haven't seen Zimmerman play, but if she is as good as advertised, then maybe Stesha Selsky will move back to libero. Selsky did a great job as libero in 2005 and was a great setter in 2006, but last season Michigan's libero position was probably one of their weaker roles. Yappa, you're talking about Megan Bower (who finished off the year as libero) or Kerry Hance (who started the season as libero), of course. Or both, I expect. I thought Bower was pretty solid, actually. Freshman and all. I suspect she'll round out nicely. In fact, I thought UM had a pretty decent team overall . . . when they were on. But they were very erratic. Challenged the best (beat Minny); lost to the worst (gave Indiana its only B10 victory).
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Post by abcd098 on Apr 30, 2007 19:51:21 GMT -5
Yeah, I think Michigan was pretty solid last year, but they were missing a solid L2 and M2. They had a lot of exceptional individuals but they could not put everything together to be a real powerhouse.
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Post by bucky415 on May 1, 2007 1:37:29 GMT -5
They were sure an enigmatic team last year. The home loss to Indiana was really surprising. Also, it was a bit of a surprise that they beat Minnesota, especially considering that Wisconsin had swept them the night before. The Wolverines just seem to be stuck in the middle of the Big Ten and always seem to lose a couple of matches they shouldn't. On the other hand, they are talented enough to beat teams that end up finishing above them in the league (Minnesota last year and Wisconsin in 2005, for example). Bruzdzinski is a really good all around outside. I don't know if she gets as much mention as she should sometimes, but she is certainly one of the best players in the league. Miller can be a force as well, although her move to the outside left them without a ton of offense from the middle. I think Selsky might move back to libero with Zimmerman setting if she is as good as advertised. Selsky is really good defensively, which was a bit of a mixed blessing for them last year. She often led them in digs with impressive totals. It was good for them that those balls got dug, not so good that someone else then had to set. This could be the year that the Wolverines move up in the conference, but I don't see them competing for the title. At any rate, they'll be an NCAA team again.
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Post by Phaedrus on May 1, 2007 6:50:00 GMT -5
heolverines got off to a blazing 13-0 start while playing a weak non-conference schedule. Indiana pretty much did them in, they went into that match 13-0 still and believing themselves, and then it all fell apart. They really had a hard time pulling it together after that loss, all that nagging self doubt crept in.
Hance is a great defender but a less than stellar passer, which is what killed them. She is an incredible beach player and her passing shows it, she gets a lot of tough serves up but the everyday passes aren't where they should be, i.e. in-system. The switch to Bower helped in the passing department while they used Hance as a DS, which helped the defense, so it was a good compromise. They did manage to pull it all together by the end of the season, unfortunately it wasn't enough for them to get a better match up in the first round, ran into a buzz saw called Cal Poly.
I think the switch will be made with Zimmerman and Stelsky. I like Stelsky a lot but her placement was a little off all the time so the hitters were always just a little late. If Zimmerman is all that, they could be dangerous. Probably upper third of the league.
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Post by wolverine on May 1, 2007 7:51:06 GMT -5
bucky415 and phaedrus,
I think you're both bang on. I see a winning Big 10 record and a return to the NCAA. But it will likely be quite crowded at the top of the conference with PSU, Minny and Wisconsin. Top half would be reasonable.
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Post by ESTRELLA on May 1, 2007 14:13:18 GMT -5
By what I heard about Lexi, she is THE One they are planning to build the team around. She should shore up the setting, not that Stascia did a horrible job but Lexi is supposed to be quite a signing for Michigan. She is the real deal! ESTRELLA
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2007 17:32:29 GMT -5
Looking foward to Michigan opening the season in Hawaii this year.
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Post by wolverine on May 1, 2007 19:13:36 GMT -5
Looking foward to Michigan opening the season in Hawaii this year. Pete, I'm pretty sure they look forward to being in Hawaii, too!
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letshavefun
Freshman
sorry i know its erwin i love her as a daughter. get off my case
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Post by letshavefun on May 1, 2007 19:16:11 GMT -5
Lexi is great and then look at the 2008 recruits. They will a great team in the furture.
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Post by Wolfgang on May 1, 2007 21:15:38 GMT -5
Looking foward to Michigan opening the season in Hawaii this year. Pete, I'm pretty sure they look forward to being in Hawaii, too! Little known fact: they wear flip-flops (slippahs) all over Ann Arbor during the warm months. Even in the cold months, many wear them all over the dorms. Except for the weather, it's just like Hawaii.
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Post by wolverine on May 2, 2007 7:54:25 GMT -5
Indeed, amazing but true, Ann Arbor ranks second to Hawaii in pineapple production.
One small thing the Wolverines have going against them this year is that it's their once-in-eleven-years turn to be the "odd team out" without a travel partner (since the Big 10 has 11 teams), meaning they play all their games back-to-back on Fridays and Saturdays but opponents have only the one weekend match against UM since they play their travel partner the Wednesday before. This is why a few matches may be moved to Sunday; a little more time to prepare.
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Post by WI FIB on May 2, 2007 12:41:06 GMT -5
As far as Zimmerman goes, I can say without a doubt she is the most athletic setter I've ever reffed on my court. She can make a tough set look really easy, and also block and attacks well.
I'd be surprised if she's not the starter from day 1.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2007 12:43:52 GMT -5
How's she compare to Spicer, assuming Nellie is also a setter you've reffed?
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Post by wildblue3 on May 2, 2007 15:32:06 GMT -5
New at this......can you give some info on the 2008 recruits?...heard they were a powerful group.
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Post by wolverine on May 2, 2007 16:09:13 GMT -5
For 2007, Rich.Kern.com lists: Bruck, Karlee Busch, Maggie Nissen, Jackie Zimmerman, Lexi wildblue3, that was my very question, too. See the quote above for names provided by huskervbfan. Zimmerman, a setter, is very highly ranked. But maybe you're looking for more detailed info. That I don't have. But I Googled their names and it does look like a solid group.
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