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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2008 22:12:02 GMT -5
One more thing before I head off to bed. There was a rally in the first game, where Minnesota made a couple of nice scrambles and ended with Gibbemeyer absolutely crushing the ball in the middle. I don't think you can hit a ball more straight down than that one. That made it 14-15. The crowd went crazy, although the Gophers -- on the floor -- tried to play it cool. Very next serve, Harmotto practically duplicates the hit, right off serve receive, on a quick behind Glass. It just seemed like the Lions dialed it up from that point on, and Minnesota wasn't really in any of the games after that, included game one. Oh, and 1 hour and eight minutes. Not exactly what you want with 10,000+ there to see a match -- but as much as I wanted to see.
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Post by psufan1110 on Oct 11, 2008 22:15:06 GMT -5
So it was almost the same play? Didn't mango say that PSU does that sometimes?
Edit: PSU just seems to have that extra gear that they can shift into sometimes.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2008 22:20:00 GMT -5
Not the same play. Gibby hit hers in transition in front of Hartmann. But both volleyballs were absolutely detonated.
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Post by vbnerd on Oct 11, 2008 22:33:24 GMT -5
Quote of the night
After game 2 they interviewed Russ and the reporter asked him something to the effect of "Minnesota is serving Hodge a lot. Are you going to try to get her out of the serve receive in game 3?"
Russ replied "No, she's passing a 2.5 so they can serve her as much as they want."
Oh yeah, and Harmotto's slide that bounced off the 10' was pretty sick.
As for the discussion about what PSU's girls were doing over the summer, they were back on campus a week after graduation, taking classes, lifting weights, and beating on each other in the gym. Can't you tell?
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Post by mplssetter on Oct 11, 2008 22:56:29 GMT -5
I was at the match. It was a valiant effort by the Gophers, but Penn State was firing on all cylinders. If we got them out of system they would just set Hodge or Fawcett out of the back row, usually for a rocket kill. They had no problem going over our block or beating our block. I really thought we'd match up a little better up at the net, but no. They made it look easy.
I think the Gophers need to forget about that match and move on from here. Some positives, our passing wasn't too bad. We handled Penn State's aggressive serving alright. Dieter hit well out of the back row, which seems to be something they're trying to use more. As far as Penn State goes, I didn't see any glaring weaknesses. They must have worked on covering their hitters this week because when they did get blocked, they were right there to cover. MN was targeting Hodge with their serve and despite what Russ said, I highly doubt Hodge was passing a 2.5. I thought she was kinda struggling with that tonight.
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Post by dorothymantooth on Oct 11, 2008 22:58:18 GMT -5
Of course I wll be called a homer, and what ever. But, I have never posted anything about PSU that is false or overstated. You may not like it, but it is accurate. This team is beyond special, and to deny that is an inability to see past your own team. I know that if Stanford, or Hawaii, or whomever were this gifted, I could acknowlege it. The idea that anyone with a brain, or experience in volleyball could say this team isn't dominant, is laughable.
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Post by JHAM on Oct 11, 2008 23:07:32 GMT -5
After seeing this team tonight I would be shocked if they lose a set before or even during the NCAA tourney. They were totally geered up for this match and were so contained and comfortable it was almost sick, not much rattles them. Seriously I hope MN isn't placed in the PSU regional, it would be the kiss of death.
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Post by mplssetter on Oct 11, 2008 23:18:31 GMT -5
I thought it was funny when they interviewed Hebert after intermission, they asked something like "what changes will your team make to slow down Penn State?" He replied, "I don't know." Atleast he's honest, lol.
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Post by airinga on Oct 12, 2008 0:36:35 GMT -5
Wow... not sure what to say Did I think we would win..... nope.. did I think we would take a game? ahhh...well...I really really was hoping we would be the first team to take a game from Penn State... but no such luck. When I went to set the DVR to record the game, I thought, should I extend the timer? I sat there for a minute and said, I think they can, I think they can... I thought perhaps we could maybe take one game... so I extended the timer... I am so amazed with this Penn State team.. where are the weaknessess...? Hodge has definitely improved with age, for she is no longer rattled on the road with large crowds.. I heard she didn't play very well last night at Iowa, but it didn't matter because their surrounding cast is so incredible. I am so in awe of this Penn State team. They are so incredibly tall, long and very very athletic. I usually head outside afterward to say hello to Mr Rose, and tonight I just couldn't stop staring at these girls, what a team. And at 6'1, I am not on the short side, but all of them are freaks of nature.. but in a good way of course.. . As I told Mr Rose, in my next life I would love to come back and play vb for Penn State. It was nice to see so many people there tonight.. but man that gym was hot.. could they not have opened doors, or brought some fans in there? I mean really, they were attempting to break the attendance record, and in order to do so they would have needed over 10,000 people in there.. could they not have opened up the doors a little, or something? It was so uncomfortable. After watching Nicole Fawcett hit the media umbrella during her shoulder warm ups, I just laughed and said, Oh this is going to be fun. That young lady is something else.. she has got to hit the ball harder than anyone I have seen.. As coach Hebert said, we played well the first 10 minutes of the first game.. the crowd was into it, we were loud and our team was confident. The second game we didn't look very good, and the third game, well that was ugly I thought. The confidence was gone by the third game. Penn State is very very good, but it didn't help that we didn't have much of an offense. Kyla is not herself. It does not appear that she has any power remaining in that shoulder. Why did Hailey Cowles play the front row instead of Katie V? Hailey did come in with fire and had some nice kills, but we desperately need some height for blocking when Penn State has the enormous lengthly giants at the net. I wasn't too impressed with the setting tonight.. Many mis communications it seemed especially with the middles. Gibby can hit the slide well and she connected for a nice quick in the middle, but Hartman and Kelly Schmidt did not seem to connect. The middle sets were way too low for her to hit. Did anyone else seem to think MN got freaked out a little bit in game 2 and 3.? They seemed scared and timid. I love Laurens fire and enthusiasm, and Tans as well, but I would love to have some excitement and confidence in our setter, but I don't see it. I have said that numerous times over, and have been reprimanded for it, but everything obviously flows through your setter, and I just don't see much leadership or excitement with our setter. For those that disagree, please share your beliefs. I guess I am just ready for a change in that position. That quick ball that Gibby hit was great, but did you see Penn States setter, Alisha sort of shake her head, like thats ok... just wait.. and then I know what was next... one ball to Harmotto... KABOOM.. I just shook my head and laughed, and laughed and laughed. And Christa laughed and laughed and laughed... all the way to the sideline.. you could hear a pin drop on that floor after that. Ten thousand people in the place and it was dead silent. There is a definite divide now in the Big Ten... Penn State at the top and everyone else miles and miles behind. This team is something. How can you NOT like them. ;D How can you NOT cheer for them and want them to do well. I do, because I love volleyball and appreciate good volleyball players. This team is LOADED with great volleyball players, and great athletes. I couldn't help but cheer for them in game three when MN was well out of the game. I have so much respect and appreciation for these athletes.
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Post by ersatzhusker on Oct 12, 2008 2:35:23 GMT -5
Got home late and just watched this match off TiVo. I also read all the comments on this thread. I only have a couple of comments to add... well, reinforce.
PSU at this point is the season is freakin awesome.
Christa Harmatto's slide kill (cited above) was the best I've ever seen executed by a middle. The rest of her play wasn't too bad either. :-)
Nichole Fawcette right now is NPOY. But several of her teammates are right behind her.
PSU certainly won't lose a set to anyone else in the Big-10, maybe not the tourney -- unless they are sleep walking. But, I think they have too much positive team chemistry for that. I agree that PSU seems to be able to step it up a notch, when required.
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Post by mplssetter on Oct 12, 2008 3:17:52 GMT -5
Did anybody else notice that Penn State is wearing long sleeves now? Why would they switch mid-season? All part of Russ Rose's master plan? Diabolical!
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Post by Freeman on Oct 12, 2008 6:34:29 GMT -5
im sure the long sleeves are just one of their uniform choices. and penn state is every bit as good as any team at least in heberts 33 years. they would make almost any team look like they did minnesota last night
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Post by cruncher on Oct 12, 2008 7:24:18 GMT -5
Did anybody else notice that Penn State is wearing long sleeves now? Why would they switch mid-season? All part of Russ Rose's master plan? Diabolical! They'll be switching to sweaters as soon as the leaves drop.
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Post by jlo on Oct 12, 2008 9:01:36 GMT -5
dorothymantooth I officially recognize Penn State's talent, they have to be one of the top teams in recent NCAA history! Airinga and ersatshusker I also agree their chemistry is amazing and which is the scary part in my opinion. Adversity has no chance with this team. Also I would love to know the story behind some of your log in names...........
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Post by Serendipity on Oct 12, 2008 10:39:04 GMT -5
MN was targeting Hodge with their serve and despite what Russ said, I highly doubt Hodge was passing a 2.5. I thought she was kinda struggling with that tonight. No offense, but I think I'd say that the coach who has all of the numbers right there is closer to being right! I haven't watched the match yet (it's on again at 11am CT) but in the matches I've seen Megan's passing has been much better than in the past.
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