|
|
Post by weaver on Apr 18, 2005 18:54:19 GMT -5
Daniel Mathews, a 6-6 freshman setter for 11th-ranked The Ohio State University (21-7, 14-2 MIVA), has been chosen the Midwestern Intercollegiate
Volleyball Association Player of the Week. Mathews had an outstanding weekend in leading Ohio State to a 3-0 (30-25, 30-22, 30-16) home win over Findlay
and a 3-2 (28-30, 29-31, 31-29, 30-18, 15-11) come-from-behind victory at IPFW. Mathews had two kills and 39 assists against the Oilers. Defensively, he
shared match-high honors with eight digs and contributed seven total blocks (one solo and six assists) against Findlay. At IPFW, he equaled his career-high of five
kills (four times) adding an ace serve and posting 66 assists. He produced seven digs and five assist blocks for the defense. Two of his kills came with OSU down
2-0 in games and tied 29-29 in the third game as he successfully scored kills on two consecutive plays on the second contact to win the game, 31-29. IPFW was
serving match point at 29-28 but was stopped by a Stuart Katz kill. Katz, Brett Versen and Sam Stevens came off the bench and played much of the match
collecting 35 points (29 kills, a solo block, 10 assist blocks) of OSU’s 99 points. Mathews was exceptional in blending the bench players into the offense and
securing the victory for OSU. His combined 105 assists on the weekend gives him 1,245 for his career and has moved him to sixth on the OSU career assist list.
Mathews averaged 13.12 assists per game to power the offense and recorded 1.88 digs and 1.50 blocks per game, contributing to OSU’s defensive play.
|
|
|
|
Post by vb on Apr 18, 2005 23:30:51 GMT -5
.... Mathews had two kills and 39 assists against the Oilers. Defensively, she shared match-high honors with eight digs and contributed seven total blocks (one solo and six assists) against Findlay.... This is soooo funny. (she) Like I have been saying... "high-slow sets." But I would never had thought to add the "she." It is getting sad that awards are getting this political-instead of for players that actually had a good week. Soon, there will be an injured player that didn't even dress for the week get named...just because it is "their time." Findley and "blending bench players" Come on!! Want to impress? Beat Loyola, UCLA and then Pepperdine. |
|
|
|
Post by spcttr on Apr 19, 2005 10:13:24 GMT -5
I might have missed it in another thread, VB, and I apologize if I did, but why the strong criticism (bashing?) of the entire Ohio State program? You have blasted Mathews all season, but he has not been the sole target? What's the deal?
|
|
|
|
Post by VBbeast on Apr 19, 2005 12:43:02 GMT -5
Forget it Spcttr some people can only focus on the negative. Anytime vb talks about Mathews all he can say is high slow sets. Anything good that is said about OSU or the MIVA in general it seems must be politically motivated.
Some people just don't like certain programs. It irks me sometimes that most of what he says has no basis in fact but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
|
|
|
|
Post by spcttr on Apr 19, 2005 15:20:42 GMT -5
Hey, I'm not looking to get on a soapbox for any program. My frame of reference/experience is mostly the MIVA. I have some first-hand "knowledge" of players in the MPSF and EIVA, but not enough to rank players or make comparisons. I will leave that to those who have the opportunity to see them on a weekly basis.
That being said, I am interested in what other people "see" at the same matches I attend, and "why/how" they see it. That's why I participate in the forum.
|
|
|
|
Post by vb on Apr 19, 2005 18:21:38 GMT -5
Hey, I'm not looking to get on a soapbox for any program. My frame of reference/experience is mostly the MIVA. I have some first-hand "knowledge" of players in the MPSF and EIVA, but not enough to rank players or make comparisons. I will leave that to those who have the opportunity to see them on a weekly basis. That being said, I am interested in what other people "see" at the same matches I attend, and "why/how" they see it. That's why I participate in the forum. NewYorker background might be seen as strong criticism, but it is intended as only an observation. Somebody once posted that OSU's setter set his pattern because of the slow middles...so I went back to observe. Not true. But at least I watched. Do you have the opposite opinions on the slow-high sets after watching him? If so, please post your observations. I once saw OSU's setter diving to his left in a superman position to save a set. I was impressed to see him get to the ball, only to see him try to set it against his motion to the RS. In the history of volleyball, this set has never been accomplished...nor was it here. I was among those in the crowd laughing at the "hot-dog" attempt...but I would have been the first person standing and applauding if it would have worked. (And probably would have applauded the longest) Instead he should have just set it to the OH....duhhhhh. My 2 cents is this. Let "Player of the Week" be an award for player of the week. Let POY and ROY be an award for its namesake. Cut the cumulative and political crap. |
|
|
|
Post by spcttr on Apr 20, 2005 7:52:55 GMT -5
There is nothing wrong with strong criticism; labelling is something different though. I would think that "hot-dogging" and/or "showboating" would be used for repeated acts by a player. Trying to go against the grain in an impossible situation is not hot-dogging if it only happened once, especially of Cole was the "gun" at the time for OSU. But perhaps there were other instances? But as for that play, scrambling, in rally-score, you should always make the play that will best result in winnning the rally because you need the point. Confidence in any player is great, but maybe not at the expense of winning the point. That being said, putting up 70 assists in a 4-game win over Loyola is pretty good for anyone. To me, that is a team number/stat, but it still says something about Mathews ability in a big-time conference match.
Knowing what I know about OSU this year, their offensive production has had a number of peaks and valleys from a host of players. Greaves has been producing very well as of late, but he and Wauligman have both been inconsistent on offense, backed by the number of games Stevens and Katz have played at OH. Also, Cole, who at times has been the go-to hitter has had his share of "weird matches," which again is supported by Katz's appearances against PSU and Loyola. Dreven has been solid; he is a quick and intense MB on offense. Spurlock has been....not sure how to describe his play, but "inspiring" is not a word I would choose.
The offensive production of Loyola is something that I believe OSU can achieve (see late season wins over Lewis and Loyola at Columbus), but Loyola's passing, defense (floor and at the net) and chemistry are clearly tops in the conference. Guntli does a great job of moving the ball around while still allowing Kolzarek (sp) and Grunst to get the lion's share of sets.
|
|
|
|
Post by AZVBall on Apr 22, 2005 9:03:03 GMT -5
This is soooo funny. (she) Like I have been saying... "high-slow sets." But I would never had thought to add the "she." It is getting sad that awards are getting this political-instead of for players that actually had a good week. Soon, there will be an injured player that didn't even dress for the week get named...just because it is "their time." Findley and "blending bench players" Come on!! Want to impress? Beat Loyola, UCLA and then Pepperdine. youre a retard!!! you make fun of ohio state for the she but then you spell findlAy wrong! get a life! |
|
|
|
Post by vb on Apr 22, 2005 19:54:49 GMT -5
youre a retard!!! you make fun of ohio state for the she but then you spell findlAy wrong! get a life! I am so sorry. It will never happen again. I like Findlay's program and the direction they are taking. I am now laughing at your spelling and sentence structure. One too many volleyballs to the head? |
|
