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Post by roy on Mar 17, 2003 22:49:44 GMT -5
My bias says that Costas is ahead of the rest right now. He is leading his team to a great season. Keenan, while great, is getting a little overshadowed by Rooney and Winters. Pelzel (sp?) from Irvine could be considered but UCI needs to finish strong for that to happen. BYU has a chance to get someone with POY but I can't think of anyone who really stands out on their team. Haven't seen or heard much of BYU to know for sure.
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Post by VBCrusin on Mar 18, 2003 3:30:41 GMT -5
Hey Roy, Right now, I feel it's a 3 way race between Costas, Rooney & Keenan. True, Keenan has been sharing the spotlight with Rooney & Winters this year, but he is pretty unstoppable when Pep needs him. He is the mainstay or heart of the team, and I'm sure all he wants is a National Championship before he graduates. Pepperdine is a very unselfish team with one purpose in mind...avenge last year's Final. Rooney has been pretty awesome all year long (just a sophomore), but has a great shot at POY. He does it all---kills, digs, blocks, and is a flexible "Mr. Gumby" when he gets down to the floor with his passing. He's destined to be a GREAT one, now and in the future. Costas has led Hawaii his 4 years, but the POY is for the present year. He didn't start too well in the season, but is coming on strong now. He is the driving force of UH, AND if he's on target, Hawaii will be tough to beat. However, if he's off on his game even a little, the team will flounder because UH goes the way of the Greek. I feel that depending on what team wins, that will determine the POY. It's a tight race right now. However, if they consider a "dancing" category for the POY...Costas will lose big time!  Also there are a number of other good players on many teams who could be considered, but so far this year, Rooney, Costas & Keenan are in a dominate class by themselves.  Pep's Fred Winters is also in that close class, but at times is overshadowed by Keenan & Rooney. What I like about Rooney, Costas, Keenan and Winters is their shared attitude...given their choice between the POY and a Chapionship Ring, each would choose the shared Championship Title. I see the POY as a player who leads his teammates and instills winning ways to all those around him...does anyone else want to nominate their worthy player? |
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Post by roy on Mar 18, 2003 5:07:02 GMT -5
Hey Roy, Right now, I feel it's a 3 way race between Costas, Rooney & Keenan. True, Keenan has been sharing the spotlight with Rooney & Winters this year, but he is pretty unstoppable when Pep needs him. He is the mainstay or heart of the team, and I'm sure all he wants is a National Championship before he graduates. Pepperdine is a very unselfish team with one purpose in mind...avenge last year's Final. Rooney has been pretty awesome all year long (just a sophomore), but has a great shot at POY. He does it all---kills, digs, blocks, and is a flexible "Mr. Gumby" when he gets down to the floor with his passing. He's destined to be a GREAT one, now and in the future. Costas has led Hawaii his 4 years, but the POY is for the present year. He didn't start too well in the season, but is coming on strong now. He is the driving force of UH, AND if he's on target, Hawaii will be tough to beat. However, if he's off on his game even a little, the team will flounder because UH goes the way of the Greek. I feel that depending on what team wins, that will determine the POY. It's a tight race right now. However, if they consider a "dancing" category for the POY...Costas will lose big time! Also there are a number of other good players on many teams who could be considered, but so far this year, Rooney, Costas & Keenan are in a dominate class by themselves. Pep's Fred Winters is also in that close class, but at times is overshadowed by Keenan & Rooney. What I like about Rooney, Costas, Keenan and Winters is their shared attitude...given their choice between the POY and a Chapionship Ring, each would choose the shared Championship Title. I see the POY as a player who leads his teammates and instills winning ways to all those around him...does anyone else want to nominate their worthy player? I completely agree with your assessment. Rooney and Keenan both have a shot at POY but being on the same team hurts them. Its all going to come down to which team advances. If both Pepperdine and Hawaii make it to the Final Four, it will be a hard decision. I wouldn't want to be a member voting for it because its too hard to call right now. One thing that favors Costas is the hype about being the first four time First Team AA. With the way the committee votes, I think it would be hard to deny him POY. Then again, Pepperdine has come on really strong and their record really makes it tough to deny them a POY as well. Right now, its really too close to tell. As a side note, thank goodness dancing and celebration is not part of the criteria for POY. Costas would have been ejected from the AA list all together. ;D |
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Post by diggger33 on Mar 18, 2003 9:31:34 GMT -5
I can't see how Keenan should be able to win POY. He doesn't play backrow. He is only playing half of the game. It's not his fault that he only plays front row but he has an affect in the game 4 rotations. He's a specialist, just like a libero is. I don't think POYs should be a specialist. The past POY winners have been players you DON'T take out of games. Theocharidis, Suxho, Roumain, Katz, Contreras, Nygaard, etc....
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Post by StanfordFan on Mar 18, 2003 10:58:10 GMT -5
Is men's POY chosen like the women's--right before the final match? Or do they actually wait to see who wins the final?
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Post by Intheknow on Mar 18, 2003 11:59:37 GMT -5
POY is announced at the All-American banquet scheduled for April 30.  |
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Post by VBCrusin on Mar 18, 2003 12:53:54 GMT -5
Hey Diggger33, You make an excellent point about a "specialist" being POY...it's too bad Keenan is an Middle Blocker who doesn't play backrow, but he could if needed. He is a pretty good outside hitter, but Pep needs him to dominate the blocking. Incidentally, specialist or not, Keenan won POY last year, and Rooney won the FOY.  I agree with Roy though...Rooney and Keenan playing on the same team takes away a lot for both of them for POY voting. Costas may have an edge there since he is the dominate one on his team.  |
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Post by Rollshot on Mar 18, 2003 13:13:04 GMT -5
In the NFL, everyone is a specialist. Nevertheless, usually the RB or QB, someone who scores points, wins POY or MVP. In the NBA, scorers win MVP. Same goes for soccer, water polo, and baseball. In baseball, because of low scores, someone who contributes to getting himself to base (batting %) or others to home (RBI) usually wins POY. Specialist or not, why should it be any different in volleyball? Scorers win, right or wrong. If Keenan, the specialist, can dominate in 3 or 4 rotations that he's in by scoring via kills and/or blocks, why shouldn't he win? He won last year. He could win it again this year.
However, the sentimental votes go to newcomer soph Rooney. Costas won 2 years ago. Keenan won last year. Why not give the new kid the prize this year?
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Post by kolohekeiki on Mar 18, 2003 15:34:44 GMT -5
In the NFL, everyone is a specialist. Nevertheless, usually the RB or QB, someone who scores points, wins POY or MVP. In the NBA, scorers win MVP. Same goes for soccer, water polo, and baseball. In baseball, because of low scores, someone who contributes to getting himself to base (batting %) or others to home (RBI) usually wins POY. Specialist or not, why should it be any different in volleyball? Scorers win, right or wrong. If Keenan, the specialist, can dominate in 3 or 4 rotations that he's in by scoring via kills and/or blocks, why shouldn't he win? He won last year. He could win it again this year. However, the sentimental votes go to newcomer soph Rooney. Costas won 2 years ago. Keenan won last year. Why not give the new kid the prize this year? All sports are different so that means they get judged by different criteria. You shouldn't base the awards on all sports because they are all played differently. I good player deserving of player of the year in volleyball should be an all-around player. That is just what coaches look for at the international level not just players that play half the time. Don't get me wrong Keenan is an awesome player but just that quality of not being able to play back row might take the award away from him. And if Keenan was good in the backrow he probably would stay in, because the libero doesn't have to go in for the middle blocker. He can go in for anyone on the court, so if Keenan really deserved to play backrow I'm pretty sure that he would be in there playing instead of the libero coming in for him. Just because Rooney is the sentimental favorite for the award for player of the year just because the other two won it already it doesn't mean he should win the award. Because this isn't called the sentimental player of the year award. It is the player of the year award and should go to the best deserving player on the sentimental favorite. And again yes Rooney is an excellent player, but he shouldn't win the award just because he is the sentimental favorite. But I agree with everyone who posted here that Costas Theocharidis, Brad Keenan and Sean Rooney are the top choices for player of the year. Because they are all above the rest of the players in the NCAA, but I would have to give Costas the edge at this point because of the reasons stated earlier that Costas is the main player on his team and is a complete player. Whoever wins this award between the three will be well deserving though, good luck to all. |
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Post by diggger33 on Mar 18, 2003 15:52:08 GMT -5
You can't really compare volleyball to the other sports because VB is so much different than are. In baseball, one person can't pitch and catch at the same time. In football one can't tackle and block during the same play.
But in volleyball, one person can play defense and put the ball away during the same rally. I just can't see giving a player POY when he only plays 50% of the game. If you want to use your baseball analogy, I can't ever see MLB giving MVP to a DH. A POY needs to be able to have an effect on the game 100% of the time.
I'm not saying Keenan isn't a good player but I think giving POY to a player who isn't allowed to play defense is a little embarrassing because it gives people the impression that hitting and blocking (i.e. the "most exciting parts of volleyball") are the only things that matter.
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Post by bangdown on Mar 18, 2003 15:57:12 GMT -5
BYU's Rafael Paal has to be close to the 3 mentioned above...He has the best serve in the conference and has to be leading in points scored.
Keenan---Great Blocker!
Rooney---Nice all-around player...doesn't block real well right now
Theocharidis---Good all-around player...hasn't done it all year
Winters---Good all-around player...can't pass
Pelzel---Too many off nights recently but a great end blocker with lots of range
Daubers---Brings it!..but doesn't have the consistency.
Nargi---Good attacker but avg. blocker
Thomas---An impact middle but immature..maybe next year.
Just thought I would throw that out since I think POY could come from a second or third place team....not sure.
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Post by Costas fan on Mar 18, 2003 16:42:17 GMT -5
just thought i would add Costas is averaging 5.55 kills per game while hitting .370 and leading the nation in points per game.
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Post by vballdoll on Mar 18, 2003 17:16:26 GMT -5
I am not writing this pro anybody as player of the year but I do think it is unfair to say that someone should not get POY because their position is middle blocker. If we are looking at the way the game is played, currently, at the college level, it is most common for the middle blocker, on any team, not just Pepperdine because “Keenan can’t play defense,” to be rotated out when the libero comes in, and they are then rotated back into the lineup with the next rotation. Yes it is true that teams don’t have to rotate the MB out, but it is also true that teams don’t have to utilize the libero position at all, but you never see that happening. Rotating the libero in for the MB is just how the game is currently being played.
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AsianThug
Freshman
"Everytime someone bites into a tofu burger, a soy bean screams in pain."-Etiquette For Outlaws
Posts: 50
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Post by AsianThug on Mar 18, 2003 20:10:12 GMT -5
no doubt Costas has it in the bag...2,000 kills..come on! |
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Post by vbdude on Mar 18, 2003 21:03:08 GMT -5
How can anyone say that a middle blocker can't win POY ( look at last year ) The reason most middles don't play back row isn't because they can't defend or hit but there are already up to 2 guys in the back row that can hit . Keenan can hit from the back row with the best of them , also don't underestimate the effect of a block on the opposing team and your own . POY also should be a team leader , Costas isn't even captain of his team, and when you see how he berates his teammates you know why!!!!!!!! Jonathon Alleman at BYU is also having a great year.
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Pep's Fred Winters is also in that close class, but at times is overshadowed by Keenan & Rooney. What I like about Rooney, Costas, Keenan and Winters is their shared attitude...given their choice between the POY and a Chapionship Ring, each would choose the shared Championship Title.
