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Post by paloalto on Dec 13, 2010 19:42:42 GMT -5
Hmmm.... Klineman, Ailes, and Lichtman. Hooker, Kisner, and Engle? And now we see the Longhorns in the Final Four, again. Perhaps the rumors of Stanford's death (11 months in advance) are greatly exaggerated? FYI, the only reason why texas is back in the final four is due to faucette & company which I would rate higher than williams & company, spelman & company, wopat & company, bai & company, other wopat & company, cook & company... you get my point. You are kinda down on Stanford for next year. Well, you might be right. |
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Post by paloalto on Dec 13, 2010 19:44:47 GMT -5
and a debacle in 2011 recruitment? It is my understanding Stanford was recruiting two other players in addition to Boukather, but they didn’t get through admissions. That happens. I wouldn’t describe it as a debacle. No coach gets everyone he recruits. But yeah, some might see 2011 as a little disappointing. Hopefully the 2012 class will be back on target. |
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 13, 2010 19:55:44 GMT -5
I'm tired of reading all this stuff about moving Carly Wopat to the outside. First of all, she's the best middle they have. Walker can't block (although her offensive game was very impressive during the tournament), Charlotte Brown has been injured for three years straight, and Browne just tore her ACL. They've got enough OH who could fill in nicely and besides, I don't think her armswing is fit for playing out there.
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Post by hammer on Dec 13, 2010 20:46:47 GMT -5
correction - i think their primary competition will be against cal, usc & ucla. I stated the way I did because I think USC is a lock for #1 assuming all their big guns don't get injured (Jupiter, Williams, FF). The real race will be for #2 in the conference. |
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Post by baywatcher on Dec 13, 2010 20:59:13 GMT -5
If C. Wopat hits a good pipe shot and can play decent backrow defense, leave her in all the way around as a MB and libero for one of the OH instead. Probably won't happen but spring is the time to give it a try.
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Post by spalding on Dec 13, 2010 21:08:38 GMT -5
I, for one, do not think the faster offense worked as well as expected for Stanford. As good as the players are on the Stanford team, they still do not have the athleticism and technique to fully utilize the advantage of this system. Setting was a big issue as we've seen for too many times those terrible 'low sets' which were totally not hittable. They could have been perfect high balls so Klineman/Lichtman could at least have the chance to take a descent swing. If you think about it you don't see that many miscues in transition for Cal, PSU, etc. It cost the Cardinal so many points in the Regional final and it's really frustrating. I do think coach Dunning should ask the girls to hit the weight room more... No firepower on the outside and you know roll shots are NOT going to work all the time... I would love to see Klineman on the NT but she will have to bring some heat to her shots. I don't think her ball placement will work at the international level. And for blocking. This is something Stanford should really work on. So many times they just put their hands up for other teams to tool at will (see the match against UCLA). I remember CSU got like 5 or 6 points in the first set just by hitting a high ball through the BIG GAP in the double block. It is unacceptable to see that again and again when you have plenty of time to close the block... (It was nice to see them adjusted to that in set 2 and 3 though.) At least Cal almost never let that happen in the matches I saw them playing. Either you hit over my block, or your pass and set is good enough to beat my double block. I'm probably a pessimistic.  It just seems to me that Stanford is playing the 'softest' volleyball of all the teams in the elite 8, more strategic stuff than firmly based techniques and athleticism. I do not think it helps the players in the long run (if they don't know how to put their hands over the net and close the block!). I do hope coach Dunning could prove me wrong. Disagree about the offense. This team led the nation in hitting % and set an all time school record for hitting %. Whatever they were doing worked even when running a 6-2 which makes it all that much harder. I do agree about the blocking. There needs to be huge strides made here if they are going to compete for their sixth straight Pac-10 championship. |
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Post by bigfan on Dec 13, 2010 21:10:11 GMT -5
Stanford will reload as they always do and will be in the ruuning to make the FF.
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Post by hammer on Dec 13, 2010 21:17:48 GMT -5
Setting was a big issue as we've seen for too many times those terrible 'low sets' which were totally not hittable. I do think coach Dunning should ask the girls to hit the weight room more... No firepower on the outside And for blocking. This is something Stanford should really work on. Some good points in your post IMO. Some of the setting issues are related to using the 6-2. The setter in the 5-1 handles twice as many balls so it allows them to get into a better rhythm with their hitters. I'm almost sure Dunning and staff have worked out weight training regimens that are player specific. For example, look at Haley Spelman year one versus year two. As I've stated in another post, I expect Rachel Williams to come in next season looking stronger, leaner, and more explosive. Blocking has been an issue for Dunning coached teams versus those of Don Shaw. A few years ago Dunning tried swing blocking, but then reverted back to standard placement blocking. The loss of Stephanie Browne really hurt against USC IMO. FF and The Planet would have had fewer kills and more balls would have been soft blocked. |
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Post by hammer on Dec 13, 2010 21:29:24 GMT -5
somehow Dunning always seems to turn out something good every year I wouldn't be surprised if they shock some teams next year! Here is an interesting fact (one that has probably been mentioned before). Dunning have never won a championship solely with players that he has recruited. Every championship he has won has had players that were recruited and trained by the previous coach. But with a little luck, Dunning might have won Championships in 2006 and 2007. Both years they were in the finals, one in Nebraska's back yard (3-1 loss), and the other a 3-2 loss to PSU where the out-pointed the winner. The 2008 team was pretty loaded also, but PSU was Uber-loaded. |
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Post by midnightblue on Dec 14, 2010 14:32:32 GMT -5
I really wish Charlotte Brown would take a medical. She has been injured ever since she got to Stanford and is sitting on a scholarship that could be used to bring in some top talent.
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Post by Sbilo on Dec 14, 2010 21:17:36 GMT -5
burgess? howard? bugg? ajanaku? wade? sary? i thought they only had 2 scholarships available? can someone correct me if i'm wrong? From what I understand, they will have 3 scholarships available for 2011. Boukather gets one. [ I don't know with Lydia Bai's situation though.] But the year after that, Stephanie Browne will graduate as well adding another scholie...That's 3! I'm guessing, Burgess, Top setter (maybe Bugg) and Howard will probably be those players...though Stanford will be ultra thin in MB position with C. Wopat, JWalk and C. Brown. |
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Post by Sbilo on Dec 14, 2010 21:20:32 GMT -5
I would like to see Stanford get another #1 recruit in the coming years. Could 2012 be the year? I am assuming the #1 recruit will either be Lawless, Howard, Burgess or Mccage (UT commit) |
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Post by pepperbrooks on Dec 14, 2010 21:22:54 GMT -5
I think UCLA is going to factor much more largely in the recruiting process in the future. And obviously Cal is going to get a ton of attention with the year they're having. Stanford might not get those big names by default anymore.
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Post by StuffU on Dec 14, 2010 21:26:38 GMT -5
I really wish Charlotte Brown would take a medical. She has been injured ever since she got to Stanford and is sitting on a scholarship that could be used to bring in some top talent. Can't say I'm a fan of this viewpoint unless we are converting NCAA D1 volleyball to a certified professional sport. |
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 14, 2010 21:46:12 GMT -5
Wait, is Bai getting a scholarship next year or not?
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It just seems to me that Stanford is playing the 'softest' volleyball of all the teams in the elite 8, more strategic stuff than firmly based techniques and athleticism. I do not think it helps the players in the long run (if they don't know how to put their hands over the net and close the block!). I do hope coach Dunning could prove me wrong.
