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Post by bigfan on Jun 24, 2019 21:41:01 GMT -5
It feels like an NCAA tournament already during preseason already. ..............at least Texas gets a big beat down right off the bat. |
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Post by huskerjen on Jun 24, 2019 21:47:44 GMT -5
Do you really care? The only thing that matters is winning the conference and national title. Given Stanford's roster, having a grueling road-heavy schedule in the non-con should pay dividends toward winning the matches that really matter. They might run the table anyway, but in the end, their record is meaningless unless they're getting fitted for rings at season's end. They have a great schedule for the "iron sharpens iron" effect. I do care from this perspective. There is a good deal of parity in volleyball. I expect 3 or 4 losses, possibly 5. Stanford had some good fortune to come back at the end of sets last year to win matches. I don’t expect it to happen all the time this year even though on paper the team looks a little stronger overall. A loss to a team outside the top 50 in RPI could be a tipping point to keep Stanford out of a #1 regional seed. I assume you don’t care at all if Nebraska loses to High Point or Denver. Losing to High Point or Denver is a little different. However, I don't care if Nebraska loses to Stanford, in fact, I expect it. It's more than worth it to give Nebraska's newbies some high quality seasoning before the conference, and eventually the tourney, starts. |
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Post by Disc808 on Jun 24, 2019 21:48:14 GMT -5
This is very, very stupid, and I don't think you're a stupid person, so I assume this post is your poorly-veiled attempt to exhibit some faux-caution vs. cockiness about the wrecking ball that is Stanford 2019. I mean, seriously: Stanford has lost five times in the last two seasons combined, and you think they're going to lose five times in the first four weeks of 2019 despite returning every starter but one, three of whom are First-Team All-Americans? C'mon. You aren't fooling anyone. Thanks, but you don’t understand my comment. I don’t expect Stanford to lose 3 or 4 matches in pre-conference. I expect the team may lose 3 or 4 matches over the course of the season. There were many close sets last season in conference. Stanford managed to come through when they needed to. I don’t think they do it every time this season.
As one example, at Oregon State last year Stanford lost the first set and didn’t look good at all. At the time OSU was 0-9 in conference. Of course Stanford came back to win the match. You would have had to watch all of Stanford’s matches as I did to see it was a struggle many times to win on the road in conference. Plummer had off games. Every player except Hentz had off games. I’m really going to miss Hentz after this season. Umm did you watch Hentz vs BYU? |
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Post by paloalto on Jun 24, 2019 21:55:19 GMT -5
Yeah, that was one match she wasn't at her best. But it does support the idea players are human and have off nights.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 24, 2019 23:58:16 GMT -5
Uhhmmm - I don't know about anybody else - do not know their experiences (or absence of experience) - when I played, we were always focused on the present: NOT any past "demons". Inky put it best: "Next point!". Morgan Hentz, in her interview w/ Holly Rowe, said, "...and just taking it one point at a time...and going after it". In my experience, who cares about any past difficulties (IF you learn from them): it's sports; it is competition....Things happen, both good and bad. No coach; no players; no team is perfect. But, you can seek, and attain, excellence! My God, the reigning National Champs; really losing only Alade; with Gates, Kipp, Baird, Berty et al joining the core roster? I anticipate a great year.
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Post by ay2013 on Jun 25, 2019 1:03:07 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch.
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Post by wonderwarthog79 on Jun 25, 2019 2:11:56 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch. Does this make sense to anybody except the author? I guess, to answer that question, I would need to know more about Gray's "down play," her consistency, and all the ways she is "by no means bad." |
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Jun 25, 2019 3:02:37 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch. The key though is how recovered is Xu from her injury? I don't expect her to unseat Gray at all even if she weren't injured, but it would be nice to have Gray be pushed in practice. |
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Post by Sbilo on Jun 25, 2019 6:15:19 GMT -5
Remind me again guys.. I should be able to buy tickets on the venue (Maples Pavilion) on the same day before the match without any problems right?
I’m not good at purchasing tickets online TBH lol
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Post by wonderwarthog79 on Jun 25, 2019 11:11:55 GMT -5
Remind me again guys.. I should be able to buy tickets on the venue (Maples Pavilion) on the same day before the match without any problems right? I’m not good at purchasing tickets online TBH lol Depends on what kind of tickets you want. General Admission tickets are no problem. Reserved tickets are usually only available in the really crappy sections, like 5. |
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Post by bigfan on Jun 25, 2019 12:18:43 GMT -5
Remind me again guys.. I should be able to buy tickets on the venue (Maples Pavilion) on the same day before the match without any problems right? I’m not good at purchasing tickets online TBH lol I always buy tickets at the arena when I go. Never a problem getting in. |
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Post by wiscvball on Jun 25, 2019 12:30:09 GMT -5
Yikes... likely 6 teams ranked in the top 10 in their pre-season schedule. That's a beast. Interesting that most of the top teams they play have either turnover (BYU, Minnesota, PSU, Florida - half) or turmoil (Texas) at the setter position. Only Nebraska appears to be settled at that position going into the year.
Also will be some really good non-con libero matchups - Hentz vs. Lake, McGraw, White. All four could be All-Americans next year.
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Post by hammer on Jun 25, 2019 12:31:38 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch. Does this make sense to anybody except the author? I guess, to answer that question, I would need to know more about Gray's "down play," her consistency, and all the ways she is "by no means bad." Typically Gray has a better 2nd match on a Pac-12 weekend (usually Friday/Sunday). Gray is not a pro, has limited practice, and has a class workload. When a setter is off, even a little, it is more noticeable because they are in on almost all offensive plays. IMO Xu will get some playing time in cleanup situations just to prepare her for 2020. |
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Post by Cruz'n on Jun 25, 2019 12:37:35 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch. I appreciate your opinion, and that of anyone else. But I totally disagree, regarding Gray. At no point in any match during the season would I have pulled Gray, if I were Hambly. Her decision making, as well as her leadership, is top-notch, and never dipped nor had an off night. Sure she can miss her location sometimes, but not to an extent that she was playing poorly or needed to be pulled. But thanks for confirming my suspicions that she is somehow still underrated by many. I'm dumbfounded. She is a winner; we are so incredibly fortunate to have her; she will be missed after next season. In any case, very happy to have a capable backup in Xu. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 13:21:36 GMT -5
I think one of the most underrated additions to this team is Xu. She's a VERY capable setter. Stanford did VERY well last year, but I do think that, as people have pointed out, Stanford did go through some down play. I recently rewatched a number of Pac-12 and NCAA tournament matches and sometimes the most obvious issue for Stanford was the setting. I don't know if Hambly is the type to yank a setter, but Gray really isn't the most consistent setter out there. She's by no means bad, far from it, but I think that next to establishing a replacement for Alade, the setting is probably the next thing that keeps this team from REALLY being that unstoppable train like the PSU 08 team. Xu really does give Stanford a capable second option should Gray hit a bad patch. I appreciate your opinion, and that of anyone else. But I totally disagree, regarding Gray. At no point in any match during the season would I have pulled Gray, if I were Hambly. Her decision making, as well as her leadership, is top-notch, and never dipped nor had an off night. Sure she can miss her location sometimes, but not to an extent that she was playing poorly or needed to be pulled. But thanks for confirming my suspicions that she is somehow still underrated by many. I'm dumbfounded. She is a winner; we are so incredibly fortunate to have her; she will be missed after next season. In any case, very happy to have a capable backup in Xu. That quote - in purple - is from an anti-Stanford pot-stirrer/ troll. I presume that his violet tendencies are from sheer envy....8 NC's to 1. A self-bestowed 'expert', who in this case is So far off-the-mark as to be laughable-pitiable. Gray has ONLY: 1) led the team to three straight FF's; 2) two NC's; 3) is a 3x AA, 2x First Teamer; 4) 2x P-12 Setter of the Year; 2x NCAA Final Four All-tourney Team; et cetera. Yeah, Kevin Hambly's just gotta yank her + put in an untested freshman! JOKE. |
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