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Post by zip15 on Feb 26, 2007 14:41:03 GMT -5
That was Ohio State in the quarters that they hung with
They beat VT in the round of 16.
OSU was another suprise, going from HM in the polls to sliding into the semis.
They had a bit of an easy path, getting Wright State in the quarters. Texas A+M was a good win early Sunday for them though.
The top 4-5 teams (with or without UCF) feel like their a good jump above everyone else. Most of those teams were barely challenged until they found each other Sunday afternoon.
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Post by iu12345 on Feb 26, 2007 14:45:04 GMT -5
So many things to reply to:
1. Wright State played Ohio State in the quarterfinals and played close only in the 2nd game. Wright St. is no longer affiliated with MIVA and doesn't intend to go to nationals. The play as a USAV in the Dayton, OH area. Makes me wonder whether some or any of their players are even college students at Wright St. Safe to say that they won't be invited back next year despite their strong showing unless they intend to be a part of the club volleyball circuit in the future.
2. I have no affiliation with Oshkosh and I don't know their guys all that well, but Mike Semrad is a nice guy who acted out of character in the Illinois match. Since no one has posted what really happened, I'll give it a shot. In Game one with the score close in the teens, he and Doug Burchette of Illinois both landed near the center line on each other's feet. No one was hurt, but the two exchanged some heated words (which was funny beacuse Mike is literally twice Doug's size). The 1st official, who I won't name, verbally warned both of them. Two points later, Illinois passed a pretty tight ball that Burchette went to set. Mike tried to block the ball and Doug made what I thought was a nice play setting the ball into Mike's hands to get the call. Mike clearly disagreed and immediatley looked to the 1st official and screamed something along the lines of "I didn't even touch the g*d d**m ball!" Immediately the red card was given and then after consulting with the 2nd official, both a red and yellow was given and he was kicked out of the match. No one complained too much (not Mike or the coach from Oshkosh). They subbed in a backup middle and won the game, then took the 2nd game as well. It was a lose lose situation for Illinois. You either play against Semrad who is a beast or you play an Oshkosh team with a chip on their shoulder on an emotional high. It was a well played match to say the least.
3. I want to post what I would consider my predicted Top 25 after seeing most teams play this weekend, but I will start a new thread so the Hooiser-Illini thread can be put to rest.
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Post by jas1vans on Feb 26, 2007 15:04:33 GMT -5
Quickly before I go to sleep, (typing papers last night, practice tonight) I caught the tail end of Arizona and UCF and thought the last game and a half was great...but you won't win a tourney if you shoot your wad in winning the quarterfinal match (not that I'd know from club experience). You have to win that match and get off the court because your day isn't done yet. After I saw Oshkosh lay Notre Dame down I figured they'd win the tourney (I was right Will). I'll admit that UWO/Notre Dame didn't have the same high flying antics and jaw dropping plays of AZ/UCF, but UWO knows how to win tournaments, they've been doing it for a few years now.
As for how Oshkosh acts on the court, big deal. I'm a loud mouthed cocky prick too, but only UWO realy gets on me for that because they give it right back. They get easier wins because people get frustrated when they yell, dance, tackle each other, etc. If you're busy thinking about all that, you're not thinking about where they hit that ball around your blocker, where they set up the block on you, etc.
I will almost guarantee that the ref that kicked Semrad out was the mostly bald guy with the grey slicked back hair. He is so inconsistant and applies the most insignificant of rules at the oddest times, like threatening a yellow card if one of my guys didn't hurry up and take his ipod earbuds out during warmups.
RonMexico, I'll agree that UWM is a mediocre team, but I think we should've won the pool. That's because I'm too cocky and never do anything wrong. Not to take anything away from anyone else in that pool, but when the 4th place team in the pool beats the first place it tells you something. I see my guys in practice and hold them to the high standards that I see they can play at. Unfortunately we can't get everyone to consistantly bring their best week in and week out much less consecutive practices.
Penn State lost to us because of coaching. He's a nice enough guy and good for him for giving his time to the team, but it seemed like he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by making a move. I served out our two wins in that match picking on the same player, not until I had gotten three points on him and tied the third game 12-12 did he even attempt to make a change.
Wish I could have seen more of the tournament, but I had too much work to do.
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Post by iu12345 on Feb 26, 2007 15:09:32 GMT -5
That was not the official who kicked Semrad out. The official who did so is and has been a good official for a long time.
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Post by Fire4IU on Feb 26, 2007 16:05:44 GMT -5
First off, thank you to everyone who attended the Hoosier Illini Classic this year. It was another great experience, and it is a joy to host so many teams and see so much great volleyball.
So I will start with what I think is the biggest story of the tournament, and that is Central Flordia. Put simply - that is a legit team. They battled a very talented Arizona squad. A couple service errors too many I think cost them, because they proved they could battle the Zona block at the net. Great passing and outsides marks the team, and their outside combo has to be the tops in the nation. So fun to watch.
Oshkosh, Illinois, and Arizona have claimed their place as powers once again. Even with the losses to Oshkosh, don't be fooled, both the Illini and the Wildcats will compete for the national championship.
The Lakeland/Illinois match was the most entertaining match I got to see aside from Zona/UCF.
The middle of the pack is strong this year and anyone can beat anyone. I have experienced a lot of the losing end of that thus far unfortunately.
The All-Star Game was funny and was highlighted by spur of the moment rule changes, and the ever popular off the bench attacks. Will Smith even got his this year, taking a brief break from MCing to put a ball away.
Now for some off the court assessments... Purdue gets the "most fun team on Saturday night" award for showing up in full force at the HIC Party at ParknHunter. And in a surprising turn of events, Arizona receives the "most fun team on Sunday night" award as they spent most of the night learning how to drink Indiana style playing some Sink the Biz.
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Post by stupidmiddle on Feb 26, 2007 16:10:54 GMT -5
Quickly before I go to sleep, (typing papers last night, practice tonight) I caught the tail end of Arizona and UCF and thought the last game and a half was great...but you won't win a tourney if you shoot your wad in winning the quarterfinal match (not that I'd know from club experience). You have to win that match and get off the court because your day isn't done yet. Did you happen to catch the Arizona/Ohio St semi? |
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Post by mucads6 on Feb 26, 2007 16:41:14 GMT -5
i watched the first game of the arizona/ohio st. game when arizona absolutely destroyed ohio st. they won that match 25-9 and totally overpowered ohio st. ohio st. didn't play terribly either, arizona just played really really well. Their block was huge that game, either roofing every swing by ohio st. or getting touches to make it easy for their defense to get up. The middles were just overpowering that game, as well. after that match, i thought that they were going to role through whoever they played in the final, but props to oshkosh for coming out winning like that.
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Post by palo on Feb 27, 2007 11:02:16 GMT -5
So here's the real question who won the bounce contest? And who made the all Star teams? Wish Burchette would have beat up Semrad (just to send a message).  |
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Post by peluche on Feb 27, 2007 11:26:16 GMT -5
No bounce contest...
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Post by iu12345 on Feb 27, 2007 14:35:19 GMT -5
For the 1st year in the event's history, the bounce contest was cancelled due to a lack of interest. Basically, no one had signed up by about 5 PM, so we canned it. Like the NBA Dunk Contest a few years ago, which was eliminated for 2-3 years (1997-ish), I expect the event to make a full recovery when a few people get some good ideas.
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Post by iu12345 on Feb 27, 2007 14:36:19 GMT -5
Hey Peluche, where is your outside from? I'm talking about the one who swings righty and lefty with longer hair. Number 7 I want to say. Arturo...
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Post by peluche on Feb 27, 2007 14:44:38 GMT -5
He's from Orlando...played for Ball State one year as DS/L. He's a jr. now...
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Post by lefty85 on Feb 27, 2007 15:16:36 GMT -5
the setter from UCF has great hands. One of the best setters in the country from this past weekend. Very deceptive. who are the top setters in the country?
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Post by JB Southpaw on Feb 27, 2007 15:24:37 GMT -5
the setter from UCF has great hands. One of the best setters in the country from this past weekend. Very deceptive. who are the top setters in the country? Word. |
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Post by muoh61010 on Feb 27, 2007 16:45:47 GMT -5
in my opinion, andrew sedarberg from oshkosh has to be the best setter in the country. he makes everyone on that oshkosh squad that much better, not to mention a 2nd place and 1st place finish at nationals in 2005 and 2006, respectively. chris walstra from illinois also has some pretty sick hands. i got to watch ala, UCF's setter, this past weekend, and let me say that he is definitely up there as well. he set a D ball this past weekend in the quarters against 'zona that made jaws drop. i don't know about the top hands out west (considering 'zona is the only team from the west that i've seen), but i have played against their current setter, and he is money...very deceptive as well.
any other opinions?
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