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Post by MarsH on Dec 30, 2011 20:32:06 GMT -5
I have to admit to being somewhat ignorant regarding most of the players on Carli's team. Is her team that good? Out of 11 matches, they've not lost one! Seven of them have been sweeps. Is her team so good that just about any decent setter would find success? Or, do you think Carli is having a break out moment? I'm not an expert either about her team although I do try to keep tabs on the USA players and leagues that interest me. Busto Arsizio has some NT-level type players, captained by the Czech star Helena Havelkova. Christina Bauer (FRA) is a strong middle blocker and Giulia Lenordi (ITA) is a talented young libero. It's not a team composed of all-stars, but it's a team with good balance and it works. They've got two young setters. The club's other setter, Caraca Valeria (born 1987) is talented and was playing very well in setting the team to a 3-0 record before Lloyd joined the team. Other contributing factors for Busto Arsizio's rise in the rankings are the disappointing performances of the usual quality teams like Bergamo, Pesaro and Modena, who have the bigger name players but have not played to their level. Other teams are stricken with financial difficulties like Novara, Spes Conegliano and Chieri. Overall the quality of the Italian teams have gone down, in my opinion. Usually Italian teams are always in the running to win CEV Champions League, but I can't think of an Italian team that I would choose to be a favorite to even advance to this year's Final 4. Even Villa Cortese has looked vulnerable and they were the early season favorites to win in the Italian league. The decline in the quality of the Italian league shouldn't take away from Busto Arsizio's success this first half of the season. And being undefeated so far is an accomplishment. I think even with the other setter (Caraca) playing, Busto could have been successful (like I said, Busto were playing pretty well with Caraca before Lloyd came). I do think Lloyd has done well for them though and raised their game. They like the feet, they like the head and they like her personality. We'll see if she can set the team to win championships but so far, Lloyd's had a pretty good two months in Italy. |
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Post by MarsH on Jan 2, 2012 4:48:43 GMT -5
Unfortunate news for Italy's Spes Conegliano. The club has announced that they are shutting down due to financial issues. If Kristin Richards wants to sign with a new team, she will be free to do so. As an update, Kristin Richards has joined another Italian club, Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza. They are currently ranked 4th in the league. This is also the club Nicole Davis plays for. www.legavolleyfemminile.it/NewsLeggi.asp?id=102414 |
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Post by Pallavolo on Jan 3, 2012 21:53:43 GMT -5
Other contributing factors for Busto Arsizio's rise in the rankings are the disappointing performances of the usual quality teams like Bergamo, Pesaro and Modena, who have the bigger name players but have not played to their level. Other teams are stricken with financial difficulties like Novara, Spes Conegliano and Chieri. Most of the foreign and italian stars have left. And I agree. The big names who have stayed in Italy aren't performing. Aguero in Modena and Piccinini in Bergamo are on the decline hitting 28% and 23% efficiency. Ortolani in Pesaro (29%) is still inconsistent. Villa Cortese and Modena sound like there are problems within the team. Bergamo wants a new setter. Pesaro got a new coach but are still down in the rankings at 8th in the league. More coaches will get fired if these teams don't start playing better. More sponsors will pull out of volleyball if they don't get better results. More teams will close down without funding. Less money means fewer top players will stay in the league. This year and the next few years could be bad for the Italian league. |
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Post by MarsH on Jan 3, 2012 23:02:24 GMT -5
Kim Willoughby may be returning to professional volleyball. Her 2-year volleyball suspension from FIVB ended half a year ago.
As far as her legal situation goes, she has so far completed 2.5 years of the 5-year probation sentence starting July 2009 and seems to have been granted an exception to allow her to play professionally out of the country.
No news yet on what team in Russia she may join.
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Post by vball20 on Jan 4, 2012 8:34:19 GMT -5
thanks Marsh for those updates. That's why I love volleytalk =)
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Post by vball20 on Jan 4, 2012 10:23:16 GMT -5
Scott to play for São Bernardo in Brazil.
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Post by Shenro on Jan 5, 2012 2:33:45 GMT -5
I'm catching up on some Champions League matches. Spicer looked good. Tom is playing opposite? |
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Post by midnightblue on Jan 5, 2012 2:41:01 GMT -5
I'm catching up on some Champions League matches. Spicer looked good. Tom is playing opposite? Tom also not in the passing rotation...hmmmmm.. |
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Post by Shenro on Jan 5, 2012 2:57:38 GMT -5
I'm catching up on some Champions League matches. Spicer looked good. Tom is playing opposite? Tom also not in the passing rotation...hmmmmm.. Tom is receiving as an opposite in this match I'm watching. |
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Post by MarsH on Jan 5, 2012 3:21:12 GMT -5
It depends on Fenerbahce's rotation. From watching their matches, Tom receives as an opposite always when she is left front, sometimes when she is right front and usually when backrow.
They've used Tom either as opposite or outside hitter in Champions League.
Tom is exclusively as an outside hitter in Turkish League.
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Post by vball20 on Jan 5, 2012 9:27:41 GMT -5
Tom may earn lots of money in Turkey, but she's just wasting her time on the bench.  |
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jan 5, 2012 9:35:03 GMT -5
Tom may earn lots of money in Turkey, but she's just wasting her time on the bench. Man, I wish I got a new job this year where I earned more money for less work. |
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Post by bk4mor on Jan 6, 2012 2:20:24 GMT -5
What position is she?
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Post by nativevolley on Jan 6, 2012 16:48:23 GMT -5
Does anyone know or have news about Akinradewo with her club team? Like any videos, pictures, etc... Com'on now I know you know.. please... :-) ha ha!
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Post by Reach on Jan 6, 2012 17:30:08 GMT -5
Does anyone know or have news about Akinradewo with her club team? Like any videos, pictures, etc... Com'on now I know you know.. please... :-) ha ha! It was hard to get video of Dinamo Krasnador last year when Barboza played. I haven't seen anything this year. LAOLA is great, but they don't' show everything. |
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