|
Post by VolleyTX on Aug 3, 2012 23:29:04 GMT -5
Finally getting a chance to watch the match. Glad to see that he gave the starting spot to Hodge. A few thoughts though....
Where is the powerful approach and attack from the previous match? Hodge just kinda floats into the approach like she used to.... she doesn't fully swing through the ball. It is like her 2010 self came out to play. Not trying to bash Hodge here. She is a marvelous player. It all seems to be mental with her. If she could just bring out her aggressive attitude onto the court everytime..... she will shine. Even on defense and back row, she was fairly timid about jumping in to take the second ball on a poor pass or dig. Tom and Larson have developed a really good system. Even with Tom sometimes stealing a set that is very easy for Berg to get to.
|
|
|
Post by VolleyTX on Aug 3, 2012 23:34:15 GMT -5
Its amazing to me how many free points USA is getting this tournament on opponent service errors. Obviously teams are trying to get them out of system with tough serving, but I sure hope the errors keep coming.
|
|
|
Post by evylha on Aug 4, 2012 0:19:29 GMT -5
do you have a link to watch the replay? that is besides, NBC, thanks!
|
|
|
Post by VolleyTX on Aug 4, 2012 0:21:50 GMT -5
I'm in Singapore right now..... so hopefully you can watch it here. Good quality video.
|
|
|
Post by evylha on Aug 4, 2012 0:31:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the link but it says unavailable in my country so sad~ thanks anyway~
|
|
|
Post by BeiBei on Aug 4, 2012 2:19:17 GMT -5
I'm in Singapore right now..... so hopefully you can watch it here. Good quality video. . I am in Singapore too. Gotta miss this match cos I could not wake up at 3am to watch this game. Thanks for the link!!
|
|
|
Post by nothingbutcorn on Aug 4, 2012 8:05:10 GMT -5
Hodges up and down play is what keeps her behind Larson. I had a feeling this would happen.
|
|
|
Post by midnightblue on Aug 4, 2012 8:22:13 GMT -5
Foluke, aside from blocking, is not having a very good tournament offensively.. and I don't think it's all Berg.
|
|
|
Post by MarsH on Aug 4, 2012 10:25:26 GMT -5
do you have a link to watch the replay? that is besides, NBC, thanks! Try tv.voleybolx.com/
|
|
|
Post by Reach on Aug 4, 2012 10:54:17 GMT -5
Foluke, aside from blocking, is not having a very good tournament offensively.. and I don't think it's all Berg. Scott is the only middle who has been good at both hitting and blocking. I think we'll see a lot of switching between Scott/Harmotto. Foluke has struggled on the slide, which is confusing as that is something she is generally the best at.
|
|
|
Post by volleytology on Aug 4, 2012 12:09:30 GMT -5
Doesn't matter who we play in the crossover, we are the best team in the world. Throwing matches for a better matchup is loser talk and I guarantee this coaching staff doesn't think like losers
|
|
|
Post by aced on Aug 4, 2012 18:30:06 GMT -5
Are we really having this discussion in light of the recent badmitton controversy? Does volleyball have a different set of ethics? I don't think letting Turkey win 2 sets to send Brazil home is unethical. Unsportsmanlike? Sure. But the US would be sandbagging as a strategy to improve their chances of winning the gold medal, that's just strategy. It's like an NFL or NBA team tanking late in the season once homefield or homecourt advantage is locked up so that they can negatively affect a rival, divisional opponent, or a potentially tough match-up. Personally, I think what happened to those badminton teams was unfortunate. They weren't throwing matches to win wagers, they did it to secure an easier path toward winning gold. It's perfectly logical and if trying to win is the expressed purpose of competing, competitors should be able to employ any strategy. That said, I don't think Brazil is all that scary to be worth implementing that strategy, and I certainly don't think Hugh would ever do it anyway. As others have said, USA the #1 ranked team in the world, and they should act like it and not be afraid of anyone. Just take care of business and beat everyone put in front of them. Well Ithink this is an interesting topic - when is purposely tanking a match ok and when is it unsportsmanlike? I don't see much difference between what the badmiton players did and playing a bench you know will lose. I agree starters need a rest - if you can give it to them and not lose the match in the meantime. I think the general opinion in the sports world is you always do your best to win regardless otherwise what is the point - unless you are fixing games for some ulterior motive - interesting discussion on this on NPR John Madden said his proudest moment in football was not using this strategy to place his team in a more advantageous position in one of the playoffs-don't remember the specifics just that he made this decision based on his "morals" and never regreted it.
|
|
|
Post by Pirate VB Fan on Aug 4, 2012 19:00:23 GMT -5
I don't think we should "throw" the match, but I also think we should take the opportunity to start those players that normally don't start. Let Court set, Tama play libero, etc. Those are players that demolished better teams than Turkey in the WGP. It does not matter if we were to lose, but I think any starting 7 we put out there would be favored over Turkey and with a game to "waste" it would be nice to start the others.
|
|
|
Post by mikegarrison on Aug 4, 2012 19:01:45 GMT -5
I don't think we should "throw" the match, but I also think we should take the opportunity to start those players that normally don't start. Let Court set, Tama play libero, etc. Those are players that demolished better teams than Turkey in the WGP. It does not matter if we were to lose, but I think any starting 7 we put out there would be favored over Turkey and with a game to "waste" it would be nice to start the others. It's subtle, but this is entirely legitimate. Intentionally losing is not.
|
|
|
Post by c4ndlelight on Aug 4, 2012 20:48:30 GMT -5
What if we threw the match, not because we fear Brazil, but just out of spite?
|
|