So...What's next for Team USA?

[nothingbutcorn]

Well Foluke, and Hooker are getting married at some point. Larson may take some time off after her pro season. So we will could have a good chance to see some new faces next year.

[Mocha]

Aug 11, 2012 18:22:48 GMT -5 nothingbutcorn said:

Well Foluke, and Hooker are getting married at some point...

To each other?

[jagdpanther]

Can we really beat Brazil in Rio in 2016? I mean, do we have to wait until 2020 for our next real chance at v-ball gold?

[nothingbutcorn]

OK - Let me correct this that Hooker talked about her soon to be husband not really OK with her ESPN body shoot. Foluke on twitter has talked about her boyfriend. So no, not to each other.

[nothingbutcorn]

I think we can (beat Brazil in Rio) but we must build on the foundation Hugh has put in place. It will be up to the next coaches and players to take it to the next level which is World Cup Gold and then Olympic Gold.

[Not Me]

#1 find a coach.
#2 name a coach quickly - don't wait until next spring.

#3 - figure out the players in 3 3/4 years.

You don't know who the best players will be until right before the olympics. Players get better, get old, and get hurt. Who knows.

We all thought Bown was a lock to be a starting middle 6 months ago...

[UCDVolley]

I really hope that Tom will consider to play one more Olympics. The team simply needs someone like her.

[Pirate VB Fan]

I thought Courtney had the best game of any of the US players today.

[sistahsledge]

Aug 11, 2012 20:20:56 GMT -5 UCDVolley said:

I really hope that Tom will consider to play one more Olympics. The team simply needs someone like her.

USA sure needs someone "like" Logan Tom in 2016, but I don't think it's going to be her. She was All-World in '08 but she now shows only flashes of her former offensive skills. Add another four years of wear and tear to her knees and shoulder... won't be pretty. Remember Kemner in '96 and Cross-Battle in '04? I'd hate to see Logan in that position, even as an "honorary" gesture. A player like her comes around once in a generation. Hopefully there's another phenom somewhere in a high school gym with her physical gifts and volleyball IQ.

[baldyballer]

Time to train glass or a blocking setter. I've been on this board for many years saying Berg was not good enough. We have the best front line in volleyball. Now let's get some setting and defense.

[OverAndUnder]

Aug 11, 2012 20:48:40 GMT -5 Pirate VB Fan said:

I thought Courtney had the best game of any of the US players today.

The ironic smiley face in your post didn't come through.

[OverAndUnder]

Aug 11, 2012 22:18:17 GMT -5 baldyballer said:

Time to train glass or a blocking setter. I've been on this board for many years saying Berg was not good enough. We have the best front line in volleyball. Now let's get some setting and defense.

We have "the best front line in volleyball" because we've had an awesome setter to get the ball to them. You may have heard of her; her name is Lindsey Berg. Did the gold medal winners have a blocking setter? The bronze? The 4th place team?

Sure, it would be great to have a setter as good as Berg who also happened to be 6'3", but that has nothing to do with this match, this team, this last four years.

[baldyballer]

Berg is not good. I watched this match with some college players who asked me why our setter was fat and out of shape! That was their first impression! She made so many serving, location, and defensive errors, I couldn't defend her. Even her demeanor was poor when her hitters needed it most. I honestly wouldn't have her set a NCAA top 15 Team!

[Deleted]

How many threads are you going to post this in?

And where were you before this match?

NOWHERE.

[OverAndUnder]

Like I said in the match thread... "All the second-guessers and ITYSers will come out of the trash bin now".

Although to be fully accurate I suppose I should have said "crawl out" instead.