|
Post by gocalbears on Oct 16, 2013 17:33:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by chisovnik on Oct 16, 2013 18:10:22 GMT -5
Can ANYONE find any video on Gooden?
|
|
|
Post by Xplaya on Oct 16, 2013 18:16:36 GMT -5
Can ANYONE find any video on Gooden? I'm sure the Cal coaches can ;-)
|
|
vballfreak808
Hawaiian Ohana
2020 All-VolleyTalk 1st Team, All-VolleyTalk 2nd Team (2023, 2022, 2017, 2016), All-VolleyTalk HM (2021, 2019, 2018), 2017 Fantasy League 1st Runner-up, 2016 Fantasy League Champion
#GoBows
Posts: 13,121
|
Post by vballfreak808 on Oct 17, 2013 3:36:21 GMT -5
Cal has such great recruiting classes these next two years
2014: Hannah Aguirre (5'7 DS/L) Christine Alftin (6'0 OH) Sammy Furlan (5'6 S/L) Laura Leap (6'5 MB) Ashten Gooden (6'2 OH)
2015: Amanda Kirtley (5'7 DS/L) Savannah Rennie (6'2 MB/OH) Sarah Shafiq (6'6 MB)
|
|
|
Post by volleyballwatcher on Oct 17, 2013 11:27:20 GMT -5
Have watched a number of Cal matches this season, and I'm really impressed with their play. People are not talking much about Neumayr, but I'm really blown away by her ball control. After having been not out with ACL surgeries two years in a row, I would have thought that her defense would have suffered, but it's better than ever. Her hitting does not seem as powerful as I remember it being prior to the ACL injuries, but I expect that to improve as she gets stronger.
|
|
|
Post by geddyleeridesagain on Oct 17, 2013 13:32:37 GMT -5
Shafiq is farely new to the sport but she has great foot speed and you can't teach 6'6. With another 2 years I think she will be very good coming into Cal. I know it's just HS but Gooden putting up some insane stats for Los Osos. Alftin's arm might fall up by the time the season is over... just had a match with 87 swings for Woodside I've seen Smith-Gooden, Leap, and Rennie several times. Smith-Gooden is still learning the game, to some degree, but her athleticism and power is scary. She's got a good chance to be a Jupiter/Murrey level player. Leap has been improving leaps (hah!) and bounds - I don't know if I would see her playing much her freshman year, but she's definitely got upside. Rennie is just a stud, and I could see her taking the the RS spot from day one (particularly since Higgins will have just graduated). All of this is just one guy's opinion of course, others might have a different take.
|
|
|
Post by oskibear on Oct 18, 2013 0:38:01 GMT -5
How is Smith-Gooden's passing? Defense? Think she can play 6 rotations? Alftin?
I wonder why Feller doesn't try Higgins from the back row to give the OH's some relief? Or at least put Parrott in for Higgins to hit the D, since she seemed to do it pretty well during the scrimmage?
|
|
|
Post by Xplaya on Oct 18, 2013 1:34:25 GMT -5
How is Smith-Gooden's passing? Defense? Think she can play 6 rotations? Alftin? I wonder why Feller doesn't try Higgins from the back row to give the OH's some relief? Or at least put Parrott in for Higgins to hit the D, since she seemed to do it pretty well during the scrimmage? Neither Higgins or Parrott play defense or pass well enough to stay in the back row.
|
|
|
Post by oskibear on Oct 19, 2013 12:37:15 GMT -5
Think Rennie's good enough to hit the D assuming she takes over at Opp? Or all 6 rotations as an OH?
|
|
|
Post by gocalbears on Oct 30, 2013 14:18:02 GMT -5
All signs point to Gooden ( PrepVB #5) to take over Gehan's position but next year... but Christine Alftin (#51) might have something to say about that. She is having a monster senior season.... I am just worried her arm might fall off!! www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/sports/2013-10-30/wildcats-roar-to-victory/1776425112490.htmlWhile Christine Alftin is arguably the best player in the Peninsula Athletic League, her Woodside squad (10-1 Bay Division, 17-7 overall) is now the outright top team in the Bay Division. Entering into play yesterday tied with Carlmont (9-2, 19-8) for first place in the Bay, Woodside, after dropping the first two sets, scored and emotional comeback win – 22-25, 12-25, 25-21, 25-23, 15-13. The Scots kept Alftin in check early on, but the 6-foot senior would not be denied, notching 34 match kills, including 11 kills in the third set to help turn the tide, before tabbing eight kills in the decisive fifth set. And as she fired the powerful game-winning shot, the team’s outpouring of emotion in front of its home crowd culminated in what is thus far the volleyball dogpile of the year. “I’m overwhelmed,” Alftin said. “I’m so proud of my team. Especially after that second game, we just got crushed.” Indeed. The last time the two teams met on Oct. 3, the Scots surged from behind to overpower the Wildcats in the final two sets. And yesterday, the Scots nonchalantly picked up right where they left off, capturing the first two sets and looking poised to cruise to victory. But Woodside made some big-time adjustments, getting back into rotation after an injury to sophomore Jesse Larkin midway through the first set. The injury forced head coach Kyle Mashima to shuffle his lineup. And while Larkin soon returned, Woodside found itself out of system until retooling to start Game 3. Impromptu pep talks from Alftin and fellow senior Dani Walsh also paid off. “We told [our teammates] we’re a team that can come back,” Alftin said. “We’ve done it before, and we can do it again.” With Alftin moving up from the back row, Woodside turned the tide in a hurry. And while Walsh wasn’t the force to be reckoned with at net she typically is, her on-court leadership sparked Alftin big time. With Woodside trailing 20-19 in Game 3, Alftin scored back-to-back kills to seesaw the advantage in the Wildcats’ favor. With the score deadlocked at 20-20, Walsh delegated as Woodside set a midcourt chance for Alftin. And as the dynamic hitter approached for a pipe shot, Walsh spurred her teammate with a spirited cry of: “Get up!” The rally cry seemed to reverberate through the rest of the match. Woodside’s front row of Larkin, Heilani Hoeft, and Haili Hoeft commanded the net through Game 4. Then, to start Game 5, Walsh ripped consecutive kills to give the Wildcats an early lead which they would not relinquish. “We put a lot of pressure on ourselves and we knew a lot was riding on this game,” Walsh said. “After the second set, we just put it all together and Christine stepped up, and we were able to come back.” Looking forward, Woodside now holds its fate in its own hands. With three more games remaining in league, however, the Wildcats still have some tough customers to face, including a matchup with Burlingame on Thursday, and next Thursday’s season-finale against Menlo-Atherton. “If we can maintain our momentum into Burlingame and win there, it doesn’t matter how we do against M-A, because we can still lose (to them) and be co-league champions,” Mashima said. Despite the loss, Carlmont fronted a well-balanced attack, with 22 kills from senior Ella McDonough. Sophomore blocker Alexis Morrow tabbed five blocks, and senior Bailee Roces scored 11 service points in Game 2, including three aces. Carlmont is now in a second-place tie in the Bay Division with its next opponent, Menlo-Atherton. “It was a tough loss,” McDonough said. “But we’re just going to use it as a lesson, and come back Thursday against Menlo-Atherton.”
|
|
|
Post by gocalbears on Oct 30, 2013 14:20:08 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by gocalbears on Dec 24, 2013 17:38:38 GMT -5
Outlook for next season?
I have NOT been this excited for a Cal season since the 2010 runner up year.
Cal returns 2nd Team All-American Higgins on the Right, Schonewise and Vukasovic in the middle (will be All Pac), Kerr in the backrow, and Neumayr who had a great second half of the season last year.
To replace our two great seniors we have Jensen, who can run a very quick offense, and bring in some great talent that can replace Gehan. Obviously Ashten Gooden Smith (# 5 recruit) will be the no brainer choice to replace Gehan... but (#51 Senior Ace) Christine Alftin can play all 6 rotations and pass and serve receive at a very high level.
Also we get Gombar back as a serve sub/DS. Led the team in Aces as a Freshman.
Starting Lineup
OH 1 Ashten Gooden-Smith OH 2 Michelle Neumayr M1 Lara Vukasovic M2 Lillian Schonewise RS Christina Higgins L Maddy Kerr S Alyssa Jensen
Hats off to the staff on recruiting. Bringing in great talent the next few years and some SERIOUS height in Leap (6'5) and Shafiq (6'6)
|
|
|
Post by oskibear on Dec 27, 2013 22:11:43 GMT -5
Congrats to the Bears for a great season, some ups and downs, but overall pretty good and a significant improvement compared to last year. I'm also excited for the Bears next season.
S/Opp: With Higgins breakout this year and the loss of Caloiaro, does Parrott move back to backup setter? Feel bad for her, she looked good during the scrimmages and in the pre-conference matches, but was behind Higgins all season, and was only occasionally subbed in for Neumayr when they needed some extra offense to get out of certain rotations. Jensen looked good at setter when she was subbed in, but I wonder how she'll do blocking against the Pac's bigger OHs. Higgins really impressed this year, which has helped build her confidence. Expect her to lead them next year.
MB: I'll admit Vukasovic had a great season, but I was disappointed in Schonewise, perhaps because of my initial expecations of each. I didn't think too much of Vukasovic at MB, not very flexible in adjusting to broken plays and also kinda slow, but in her limited roles she did perform very well, namely hitting the 1's and blocking opponents' 1's and high outside sets. Love Schonewise's wicked armswing, but half the time it was blocked straight down. I really wish they would speed up the slide to her, either a lower/faster set, or shoot it to the pins to beat the block. Both still need to work on blocking footwork and reading the opponent offense to close the block. Leap prob too raw, but I'm thinking Jordan should see more playing time next season.
Outsides: This is the big question mark, definitely a number of options and will need the players to step up. Sounds like Neumayr, Alftin, and Gombar will be the better passing OHs, whereas Gooden-Smith will be the more offensive passing OH. I hope Neumary continues to get stronger and terminate better, esp since she's really proven she can pass and play D. Gombar/Alftin/Gooden-Smith will be question marks, with Gombar having taken a redshirt, and Alftin and Gooden-Smith being freshmen. If 1 or 2 of them can pleasantly surprise, Cal will be in good shape.
Libero/DS: Kerr prob keeps her starting role. I thought she was good this season, but she can be better. Passing was solid with Kerr and Neumayr as anchors. I'd like to see Kerr improve her anticipation of opposing offenses and pick up some more digs. Will be a logjam with the returning and new DSs coming in next year.
|
|
|
Post by gocalbears on Dec 28, 2013 0:10:41 GMT -5
Lara will be all Pac next year. To be honest I am surprised that she wasn't at least honorable mention. Great numbers and Joan was not afraid to get her the ball despite an iffy pass. Schonewise is a good blocker but she needs to improve on offense or she might get the boot. Unacceptable hitting percentage as a middle. I think though with Alyssa setting (more uptempo offense) Schonewise will do better.
I also echo your thoughts in that Alyssa will run a great offense but she will be a big blocking liability. Some off-season conditioning might help her jump.
Kerr was as good as Davis was as a freshman and better than Kathan. She is a stud and I don't see her position ever being up for grabs. She will only get better.
Lots of really, really good pieces next year. Even small pieces people won't realize like getting Gombar's serve back. Go Bears
|
|
|
Post by FreeBaller on Dec 29, 2013 4:49:39 GMT -5
Schonewise seems like shes always trying to bounce her slides straight down and lo, she ends up getting roofed. If she could start mixing in high, deep shots, she could be great.
Cal needs to figure out how to keep Higgins in the backrow and swinging at D-balls. IMO the lack of a D-option is constantly undermining Cal's success. If she's such a weak defender, then give her 10-million reps in practice and limit her defensive responsibilities in matches. But they will really need that backrow threat to improve upon last season.
Looking forward to more of Vukasovic, Neumayr, Kerr, and these big new recruits!
|
|