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Post by Pirate VB Fan on Dec 25, 2013 9:55:26 GMT -5
There's no way the favorites to win the title, let alone the PAC 12. They lose Orlandini and Nogueras. It's gonna be tough to fill in those shoes. Way!
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Post by dsound on Dec 25, 2013 13:23:59 GMT -5
Merry Christmas, Husky fans. Thank you, the same to you and to all Volleytalkers everywhere. To those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a peaceful day today and a happy day with loved ones soon. We Husky fans had a heck of a ride this year thanks to our team; I hope they are able to recognize the significance of their wonderful achievements this year and know how much we fans appreciate their unbelievable hard work and dedication to the sport. I can't wait until next year to see what JMac is able to put together out of what he has, and hope that it includes a significant chunk of loosening up and getting the players to have fun within all the pressure of the high expectations. Someone posted in a thread somewhere, and I haven't been able to find it again to respond, that the pregame TV went into the locker rooms of the UW and Penn State, and the PS players were joking around and yelling and having a great time, and the UW players had grim looks on their faces and the room was very quiet. IF I understood that correctly, it's easy to imagine the pressure our team was under, having imagined intensely for so long and having the goal of being in the FF, and NOW WE'RE REALLY HERE AND OMG WE HAVE TO BE PERFECT etc. Somehow Coach Rose is able to not only get his players' abilities to excel in the post-season but also their psyches, and I hope JMac is able to figure out what to do to create that same kind of atmosphere. Gee, kind of got carried away there. Merry Christmas, all.
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Post by tomclen on Dec 25, 2013 15:04:23 GMT -5
Merry Christmas, Husky fans. Thank you, the same to you and to all Volleytalkers everywhere. To those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a peaceful day today and a happy day with loved ones soon. We Husky fans had a heck of a ride this year thanks to our team; I hope they are able to recognize the significance of their wonderful achievements this year and know how much we fans appreciate their unbelievable hard work and dedication to the sport. I can't wait until next year to see what JMac is able to put together out of what he has, and hope that it includes a significant chunk of loosening up and getting the players to have fun within all the pressure of the high expectations. Someone posted in a thread somewhere, and I haven't been able to find it again to respond, that the pregame TV went into the locker rooms of the UW and Penn State, and the PS players were joking around and yelling and having a great time, and the UW players had grim looks on their faces and the room was very quiet. IF I understood that correctly, it's easy to imagine the pressure our team was under, having imagined intensely for so long and having the goal of being in the FF, and NOW WE'RE REALLY HERE AND OMG WE HAVE TO BE PERFECT etc. Somehow Coach Rose is able to not only get his players' abilities to excel in the post-season but also their psyches, and I hope JMac is able to figure out what to do to create that same kind of atmosphere. Gee, kind of got carried away there. Merry Christmas, all. +1 As volleyball fans, we're really fortunate that Jim McLaughlin came to UW. Every single year he has fielded an excellent, competitive team that is always fun and exciting to watch. Sure, there have been some unfortunate tournament disappointments - last year in Nebraska; the BYU loss at home; the 2nd round performance at CSU; the '06 Stanford FF; and the puzzling performance this year's match against PSU - but they're in the tournament every year and usually at least in a Regional. Only a very select group of teams can say that. And while many of us are wondering how the setter situation will shake out next year, and how to replace Orlandini and how to get better sets to the middle and more support for Vansant; no UW fan is worried that McLaughlin won't come up with a strong lineup. Happy Holidays to all Dawg Fans and VTers!
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Post by redbeard2008 on Dec 25, 2013 15:30:10 GMT -5
"Loose" is not a single state, of course. Not loose enough and you're tight. Too loose and you're flat. Too bad Washington and Texas didn't meet in the semis, one tight and the other flat.
The best performances (and not just in athletics) occur with mind/body operating in unison. The idea of "muscle" memory is that you don't have to think it - you are it. Lusting after result leads to being out-of-step with yourself - forcing, aiming, pushing, etc. Not wanting enough, or believing you can't lose, can lead to just going through the motions or flying on auto-pilot, or zombie-play.
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Post by C on Dec 25, 2013 15:35:45 GMT -5
I think she'll stay at OH. She does so much for them front and back row. No, Scambray will take her spot. Scambray hits really hard, but has a low contact point and it's difficult to be a successful hitter in the PAC 12 like that. I still say Strickland stays at outside.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Dec 25, 2013 16:04:07 GMT -5
Well, if the team is better with Strickland at libero, that's where she'll be, even if she's the best "all-around" OH2.
If she is the team's best back row defender, which I think she is, then are you better off with her playing three or six back row rotations? The latter.
Her back row defense at OH2 doesn't figure into whether she should play libero or not, unless there's someone else on the roster who can duplicate her back row defense for three rotations. Unfortunately, Orlandini has graduated.
All the same, I think that JMac will throw all three (Nelson, Scambray, and Strickland) into the cauldron and let them fight it out. Ultimately, however, it won't be who stats out best at what position that will matter most, but which combination of players, at whichever positions, stats out best. Now if that happens to be Strickland at OH2 and someone else (Condie, Magraw, or Meyer-Whalley) at libero, so be it. I wouldn't bet on it, however.
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Post by Huskyfan on Dec 25, 2013 18:35:36 GMT -5
All the same, I think that JMac will throw all three (Nelson, Scambray, and Strickland) into the cauldron and let them fight it out. Ultimately, however, it won't be who stats out best at what position that will matter most, but which combination of players, at whichever positions, stats out best. Now if that happens to be Strickland at OH2 and someone else (Condie, Magraw, or Meyer-Whalley) at libero, so be it. I wouldn't bet on it, however. I wouldn't count Courtney Schwan out of the equation for one of the OH/OPP spot.
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Post by redbeard2008 on Dec 25, 2013 18:41:43 GMT -5
Another way of looking at it is that you need four basic things:
1. Hitting: Vansant, Nelson, Sybeldon
2. Blocking: Sybeldon, Wade, (Munoz replacement)
3. Setting: Beals, (Nogueras replacement)
4. Digging/Passing: Strickland (Orlandini replacement?), (Strickland/Orlandini replacement?)
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Post by GoUCLA on Dec 25, 2013 18:57:11 GMT -5
What will happen with Jones? Will she start, or do Wade and Sybeldon have the MB positions locked?
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Post by redbeard2008 on Dec 25, 2013 19:06:33 GMT -5
What will happen with Jones? Will she start, or do Wade and Sybeldon have the MB positions locked? She's versatile, able to play MB, OH, or OPP, so could step into Parker's role. If Tanner plays OPP/S, that saves two subs every six rotations, which could be used to 1) play three MBs and/or 2) sub a backrow defender for the OH2 (if Strickland is the libero). I doubt she's going to beat out Sybeldon or Wade, at least as a freshman.
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Post by chisovnik on Dec 25, 2013 19:09:16 GMT -5
I think she could beat out one of them. She provides more offense.
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Post by GoUCLA on Dec 25, 2013 19:16:59 GMT -5
I think she could beat out one of them. She provides more offense. I agree. After following her during high school, she brings more offense than Wade and Sybeldon. I think it's just a question of whether she can prove herself at the collegiate level and can beat out one of them. As a fan of hers, I hope she gets significant playing time next year.
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 25, 2013 21:04:36 GMT -5
Can Condie, Magraw and Meyer-Whalley provide what Strickland can in terms of passing and defense (and serving)? I ask because one of the reasons she had to be an OH2 was because they needed her to pass six rotations, right? So with all these new hitters coming in, will Strickland still contend for the OH2 spot? She can't be a three-rotation DS, right? They need her in the passing formation. This year the backrow duties were taken up by the setters (3 rotations each), Vansant and Strickland (3 rotations each), and Orlandini (5.5 rotations). Wade also played back there in the rotation where she served. If Strickland goes to libero replacing Orlandini, that means some other hitter has to take up her backrow role for three rotations. I think they'll be fine.
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Post by Mix Breed-TEXAS,HI,LBSU on Dec 25, 2013 21:06:00 GMT -5
They got very consistent offense from Nelson and Sybeldon (when they could get Lianna a decent set). This ^ Nelson was awesome, wish she stayed in Oregon. I did say MIGHT, so that meant I'm unsure.
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Post by gobruins on Dec 26, 2013 3:05:19 GMT -5
Why is everyone assuming that UDub will run a 6-2 next year? Seems to me that it makes more sense to go with a 5-1 with Beals setting and Nelson playing RS (and being subbed for a DS in the back row). Beals certainly has the height to be an effective front-row setter.
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