|
Post by dejmaster on Oct 24, 2014 19:48:09 GMT -5
Illinois up 1 set and up 19-7 in the second set.
Good all around effort, but I noticed that Jocelynn Birks has only 2 kills and 3 errors on 8 swings. Not the numbers that we've been seeing. Any ideas as to why that is?
|
|
|
Post by dejmaster on Oct 24, 2014 19:55:18 GMT -5
So, after 2 sets (25-18 and 25-14), the Illini are up 2-0. Jocelynn Birks has only 3 kills (3 errors) and 3 digs.
On a brighter note, Anna Dorn has 7 kills and is hitting .778, and Katie Stadick has 6 kills and is hitting .750. Maybe that was Illinois' strategy instead of setting Birks on the outside as much?
|
|
|
Post by 2muchbs on Oct 24, 2014 21:13:25 GMT -5
Illinois up 1 set and up 19-7 in the second set. Good all around effort, but I noticed that Jocelynn Birks has only 2 kills and 3 errors on 8 swings. Not the numbers that we've been seeing. Any ideas as to why that is? Well let's see she got 3sets in the first match 2that were out of system . If you were at the game it was fairly obvious.
|
|
|
Post by 2muchbs on Oct 24, 2014 21:22:58 GMT -5
I'm.not trying to be disrespectful against any team but Indiana is struggling worse then any team I've seen.
I'm hoping the illini were warming the middles up for tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 25, 2014 5:53:59 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 25, 2014 6:15:02 GMT -5
Three observations after watching Illinois dismantle Indiana:
The Hoosiers need at least one more outside that is effective. Watching and listening to Coach Dunbar-Kruzan in the Indiana huddle brings home the point again that it is so hard for a good coach (Dunbar-Kruzan) to succeed in the B1G without being continually successful recruiting.
Really made me happy to see sr. MB Anna Dorn having such great success offensively. Good passes, and good sets from Viliunas resulted in good offense from Dorn (what is not to love about Anna?). She was the player of the match by the volleyball radio station, and I always enjoy listening to Anna's comments whether they are pregame or postgame. It is too bad that her left knee injury (in her sophomore season?) prevented Anna from being a more dominant middle for a couple of seasons. She now appears to be able to finally use that left leg in the slide. Go Anna!
A bit surprised that LS Jocelyn Birks had so few hitting attempts. However, it did seem like the Hoosiers had made the decision to load the blocking up on her. Viliunas set a very smart, good match...AND...her one weakness of late, serving, was excellent! I like this about Lex, if she is criticized or has a letdown in an aspect of her game, she seems to take up the challenge and improve that aspect. That is how a tough athlete responds!
|
|
|
Post by dejmaster on Oct 25, 2014 8:51:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by dejmaster on Oct 25, 2014 8:56:30 GMT -5
What is everyone's prediction for the Purdue game tonight?
(BTW, Purdue came back from a 0-2 deficit to win it in 5 last night at Northwestern)
|
|
|
Post by blindpirate on Oct 25, 2014 9:46:08 GMT -5
Illinois in 4 because of the crowd and experience in the right places.
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Oct 25, 2014 11:18:36 GMT -5
Illinois in 4. Purdue is spending their morning adjusting their blocking patterns after the performance by the Illinois middles last night.
|
|
|
Post by MTC on Oct 25, 2014 11:52:08 GMT -5
I think this will go 5 sets also, whoever wins.
|
|
|
Post by indyrun on Oct 25, 2014 12:55:02 GMT -5
I'm going out on a limb and thinking the Illini in 3. Think this team is getting better & better, and still not sure just how powerful Purdue really is. ILLINOIS IN 3 (but would reluctantly accept 4)!!!
|
|
|
Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 26, 2014 6:33:53 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by indyrun on Oct 26, 2014 11:48:36 GMT -5
Attended the match last night, and must say that what I saw wasn't exactly what I was expecting. Think I can say for certain that watching THIS match on TV couldn't have possibly given you what, that we in attendance (almost 4,000 screaming, standing fans) experienced. No, it certainly wasn't "perfection VB", BUT not sure I've ever seen such a bruising, in the trenches, version of a heavy weight boxing match, fight to the end, on a VB court before. Final, 25-20, 26-24, 26-28, & 26-24 (don't you only wish that you could have been there and experienced it too?).
Sure, hitting stats were down for both teams - Illini .116, Purdue .056 - BUT, the play at the net was brutal with 20 - TWENTY - blocks by Illini, and Purdue with 14, that almost demanded lower hitting %s. After watching and experiencing such an exciting, emotionally draining match that this was - bodies flying all over the court from start to finish - I can't, in all honesty, say that Illinois is obviously a better VB team than Purdue. BUT, at least for last night they were, because we won. This was two EXCELLANT, very similar, very good VB teams/programs going at each other with everything each had, and neither willing to give up or give in, one inch, for one moment. Both physically strong, and as intense, competitively, as you could possibly either want or demand from two strong, athletic VB teams. Do not let the stats fool you into thinking this was "just another match", as it wasn't. It was MAXIMUM competition between two very good teams of determined young ladies, with neither side agreeing NOT to win.
kudos to both, BUT so happy the Illini won this one, AND now have a week off to get a bit of rest, before launching into the balance of a tough, tough (and, I'm sure so far), satisfying season. I'm also glad we don't have to do this over again @purdue this year, as following long distance, via the idiot box, would have driven me nuts. I'm certain it will be awhile before I see one quite like the one last night.
|
|
|
Post by oldmanvb on Oct 26, 2014 12:59:35 GMT -5
Actually, that is exactly what it looked like on tv, even though there were only two screaming fans in my family room. Two incredibly physical, defensive teams each imposing their will on the other. Anyone who thinks either team was playing poorly because of the hitting stats didn't understand what they were watching. Missed lines and a lot of digs were what exceptional blocking was giving up. Somewhere I saw a blog comment that PSU would have beaten either team last night because of poor play. That could not possibly be further from the truth.
|
|