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Post by vb808 on Jan 10, 2004 6:27:28 GMT -5
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Post by foreignball on Jan 10, 2004 11:38:55 GMT -5
I would say 3+1 since CW goes to Russia together with LK and LD
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 10, 2004 13:37:41 GMT -5
Who is CW?
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Post by wang pu on Jan 10, 2004 15:14:57 GMT -5
Charlie Wade?  |
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Post by vb808 on Jan 10, 2004 15:20:19 GMT -5
yea i think it's charlie wade because he's gonna go to russia also to work as a volleyball consultant. Other than that the article is pretty interesting especially about willoughby and the olympics. |
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Post by kolohekeiki on Jan 11, 2004 15:36:59 GMT -5
I would just like to wish the best of luck to these three young ladies on their professional volleyball journey. I just have a feeling that these three will do just fine and become stars in the leagues.
I'm kind of confused now, because the article said that Kim will not be going to Colorado for the US national team. Because last week some time she said herself, publicly on the news that she was going to Colorado Springs after her three months in Puerto Rico. So what's the real deal?
Is she or is she not going to Colorado Springs after?
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Post by roofed! on Jan 11, 2004 17:18:14 GMT -5
I believe the issue of whether Kim W is going to join the National Team training in April depends on whether USAV is willing to receive her later, rather than sooner. As stated by the USAV official, the collegiate players are supposed to report to OTC by mid-January to give time for Toshi and his staff to condition and train the "newbies" to the US playbooks, thereby ensuring that almost everybody is on the same page in April/May when the veterans report to OTC. It may be too late for Kim to learn/adjust to the US offensive schemes in April when it is supposed to be "all-systems-go" and finishing touches are applied to the team.
In any case, I think Kim can put her case forward if she has an excellent season in PR. The rest is up to the USAV honchos on whether they want to take Kim's talent to Athen (provided that she can be unstoppable in the international play and is a very fast learner) or if they want to stick to the rigid requirement of January reporting date for the collegiate players (for example, in order to be fair to those who forgo $$ to train at OTC, and especially if the third OH spot is all-but-officially taken by honorary player, T.C. Battle).
Just my 2 cents take on the situation.
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 11, 2004 20:10:08 GMT -5
While I would have liked to see Kim Willoughby go and train from the get-go, I think that she may be a talent that they need to take on the team. While there may be other talented players in the country vying for spots, I don't think there is any other player in the US who could make as big of a contribution off the bench as Kim Willoughby. The US offensive isn't extremely intricate and I think it would be very easy to pick up. The only thing that would take some time is to learn the blocking schemes, because the blocking is a big part of the program's success. While players like Nicole Branagh, Therease Crawford, and other players will be trying out I wouldn't consider any of them as a weapon. Kim Willoughby would be a huge attacking threat from the front row, as we already know, but she is a tremendous back row attacker and server, which could garner points for the USA. While the 3rd outside hitter probably won't get much playing time at all with Logan and Keba in good playing form, but the USA would be just as dangerous with Kim Willoughby on the floor IMHO. I think that the USAV should just give her the shot to try out anyway. Even if they cut her, at least they would have the opportunity to evaulate her play with the other Americans. If she doesn't go and tryout, they will be left with what if's.
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Post by brybry on Jan 11, 2004 20:52:11 GMT -5
While I would have liked to see Kim Willoughby go and train from the get-go, I think that she may be a talent that they need to take on the team. While there may be other talented players in the country vying for spots, I don't think there is any other player in the US who could make as big of a contribution off the bench as Kim Willoughby. The US offensive isn't extremely intricate and I think it would be very easy to pick up. The only thing that would take some time is to learn the blocking schemes, because the blocking is a big part of the program's success. While players like Nicole Branagh, Therease Crawford, and other players will be trying out I wouldn't consider any of them as a weapon. Kim Willoughby would be a huge attacking threat from the front row, as we already know, but she is a tremendous back row attacker and server, which could garner points for the USA. While the 3rd outside hitter probably won't get much playing time at all with Logan and Keba in good playing form, but the USA would be just as dangerous with Kim Willoughby on the floor IMHO. I think that the USAV should just give her the shot to try out anyway. Even if they cut her, at least they would have the opportunity to evaulate her play with the other Americans. If she doesn't go and tryout, they will be left with what if's. I think taking Kim W would be a gamble, but a gamble worth taking. She could absolutely stink up the joint and crumble at the international level, but maybe she could be spectacular. I think Metcalf and Noriega can be role players at best. Kim W would actually have an impact, whether good or bad. You gotta roll the dice if you're trying to get gold. |
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 11, 2004 21:34:37 GMT -5
Kim Willoughby definitely wouldn't crumble against international competition, believe that.
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Post by 808empath on Jan 11, 2004 23:51:59 GMT -5
I wish the best for Kim Willoughby, Lauren Duggins, and Lily Kahumoku on there life endeavors... Good Luck to them all!!!  |
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Post by roofed! on Jan 12, 2004 0:43:37 GMT -5
Kim Willoughby definitely wouldn't crumble against international competition, believe that. USAFAN, I would not be too eager on that statement yet, as Kim W. is still untested on the international scene. Sure, she will get better and more experienced the longer she plays abroad, but being a rookie, there could be jitters. Even the phenom Logan Tom somewhat crumbled when it mattered in Sydney (according to some people). Remember that in international play, she will be facing much bigger blocks than those she has seen against Florida, and yet she made tons of errors in that match. |
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Post by kolohekeiki on Jan 12, 2004 4:23:05 GMT -5
While I would have liked to see Kim Willoughby go and train from the get-go, I think that she may be a talent that they need to take on the team. While there may be other talented players in the country vying for spots, I don't think there is any other player in the US who could make as big of a contribution off the bench as Kim Willoughby. The US offensive isn't extremely intricate and I think it would be very easy to pick up. The only thing that would take some time is to learn the blocking schemes, because the blocking is a big part of the program's success. While players like Nicole Branagh, Therease Crawford, and other players will be trying out I wouldn't consider any of them as a weapon. Kim Willoughby would be a huge attacking threat from the front row, as we already know, but she is a tremendous back row attacker and server, which could garner points for the USA. While the 3rd outside hitter probably won't get much playing time at all with Logan and Keba in good playing form, but the USA would be just as dangerous with Kim Willoughby on the floor IMHO. I think that the USAV should just give her the shot to try out anyway. Even if they cut her, at least they would have the opportunity to evaulate her play with the other Americans. If she doesn't go and tryout, they will be left with what if's. Kim Willoughby is by far way more of a weapon than Nicole Branagh and Therese Crawford. No offense to the two but Kim Willoughby is better at hitting, defense and serving. Therese Crawford was expected to do a lot for the Wahine after her freshman year, but she went down hill each year. By her senior year I expected her to win WAC player of the year, but instead Cia Goods stepped up her play and won the honor. Therese Crawford is still a great player, but not at the level of Kim Willoughby. The only advantage that these two would hav eon Kim Willoughby is international experience and that is a big advantage, but still Kim's talents outweighs both these girls. |
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Post by roy on Jan 12, 2004 5:21:43 GMT -5
Kim Willoughby is by far way more of a weapon than Nicole Branagh and Therese Crawford. No offense to the two but Kim Willoughby is better at hitting, defense and serving. Therese Crawford was expected to do a lot for the Wahine after her freshman year, but she went down hill each year. By her senior year I expected her to win WAC player of the year, but instead Cia Goods stepped up her play and won the honor. Therese Crawford is still a great player, but not at the level of Kim Willoughby. The only advantage that these two would hav eon Kim Willoughby is international experience and that is a big advantage, but still Kim's talents outweighs both these girls. Careful with that statement. I wouldn't say that Crawford is not at the level of Willoughby. I agree that Crawford did not produce as well as she did in her freshman year. I think she had a couple of injuries which bothered her throughout her career. But I haven't seen Crawford play since she left as a Wahine in 1997. She has 5 years experience playing internationally and training with the national team. I can bet she has gotten a lot better since then, especially since the national team is keeping her around. Willoughby has very little experience in the international game. So, who is better? I don't know. I haven't seen Crawford play since 1997 and I venture to guess that a lot of people haven't. And while Willoughby is certainly better than Crawford at similar points in their career, I honestly can't say that Willoughby is definately better than Crawford at the present time. For all I know, Crawford may have developed a deadly serve, became more consistent, hits smarter, and all those other good things. So, I guess my point is that it isn't fair to judge Crawford against Willoughby when the basis for judgement is how they played in college. Of course, if you have seen her, then this whole post is pointless, so I guess you can just ignore it. But I would really like to know how far she has improved since college. ;D |
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Post by USAFAN on Jan 12, 2004 8:36:24 GMT -5
USAFAN, I would not be too eager on that statement yet, as Kim W. is still untested on the international scene. Sure, she will get better and more experienced the longer she plays abroad, but being a rookie, there could be jitters. Even the phenom Logan Tom somewhat crumbled when it mattered in Sydney (according to some people). Remember that in international play, she will be facing much bigger blocks than those she has seen against Florida, and yet she made tons of errors in that match. How much emphasis you people put on the Florida match is laughable. It's starting to sound like how everyone said Cheryl Weaver sucked after the 2001 final where Logan Tom shut her down. I would challenge that there are few people on this board who follow international volleyball as closely as I do or have watched as much international vb as I do. While I do not expect Kim Willoughby to go from college to automatically the best player in the world, I would say I have a pretty good gauge for what kind of players are going to be successful at the international level. Besides read quotes from the best players and coaches from around the nation. Logan Tom, April Ross, Kele Eveland, Jim McGlachlin, Mick Haley, Ogonna Nnamani, etc. and they will tell you how much of a monster Kim Willoughby is. Mick Haley has seen the best in the world in the Olympics, and so has Logan Tom, if I am going to believe anyone's opinion, I'd take theirs. If and when Kim decides to join the national team maybe not for this Olympics, she will be quite a spectacle. Saying that Kim Willoughby isn't the most physical and talented prospect that the United States has is pretty much a joke. If you are going to make your judgement on the Florida match, watch Hawaii play Notre Dame where she hits against 6'3'' and 6'4'', or watch other matches throughout the years. |
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