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Post by Revellowski on Jan 25, 2004 16:19:37 GMT -5
So, any speculation on what Hebert will do to fill the rightside position vacated by Busse? He put all his eggs in one basket hoping for Pavan and off she went to Cornhusker land.
I haven't heard of any surprise recruit that is on her way to save us. Darn!
I was kind of thinking one of the middles moves over. I like Athena Mallakis for her blocking skills and quickness. She should have started all year over Byrnes IMHO.
Too bad we don't have another outside to put in because I think Bratford is such a great blocker we could move her out to the right. As much as I love Cipperly I just don't think she'll see much time once again this year.
Kelly Bowman is an option at both OH and RS but she doesn't seem to be such a good blocker.
How about her sister Jen. Anyone think she'll get playing time at setter. As far as I know Lindsey isn't going anywhere and finished the year pretty strong.
The Gophers Spring Tournament should be coming up soon too, anyone heard dates on that?
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Post by Wolfgang on Jan 25, 2004 18:55:21 GMT -5
Does it bother anyone that Jen Bowman moved so often? From Northern Illinois (where she was a big man on campus) to Long Beach State (very little PT) to Minnesota (where she redshirted)? It can't be the academics, unless she's trying to find herself. Sure, the I-want-to-play-with-my-sister argument is out there, but honestly...
Okay it really doesn't bother me.
(She should've stayed put at Northern Illinois, where she would have gone down as one of the best setters to have ever played for that program)
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Post by LuckyVB on Jan 26, 2004 12:29:21 GMT -5
I have to disagree on Mallakis' blocking skills. I don't think they are very good. And her back row play is not good at all.
At this point I don't feel MN has a right side. I am sure that some, if not all, the middles are working on it though.
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Post by Revellowski on Jan 26, 2004 12:55:05 GMT -5
Wolfgang: Long Beach State was probably too big of an opportunity to pass up. I would have gone if I were her just for the chance to play for such a great program even if Gimillaro has an "interesting" style of coaching. I also would have transferred out after not getting the court time to go play with my sister back home. Well, maybe I wouldn't have but you never know, it sounds good if you have to explain it away to people who want to know why you left LBSU.
With 3 great setters this fall it will be interesting to see what happens. Could a new system be coming to utilize them?
LuckyVB: Don't you think Mallakis at least hustled to get to the outside and got plenty of touches when Byrnes just stood there and looked half asleep? The effort put in by Mallakis will pay off this year somewhere. I'm sure you're right about the middles working on it. I'm betting with an open position on the court and no obvious person to fill it that all the players will be working on thier RS skills.
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Post by journeylad on Jan 26, 2004 14:59:08 GMT -5
There's another option -- a 6-2. KBow is likely the setter of the future. She's just not as good as Bug on either defense or blocking, but I'd be willing to wager that's what they're concentrating on this spring. Bug's probably not as good a hitter as Kbow, because KBow was primarily a hitter in high school, so there could be some emphasis there, also.
And JBow is just another option. We just haven't seen her play at all, so she could easily end up in the mix, also.
We know Nellie is going to improve. And if either Mallakis or Byrnes steps it up a notch, they could be the other starting middle, while the new kid on the block (JJ) gets moved to RS. From everything that's said on PV, blocking is supposed to be her forte, and it really wouldn't be bad to have a good 6'2" block on the right. We already *know* that the offense will be down from the right, but I expect that Nellie, Tree and Marty will be able to make up for that.
In any case, it's going to be an interesting year.
If.............
And if.............
And if...............
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2004 15:03:02 GMT -5
Here's the deal: whoever plays RS would almost HAVE to play all the way around, given the subs needed for other front row players.
That rules out the middles, unless someone really makes a lot of progress this Spring.
Look for Jess Jones to seriously push JB in the middle. I'd love to have JB coming off the bench. She really started to give them some offense in the NCAAs, but her blocking is definitely a liability.
Athena wasn't healthy enough to play early last year, but she made some nice progress. No one here has really seen her at 100%. It will be interesting to see what she can do.
Gophers are still working on recruits. They have two scholarships left for 2004 and three for 2005. Let's wait and see what they do.
KBow/Bug and a 6-2 remains an option, with JBow as the backup. I think JBow is a player. They'll need to find a role for her.
Keys to next year:
1) They still have Paula/Rhino/Beaucoup as the foundation of their defense and serve receive. A great foundation.
2) I look for Marty, Tree and Nellie all to be better offensively in 2004 than they were in 2005. This will take the sting out of Cassie's graduation.
3) They will be deep in the middle. Another reason to get KBow setting. That's her strength--setting the middles.
The question is, can they stay in the top 10 in 2005?
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Post by JT on Jan 26, 2004 17:58:26 GMT -5
So, any speculation on what Hebert will do to fill the rightside position vacated by Busse? Only negative speculation (i.e. rumor killing). Bethany Brafford will not be returning, contrary to wild rumor-mongering. Saturday, April 24th. Times and teams are still TBA. If it goes like other years, we should get a spring schedule, as well as a tentative fall-04 schedule, at the banquet that's coming up Feb 7th. -- jt -- |
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