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Post by FOBRA on Apr 17, 2015 0:54:03 GMT -5
Been awhile since i have 'trolled' these pages but I will be in SoCal this weekend and will try to head down and watch some matches. You mean at the PAC-12 Invitational? Should be pretty good, Annenberg's a nice venue to hang out although there's not a lot of nearby lunch spots.
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Post by vballmom1 on Apr 17, 2015 9:32:41 GMT -5
Yes, the PAC -"4" invitational...why is ASU and Stanford not involved?
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Post by vbvalley on Apr 17, 2015 10:53:11 GMT -5
Probably two factors. Cost plus the indoor Spring session is going on. Last year LMU and Bakersfield played in the PAC 12 Invitational which was dominated by USC with LMU finishing a distant 2nd. LMU's last match of a disappointing season is this afternoon down at Long Beach State. Tomorrow 7 of their 12 players are playing indoors. The only player that really excelled doing both for LMU was Sarah Sponcil, who most likely will end up being an All America with Betsy Metter this year in Alabama.
You could really see the breakaway this year of the West Coast schools that have Sand only teams versus the schools that try to have their players do both.
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Post by FOBRA on Apr 17, 2015 12:49:39 GMT -5
Is ASU not at the PAC-12 Invitational? They're listed on the media info and it's still on their schedule. grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/usc/sports/w-svolley/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_event/15svb_p12i_brackets.pdf//You could really see the breakaway this year of the West Coast schools that have Sand only teams versus the schools that try to have their players do both.// As far as this, I think you can still have both (LBSU and Pepp still seem to have a combo) but going forward the crossover players will need to be previously experienced. I don't think teams can have much success having indoor players learn on the job in the short time period available.
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Post by vbvalley on Apr 17, 2015 13:10:46 GMT -5
Good point regarding Pepperdine and LBS. But do bear in mind that a number of their contributing seniors on the team are done with indoors and thus do not practice indoors several times a week and then are required to play in weekend tournaments. I can really see the difference of a lot of the indoor girls not anticipating certain shots (i.e. cut shots, high down the line over the block, how to play in the wind, etc.) based on what is going on across the net due to their lack of outdoor experience. It also frustrates their partners who play Sand only.
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Post by FOBRA on Apr 17, 2015 13:20:54 GMT -5
The practice season is definitely an issue for crossover players. I think sand only players getting to train for the entire fall period is also a HUGE advantage.
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Post by quickattack on Apr 17, 2015 14:00:58 GMT -5
When looking at the individual stats for Pepperdine the player with the best overall win/loss record is an indoor player. I suppose that is not the norm and the crossover of the two sports will soon be eliminated.
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Post by montechello on Apr 17, 2015 14:10:19 GMT -5
Grand Canyon is interesting .... Arizona beats GCU in the W/L record. The point is that it's a moot point. Arizona isn't in the picture for nationals. Grand Canyon isn't either, but at least it's trying. It's competing. It has a respectable schedule. If the Phoenix-Tucson area is mentioned at all, Grand Canyon should be mentioned first. A basic rule of sports is to compete, and Arizona hasn't really done that. Maybe Arizona tried to game its way to a shot at nationals by ducking the competition except to host Nebraska, which has athletes but doesn't train for sand.
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Post by vballmom1 on Apr 17, 2015 15:10:32 GMT -5
You are right, they are listed for the PAC-12 this weekend, I mixed them up with GCU. Do you think it is 'negotiated' during recruiting when a player wants to play both? I am not sure what signing day looked like for the programs, but doesn't seem like any of the Arizona programs got some top players. Does GCU have any sand only players? Which programs on the west coast field a sand only team besides USC?
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Post by vbvalley on Apr 17, 2015 17:16:51 GMT -5
Well, maybe the Arizona dream will come true.
LMU is up 2-0 with their #3s and 4s winning the first two matches. LBS now has to get by Sponcil and & Metter and the LMUs #2s. Regarding LMU this year, as Bobby D sang "When you got nothing, you have nothing to lose......"
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Post by fetchin on Apr 17, 2015 17:18:20 GMT -5
Didn't Arizona, go to Hawaii to play Hawaii and USC last year? What happened this year? Why did they schedule nobody??
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Post by beachvball on Apr 17, 2015 17:59:29 GMT -5
Long Beach wins 3-2 over LMU. Don't get too excited Arizona
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Post by vbvalley on Apr 17, 2015 18:10:05 GMT -5
Being able to play both was a big reason for Sarah Sponcil going to LMU. It will be interesting to see what happens next year with their Sand program as 4 players from their 1s, 2s and 3s are graduating.
I watched Grand Canyon play last week when they beat LMU 3-2. They have greatly improved over two years ago and their 1s gave LMU's 1s a tough 3 set match down at Hermosa.
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Sand Natty
Apr 17, 2015 19:57:45 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by trollhunter on Apr 17, 2015 19:57:45 GMT -5
Grand Canyon is interesting .... Arizona beats GCU in the W/L record. The point is that it's a moot point. Arizona isn't in the picture for nationals. Grand Canyon isn't either, but at least it's trying. It's competing. It has a respectable schedule. If the Phoenix-Tucson area is mentioned at all, Grand Canyon should be mentioned first. A basic rule of sports is to compete, and Arizona hasn't really done that. Maybe Arizona tried to game its way to a shot at nationals by ducking the competition except to host Nebraska, which has athletes but doesn't train for sand. Yea i understood your point and responded to it with facts, not opinion. However you conveniently left that part out of the quote. You keep repeatiing that they dont play a tough schedule, however you seem to ignore that there are other selection criteria too. Playing a tough schedule is NOT a requirement. Period. Fact. If Arizona beats UCLA they are tied in selection criteria with Pep and LBSU. Period. Fact. Perhaps you dont like it or think it is unfair, but it is reality. If AZ loses to UCLA than this conversation is moot. Until then, they are definitely in the hunt. P.S. I know that Arizona invited all the California schools to their two tournaments and offered hotel rooms. Obviously they did not accept and Arizona had to settle for out of region teams. I doubt that the top California schools invited Arizona to their home courts.
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Post by lbsandfan on Apr 19, 2015 11:55:47 GMT -5
Any thoughts now on the at-large bid school?
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