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Post by GatorVball on Sept 26, 2004 16:50:44 GMT -5
Figure the conference deserves it's own thread, esp. since conference play kicked off this weekend.
Weekend results Friday Tennessee 3, Ole Miss 0 Florida 3, Arkansas 1 LSU 3, Georgia 0 Alabama 3, Kentucky 2 Miss. State 3, South Carolina 0
Bama swept Auburn earlier in the week
Sunday Tennessee 3, Miss. State 0 Arkansas 3, Georgia 0 Auburn 3, Kentucky 1 Florida 3, LSU 0 South Carolina 3, Ole Miss 0
Standings East Florida 2-0 UT 2-0 USC 1-1 UGA 0-2 UK 0-2
West Bama 2-0 LSU 1-1 MSU 1-1 Arkansas 1-1 Auburn 1-1 Ole Miss 0-2
Thoughts? comments? Hopefully other SEC fans come out to discuss their teams and the league. I really think a few teams have a chance to beat Florida this year. Georgia was having a pretty good pre conference, but they stumbled on the road this weekend, barely being competitive with LSU and Arkansas. UT was quite solid at home and have been all year, losing only to Michigan. Florida was pretty good on the road.
The real surprises have come at the bottom. MSU and Auburn winning matches on the road. USC losing to MSU in 3 at home. The West should come down to Arkansas, Bama and LSU and the EAst should be Tennessee and Florida. I thought Georgia would be there, but I'm not so sure now.
Matches this week
Sep. 28 Alabama at Southern Mississippi LSU at Rice
Sep. 29 Texas at Florida Tennessee at South Carolina*
Oct. 1 Alabama at Georgia* Ole Miss at Arkansas* Auburn at Florida* Kentucky at South Carolina* Mississippi State at LSU*
Oct. 3 Alabama at Florida* Mississippi State at Arkansas* Auburn at Georgia* Kentucky at Tennessee* Ole Miss at LSU*
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Post by LadyLiberty on Sept 26, 2004 17:03:35 GMT -5
i saw the carolina classic last weekend with the gamecocks beating michigan state and notre dame. they really do have some athleticism and perform very well at times. big hitters in vanden hull, cole, ford and morgan. BUT....they still play like a young team. they will go on a run for 5 to 7 points and loose focus. they make mistakes that a young team makes and that was pretty evident when they played notre dame , which also has a young team.
they totally lost focus against mississippi state. mental error after mental error. the question with the gamescocks is whether they will be able to decrease their mental errors. if they can play with their heads in the game for more that 5-7 points, they could be a factor.
i would look for really good things from the gamecocks next year and the year after.
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Post by simplycurious on Sept 26, 2004 22:27:54 GMT -5
I have quite a few friends in this conference, so I'll "bite" (like the Gator reference? ;D) I have to admit that I'm impressed so far with what Rob, Mike and Cindy are doing in Knoxsville. The Vols are off to their best start since the '73 team and I'm really looking forward to their matches with Florida! This could prove to be an interesting match! I'm curious to hear what GatorVball thinks about Florida dropping a game to Arkansas this weekend?
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Post by GatorVball on Sept 26, 2004 22:37:19 GMT -5
Not a surprise the Gators dropped a game at Arkansas. For starters, Arkansas always plays well at home. Gators have dropped the opening game in half their matches to this point, including 5 of the last 6 before today, with all 5 coming away from home. The encouraging thing is the Gators played about as poorly as they can in that opening game, with no blocks and 6 serving errors, and still almost won it, much like game 1 at Florida State. The slow starts do concern me in the fact that it's hard to come back, but this team seems to have no problem doing that. Even in their loss, they came back to take a 2-1 lead on Minnesota. I would like to see them come out playing well at the start, like they did today. Hopefully that is a sign of them improving, getting better and more comfortable in their roles.
I would expect that Friday night match in a few weeks at Tennessee to be their toughest in conference test, at least up to this point. I was very pleased with how they played today, against what appears to be a pretty decent and improved LSU team. With the distractions of the hurricane back home, they were focused and they dominated it basically from start to finish, blocked well, served amazingly well, they did everything well, esp. limiting their unforced errors(only 6, as LSU had 5 blocks). I really don't expect them to go undefeated in the SEC again, but we shall see. I do know that by the time December rolls around, they are a team that no one will want to play. I look forward to the match against Texas, it'll be just the 4th time I've seen them this year, as they've only had 2 home matches up to this point cause of the stupid hurricanes that just won't leave us alone.
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Post by simplycurious on Sept 26, 2004 22:50:01 GMT -5
Thanks for your insight GatorVball! What are the chances of getting a tape of the Texas match (provided it ends up being a good match) or the Tennessee one (again if it pans out the way we're hoping)? Can fans videotape matches they attend there in Gainesville or don't the Gators allow that? Hit me back with a reply here or an IM and let me know. Thanks!
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Post by GatorVball on Sept 26, 2004 22:57:24 GMT -5
Thanks for your insight GatorVball! What are the chances of getting a tape of the Texas match (provided it ends up being a good match) or the Tennessee one (again if it pans out the way we're hoping)? Can fans videotape matches they attend there in Gainesville or don't the Gators allow that? Hit me back with a reply here or an IM and let me know. Thanks! I don't think videocameras are allowed inside. I do know that both those matches will be on tv. Sunshine Network in Florida and Fox College Sports elsewhere.
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Post by simplycurious on Sept 26, 2004 23:02:04 GMT -5
I don't think videocameras are allowed inside. I do know that both those matches will be on tv. Sunshine Network in Florida and Fox College Sports elsewhere. Unfortunately I don't get either one of those networks, so let me know if you'll be taping them and perhaps we can work out an 'exchange' if that's cool. Ok?
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Post by GatorVball on Sept 26, 2004 23:07:28 GMT -5
If I had a working vcr, I would. But my vcr went kaput on me last year.
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Post by simplycurious on Sept 26, 2004 23:20:10 GMT -5
Come on, those things are like $20 at WalMart or free with a subscription to TV Guide!! ;D
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Post by GatorVball on Sept 26, 2004 23:27:31 GMT -5
On my limited budget, 20 bucks is like a week of food for me. ;D Plus, with the last hurricane that came through, Frances, I lost all the food I had in my fridge and freezer when our power was out for 3 days. it wasn't fun. One of these days I'll be out of school and no longer poor. I'll see if I can find someone to tape the matches.
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Post by simplycurious on Sept 26, 2004 23:49:42 GMT -5
I'm sorry to hear that you got 'hit hard' with the hurricanes! Next time stick to drinking them, that's always helped me! ;D I think a VCR might have come with the box of Pop Tarts I just bought. If so, I'll send it to you. Although after reading your post, perhaps I should just send the box of Pop Tarts!
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Post by GatorVball on Sept 27, 2004 17:03:23 GMT -5
UT's Kristin Andre named SEC Player of the Week. UF's Sherri Williams named defensive player of the week.
Kristen Andre came within on kill of her career high posting 20 kills in UT's win over No.15 Louisville on Wednesday. The junior posted 48 kills this week, with a .422 hitting percentage. Andre tallied 17 kills in Sunday's 3-0 sweep over Mississippi State, hitting at a .452 clip. Andre average 4.8 kills/game, .20 assist, .50 aces, .90 digs and 1.2 blocks
Sherri Williams averaged nearly three blocks per game while chipping with 2.57 kills per game in leading the Gators to a pair of wins last week. Williams posted nine total blocks at Arkansas before setting a season high with 10 total blocks in Florida's victory at LSU. Sherri averaged 2.71 blocks/game and .47 digs/game
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Post by eastcoaster on Sept 28, 2004 14:52:07 GMT -5
Big Game for Tennesse and South Carolina 9/29 - south carolina is very athletic team. This will be a good test for both. And then on Sunday Alabama goes to florida. Bama is on a roll. But this is where the roll ends.
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Post by TDCincy on Sept 28, 2004 15:35:03 GMT -5
Tennessee is VERY strong this year. More talent and much deeper than they have been in a long time. Their only stumble so far has been at Michigan, but Michigan played out of their minds, having just been upset themselves by Western Michigan that morning, then coming back to a huge rowdy Saturday night crowd boosting them.
Go Vols!
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Post by believer on Sept 28, 2004 16:23:10 GMT -5
I am a Florida believer. I just hope that neither Texas, Alabama or Tennessee has great servers because Florida's serve receive could be this years nemesis. No problem with the blocks but Florida has some challenges getting to the ball to make a good set when passes are errant. This match with Texas is a key one. Texas is more like Minnesotta in that they come from a conference in which they have learned how to win and not roll over. The Gators can not afford to loose another first game because a come back will be much more difficult.
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