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Post by coloradokidd on May 19, 2015 19:16:09 GMT -5
For those who believe that Hill has proven herself after winning MVP during World Championship and will def be in Rio, I will have to say that aside from that tournament and that last game against China, Hill was pretty unimpressive in terms of getting kills. In her last and most recent club championship match, she could only get 3 kills, no aces, no blocks and was subbed out. Lauren Gibbemeyer's club team ended up winning instead. I'm very interested to see how Hill will continue to develop for the next 2 years. In other words, I don't think Robinson is that far behind Hill. In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico. Hill played 30+ other games besides that last match and had the second-best hitting percentage among outside hitters in the league (after only Klineman) with a healthy gap to those behind her. She also outhit Robinson significantly over the course of the NT season. But she's not a SPRI girl, so . . . . . "In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico." In the last match you reference for Kelsey Robinson (match #7 of the best of 7); you forgot to mention that Kelsey was playing with a back injury. In her previous 6 matches her points were 24,17,21,20,24, and 18. IMO: So far Kim Hill has earned the #2 OH spot and she will only get better. I don't think it good practice to try to build Kim up by 'cherry picking' facts in trying to cut another player down. - It's not necessary.
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Post by USAFAN on May 19, 2015 19:16:24 GMT -5
The OH position seems to be the glaring weakness in terms of depth. Hodge is coming back from maternity but we all know the continual passing struggles she had prior and nothing indicates that she would come back improved. Lichtman, Hildebrand and Bartsch are not elite IMO. Robinson has potential but still a lot of work needs to be done on her end.
It's a lot of pressure on Larson and Hill to perform without a real backup to come off the bench and perform at the same level.
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Post by c4ndlelight on May 19, 2015 19:19:04 GMT -5
In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico. Hill played 30+ other games besides that last match and had the second-best hitting percentage among outside hitters in the league (after only Klineman) with a healthy gap to those behind her. She also outhit Robinson significantly over the course of the NT season. But she's not a SPRI girl, so . . . . . "In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico." In the last match you reference for Kelsey Robinson (match #7 of the best of 7); you forgot to mention that Kelsey was playing with a back injury. In her previous 6 matches her points were 24,17,21,20,24, and 18. IMO: So far Kim Hill has earned the #2 OH spot and she will only get better. I don't think it good practice to try to build Kim up by 'cherry picking' facts in trying to cut another player down. - It's not necessary. And Hill had 18 points in the match before the one that got pointed out. If anyone was cherry picking facts, it was the poster before me. I was merely applying the same analysis. I'm glad you like Robinson, but there's no need for the SPRI/Nebraska fans to tear down Hill every time her name comes up.
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Post by vbnerd on May 19, 2015 19:35:11 GMT -5
I'm also very surprised that Lloyd isn't getting the opportunity to set for USA. Word is she has struggled with the tempo they want to run. Somebody should start a barnstorming team with the players the WNT isn't using. Hooker, Tom and Lloyd is a nice start to a team.
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Post by nativevolley on May 19, 2015 19:52:13 GMT -5
By the way, what happened to the phenom from Hawaii with the initials K.D? It would have been nice to see her in this "Karch offense". She did okay in Japan the last two years.
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Post by kokyu on May 19, 2015 20:03:25 GMT -5
By the way, what happen to the phenom from Hawaii with the initials K.D? It would have been to see her in the "Karch offense". She did okay in Japan the last two years. USA discriminates against height unlike Brazil and some European countries.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 22:56:27 GMT -5
In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico. Hill played 30+ other games besides that last match and had the second-best hitting percentage among outside hitters in the league (after only Klineman) with a healthy gap to those behind her. She also outhit Robinson significantly over the course of the NT season. But she's not a SPRI girl, so . . . . . I don't think it good practice to try to build Kim up by 'cherry picking' facts in trying to cut another player down. - It's not necessary. Amen. I really don't understand the need some posters have to do this.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2015 22:59:48 GMT -5
"In Robinson's last match, she only had 7 kills as her team lost the semis to Regan Hood's team - and that was in Puerto Rico." In the last match you reference for Kelsey Robinson (match #7 of the best of 7); you forgot to mention that Kelsey was playing with a back injury. In her previous 6 matches her points were 24,17,21,20,24, and 18. IMO: So far Kim Hill has earned the #2 OH spot and she will only get better. I don't think it good practice to try to build Kim up by 'cherry picking' facts in trying to cut another player down. - It's not necessary. And Hill had 18 points in the match before the one that got pointed out. If anyone was cherry picking facts, it was the poster before me. I was merely applying the same analysis. I'm glad you like Robinson, but there's no need for the SPRI/Nebraska fans to tear down Hill every time her name comes up. kc8413 is a SPVB/Nebraska fan? And he tore Kim Hill down? I think that's reaching a bit far.
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Post by chisovnik on May 19, 2015 23:00:52 GMT -5
We are very weak in that position in my opinion. Give it a few years and we'll see a new breed there. I think most would say middle is our strongest position. Paolini does not have the overall game to contend for playing time, IMO. However, she does one thing exceptionally well - hit the slide - I wouldn't be surprised if she were the best we have at that (she was when Harmotto was out). There's value in having that in the gym and practicing against it. Wow. Just when you think you've heard it all...
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Post by nativevolley on May 19, 2015 23:02:03 GMT -5
I'm also very surprised that Lloyd isn't getting the opportunity to set for USA. Word is she has struggled with the tempo they want to run. Somebody should start a barnstorming team with the players the WNT isn't using. Hooker, Tom and Lloyd is a nice start to a team. I was thinking the same thing. They should advertise for a match between the recent former U.S players. Like you had mentioned, Hooker, Tom, and Lloyd are not bad choices. Throw in Scott, Bown, Berg, Kim Willoughby, and few others. That would be fun! *wishful thinking
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Post by ay2013 on May 20, 2015 2:02:08 GMT -5
I'm curious to see how Vansant and Lowe contribute. Vansant is kind of untested with no professional experience under her belt. sometimes those can be the most interesting cases. Robinson came out on fire as a fresh face....
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Post by kc8413 on May 20, 2015 2:08:20 GMT -5
And Hill had 18 points in the match before the one that got pointed out. If anyone was cherry picking facts, it was the poster before me. I was merely applying the same analysis. I'm glad you like Robinson, but there's no need for the SPRI/Nebraska fans to tear down Hill every time her name comes up. kc8413 is a SPVB/Nebraska fan? And he tore Kim Hill down? I think that's reaching a bit far. I think I was the one who posted that Hill might be an even better passer than Larson and Tom in another thread after looking at her passing stats.. I didn't mean to offend Hill. I was just trying to say that Hill isn't that much higher up on the OH list than Robinson and if I think Robinson is great and Hill is at least a little better than Robinson then I don't think I was really bad mouthing Hill at all. In other words, the only really starting OH job in Rio really locked down is Larson':s barring unforeseen events.
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Post by ay2013 on May 20, 2015 2:30:01 GMT -5
Some thoughts....
I think it's pretty clear that the Olympic roster will come from this group of players
People need to give up on Lloyd being any sort of contributor during this quad, maybe even ever for Team USA. We would have seen her by now, it's not happening.
Hooker isn't showing her face, not sure we can win the gold without her. She was a TRUE outlet OPP, I haven't seen that same skill set from anyone else on the roster
I'm surprised Lichtman is still making rosters.
You think injury and a baby is going to turn Shankzilla into a star? please.... if she is a starter in Rio, we aren't getting anywhere near a gold medal. Maybe next quad she can revert to her do everything Penn State heyday. The first time I saw her in person she was the worst thing since sliced white bread...the last time I saw her in person she was passing half the court, making amazing saves on defense, and that chicken wing approach was wrecking havoc regardless of the set....time will tell but Megan is still the most prototypical athletic OH we have on our roster.
Vansant isn't a good enough passer to compete with the A team right now, but I'm glad she's getting reps. I think she can bang the ball just as hard as almost all the other OH's when they were coming out of college and her defense is very solid. At Washington the setting system kept the balls a bit further off the net than team USA and court vision was stressed much more than just blasting the ball. But when she wants to, and in the right offensive system, she can annihilate the ball.
Bartsch is underrated. I always thought the Illinois setters went to the OH too much for her to really be effective and shine, but I'm curious to see how she develops as a role player rather than the focal point of the team.
Love all the middles....I still remember that big debate on volleytalk back in 07 between Akinradewo and Harmotto and who was better...and while I obviously love me some Foluke, I couldn't wait until both would be on the same side of the net....love, in a pod.
I'm not surprised to see N. Hagglund missing. I've said it for years, her passing will keep her from team USA greatness. Since early USC days people were claiming she was the next coming of christ for USA libero, but I rarely saw it in the passing department, and I saw a lot of USC matches. Hoping she can still improve, but again, not surprised to not see her in the full running.
Thompson's probably not starting a 5-1 in the matches the matter most and my guess is that Kreklow isn't experienced enough to wrestle a starting position away. The setting job is Glass' to lose, but I'm hoping Krelow can make a big impact. We all know what a strong serving setter and setter that can accurately set the middles can do to spark a team (flashback of Berg coming in for Ah Mow and decimating). Last time we saw Glass in the big matches she had trouble setting the middles, in particular Foluke. That's not a winning scenario.
Can these players stop changing their names? You CAN be married without changing your last name, thanks.
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Post by SportyBucky on May 20, 2015 8:31:24 GMT -5
Who are these most people you refer to? I would say the same thing was said about Hill in her professional career. Vansant is MUCH further along than Hill and I'd say even Larson as this point in her career compared to those players at the same time. I believe she is a better passer and defender than Megan. I believe she can pass as well as Robinson, but defense may be a wash. I don't think Hill's floor defense is good at all and I know most of these people to whom you refer would agree. What is your frame of reference of the relative passing/defending ability of Larson, Hill, Robinson, and Vansant? I'm pretty sure you don't have data to back up a claim that Vansant is "MUCH further along than Hill," who was the MVP of the World Championships last summer, or data to back up a claim that Vansant is much further along now than Larson was in 2008? You're speaking very assertively about players that I don't think you haven't actually seen in several months, but maybe I'm wrong, or perhaps you have good sources. My comments reflect the opinions of those who've seen them recently in person, the scrimmage from this past weekend, and recent professional matches. From that information, I can't understand how anyone could say that Vansant passes and defends as well as "anyone on the roster." That's the opposite of everything I've seen/heard. I get that you "believe" these things, but I don't know what the foundation of your beliefs is. Much further along "compared to those players at the same time". Read, please. I have no data. Just observation. I also don't claim to have support of the whole vb community in my observation and have said as much. What is your data?
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Post by #skoskers on May 20, 2015 11:33:10 GMT -5
Kreklow isn't experienced enough to wrestle a starting position away. The setting job is Glass' to lose, but I'm hoping Krelow can make a big impact. We all know what a strong serving setter and setter that can accurately set the middles can do to spark a team (flashback of Berg coming in for Ah Mow and decimating). Last time we saw Glass in the big matches she had trouble setting the middles, in particular Foluke. That's not a winning scenario. Kreklow had a fantastic pro rookie season! Her team won the Bundesliga in Germany and had a decent showing in the Champions League, in which she was rated one of the top-5 setters in the tourney for a couple weeks (which included greats like Naz, Maja, Wolosz, Tomkom, Startseva, Lo Bianco, Thompson, just to name a few). IMO the team would have made a stronger push in the CEV CL if they had more than just Bartsch as a bailout terminator; the 5'8" Izquierdo and recovering Lippmann and Pencova just couldn't quite get their team past stronger clubs like Yamamay and Moscow early in the tourney. Although Dresdner upset Fenerbahçe in 5 sets in the playoffs, they failed to make the Round of Six by points. For those interested in seeing Kreklow and Bartsch take down KYK, Bosetti, Bauer, Eda Erdem, and Lo Bianco, here's the match: www.laola1.tv/en-int/video/fenerbahce-grundig-istanbul-dresdner-sc/298876.htmlI anticipate Molly will be pure fire at Eczacibasi this coming pro season, and more people worldwide will get to see and appreciate her fluid setting!
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