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Post by ay2013 on Jul 25, 2016 20:43:35 GMT -5
Ruddins hitting over .400 on the season is decent? She was significantly improved and much more comfortable in the middle last year. As a USC fan, I think Ruddins did a solid job for her first season in the middle and I was pleased with her production. But I think it is fair to say that coming in as the #2 recruit her career has been a bit underwhelming. I hope I am mistaken and I hope she does have a huge senior season and contends for AA honors. SC still has a really solid lineup even with the loss of Johnson. RS-Abercrombie, I hope we see her play all around. Hits great angles, needs to improve her OOS hitting but she is capable of being a good option out of right back. No reason she couldn't wind up as a 2nd team All American this year. OH-Lanier, the #1 incoming recruit in the country. Experienced nationally and internationally. Will not replace Bricio, but could contend for AA honors. OH-Ford, a really explosive outside hitter who hit .238 in the Pac 12. Not bad for a freshman MB-Ruddins, a former #2 overall recruit, she looked comfortable in the middle and should get more swings this year. MB-Davis, a very mobile 6-5 incoming middle blocker from TAV. Haven't seen a ton of her, but I am guessing she could make an impact from day one. L-Whittingham, one of the best liberos in the country. Also, an outstanding 2nd setter. She'll be huge for this squad DS-Garrick, another really strong defensive player who will be back in the mix. SC will return 2 of their 3 primary passers last year and fields a lineup littered with kids who were top 20 recruits. 3 were top 5 recruits coming out of high school. There isn't an obvious Bricio/Nwanebu/Jupiter type of hitter, but Lanier and/or Abercrombie could evolve into that role over the course of the season. SC will not be as strong this year with a lot of new faces, but they'll still be a Final Four threat. I think your assessment is fair. Even with the loss of several great players, USC does have a lot of top 20 talent any number of which could have breakout seasons. I would love to see USC get back to the final four. They've been really unlucky in getting so close to it but coming up short, both in 2013 and again in 2015. They should have made it to the final four in both those years but fell flat in the home stretch. Time will tell! I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home.
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Post by Longhorn20 on Jul 25, 2016 22:31:40 GMT -5
As a USC fan, I think Ruddins did a solid job for her first season in the middle and I was pleased with her production. But I think it is fair to say that coming in as the #2 recruit her career has been a bit underwhelming. I hope I am mistaken and I hope she does have a huge senior season and contends for AA honors. I think your assessment is fair. Even with the loss of several great players, USC does have a lot of top 20 talent any number of which could have breakout seasons. I would love to see USC get back to the final four. They've been really unlucky in getting so close to it but coming up short, both in 2013 and again in 2015. They should have made it to the final four in both those years but fell flat in the home stretch. Time will tell! ; I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home. I have a feeling this is more in reference to USC having match point(s) in both of those games
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trojansc
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Post by trojansc on Jul 25, 2016 23:12:20 GMT -5
I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home. I have a feeling this is more in reference to USC having match point(s) in both of those games SC never had match point against Kansas. They were up 13-9 and lost 6 straight points. I remember sitting in JCP thinking okay, 13-9. What a comeback. Can't wait to watch the re-match when I get back to my hotel. Let's just say I don't watch that match anymore. 38 kills (Krista Vansant) and 13-9 haunt Mr. Haley
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Post by scottysocc on Jul 26, 2016 12:32:08 GMT -5
As a USC fan, I think Ruddins did a solid job for her first season in the middle and I was pleased with her production. But I think it is fair to say that coming in as the #2 recruit her career has been a bit underwhelming. I hope I am mistaken and I hope she does have a huge senior season and contends for AA honors. I think your assessment is fair. Even with the loss of several great players, USC does have a lot of top 20 talent any number of which could have breakout seasons. I would love to see USC get back to the final four. They've been really unlucky in getting so close to it but coming up short, both in 2013 and again in 2015. They should have made it to the final four in both those years but fell flat in the home stretch. Time will tell! ; I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home. Maybe Washington was the better team. And maybe Washington was the favorite going in. But either way it was USC's match to lose after being up 2 sets to none, and having match points. Ruddins hit a match point wide by half an inch in that match! (If my memory isn't failing me). My broader point though was that I think USC has been pretty unlucky in coming up just short in these regional finals, especially being up 13-9 in the 5th set agains Kansas. If you replayed that 5th set starting at 13-9 ten times over, USC would have won 9 of them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 26, 2016 13:37:26 GMT -5
I don't see any players on this roster getting First or Second Team AA. Can't remember the last time USC had a season without an AA. SC still has a really solid lineup even with the loss of Johnson. RS-Abercrombie, I hope we see her play all around. Hits great angles, needs to improve her OOS hitting but she is capable of being a good option out of right back. No reason she couldn't wind up as a 2nd team All American this year. OH-Lanier, the #1 incoming recruit in the country. Experienced nationally and internationally. Will not replace Bricio, but could contend for AA honors. OH-Ford, a really explosive outside hitter who hit .238 in the Pac 12. Not bad for a freshman MB-Ruddins, a former #2 overall recruit, she looked comfortable in the middle and should get more swings this year. MB-Davis, a very mobile 6-5 incoming middle blocker from TAV. Haven't seen a ton of her, but I am guessing she could make an impact from day one. L-Whittingham, one of the best liberos in the country. Also, an outstanding 2nd setter. She'll be huge for this squad DS-Garrick, another really strong defensive player who will be back in the mix. SC will return 2 of their 3 primary passers last year and fields a lineup littered with kids who were top 20 recruits. 3 were top 5 recruits coming out of high school. There isn't an obvious Bricio/Nwanebu/Jupiter type of hitter, but Lanier and/or Abercrombie could evolve into that role over the course of the season. SC will not be as strong this year with a lot of new faces, but they'll still be a Final Four threat. But let's not leave out the setter position... is Pizzasegola looking improved over previous seasons? Is Nikki Leonard, who lost her starting position at Gonzaga last season to a freshman, expected to factor in for USC?
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 26, 2016 13:40:04 GMT -5
I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home. Maybe Washington was the better team. And maybe Washington was the favorite going in. But either way it was USC's match to lose after being up 2 sets to none, and having match points. Ruddins hit a match point wide by half an inch in that match! (If my memory isn't failing me). My broader point though was that I think USC has been pretty unlucky in coming up just short in these regional finals, especially being up 13-9 in the 5th set agains Kansas. If you replayed that 5th set starting at 13-9 ten times over, USC would have won 9 of them. Gotcha, so you are saying that USC put themselves in a position to win and a combination of factors have kept them out of the final four. I can agree with that but I still think in that 2013 match, the argument could have been made that Washington should have never been down 0-2 to begin with, but I digress. I think USC is one of the biggest enigma's among the top teams both last year and this year. I think 2013 they just got handed an unlucky draw in facing a strong Washington team, meanwhile Missouri and Florida gets the top seeds in a regional to themselves (rolls eyes). We can all agree that 2014 was a sh*t show, but I actually think that it was more a product of youth (Abercrombie, Ruddins, Gillis, and Pizza were all underclassmen) and injuries (Nwanebu) and, probably most importantly, the Pac-12 had a number of upperclassmen pins who could put the ball down when the team needed it. I don't think USC was a bad team in 2014, I just think that the Pac-12 just had a lot of very good teams that could, at the very least, match the OOS terminating production that USC put on the floor that year. By time 2015 came around I think USC just had the terminating pin advantage in most of their match ups with Bricio. I don't think people really appreciate what Bricio brought to this team in conjunction with what the other Pac-12 teams did NOT have, but those advantages were diminished against Kansas as they too had a pin who could terminate at the same relative level of Bricio and a setter who could get her the ball. When many of these sets are decided by just a few points, the confidence of a proven upperclassmen scorer cannot be quantified. I think the LS will make or break how good or not good USC will be this year.
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Post by n00b on Jul 26, 2016 14:25:28 GMT -5
But let's not leave out the setter position... is Pizzasegola looking improved over previous seasons? Is Nikki Leonard, who lost her starting position at Gonzaga last season to a freshman, expected to factor in for USC? Last year makes me think that they are pretty committed to the 6-2. Johnson was a a pretty mediocre attacker and the better setter of the two but they still went 6-2 with her hitting while in the front row.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Jul 26, 2016 14:35:33 GMT -5
But let's not leave out the setter position... is Pizzasegola looking improved over previous seasons? Is Nikki Leonard, who lost her starting position at Gonzaga last season to a freshman, expected to factor in for USC? Last year makes me think that they are pretty committed to the 6-2. Johnson was a a pretty mediocre attacker and the better setter of the two but they still went 6-2 with her hitting while in the front row. I don't think they ran the slide well enough to spread the court in a 5-1. If Jordan Dunn is healthy, she could provide that.
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Post by bumper2bumper on Jul 26, 2016 15:56:31 GMT -5
I'd argue that in 2013, USC just simply lost to the better team on the year. USC had already lost to UW twice that year, before losing again at home. Maybe Washington was the better team. And maybe Washington was the favorite going in. But either way it was USC's match to lose after being up 2 sets to none, and having match points. Ruddins hit a match point wide by half an inch in that match! (If my memory isn't failing me). My broader point though was that I think USC has been pretty unlucky in coming up just short in these regional finals, especially being up 13-9 in the 5th set agains Kansas. If you replayed that 5th set starting at 13-9 ten times over, USC would have won 9 of them. Aw yes, the 2013 season. If memory serves me, SC lost both regular season matches against the Huskies but swept both matches against the Cardinal. The Cardinal won 3-0 at home against Washington and lost a close 3 set match in Seattle. When Washington lost at Maples, they also should have lost at Cal, with the Bears having 3 match points but unable to finish off the Dawgs. And after SC lost at the Hec Ed, they also had a 2 sets to none led in Pullman, with the Cougars rallying to send the match to a fifth set, the Trojans having 6 match points only to lose 21-19. So, if Cal closes out Washington, and SC closes out the Cougs, there probably should have been tri-champs for the Pac-12 crown that season. And chances are that the Huskies wouldn't have been sent to the LA regional.
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Post by bumper2bumper on Jul 26, 2016 16:11:15 GMT -5
Maybe Washington was the better team. And maybe Washington was the favorite going in. But either way it was USC's match to lose after being up 2 sets to none, and having match points. Ruddins hit a match point wide by half an inch in that match! (If my memory isn't failing me). My broader point though was that I think USC has been pretty unlucky in coming up just short in these regional finals, especially being up 13-9 in the 5th set agains Kansas. If you replayed that 5th set starting at 13-9 ten times over, USC would have won 9 of them. Aw yes, the 2013 season. If memory serves me, SC lost both regular season matches against the Huskies but swept both matches against the Cardinal. The Cardinal won 3-0 at home against Washington and lost a close 3 set match in Seattle. When Washington lost at Maples, they also should have lost at Cal, with the Bears having 3 match points but unable to finish off the Dawgs. And after SC lost at the Hec Ed, they also had a 2 sets to none led in Pullman, with the Cougars rallying to send the match to a fifth set, the Trojans having 6 match points only to lose 21-19. So, if Cal closes out Washington, and SC closes out the Cougs, there probably should have been tri-champs for the Pac-12 crown that season. And chances are that the Huskies wouldn't have been sent to the LA regional. Didn't mean swept Stanford, but won both matches.
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Post by Gilmoy on Jul 26, 2016 16:44:02 GMT -5
And after SC lost at the Hec Ed, they also had a 2 sets to none led in Pullman, with the Cougars rallying to send the match to a fifth set, the Trojans having 6 match points only to lose 21-19. Nine match points This actually happened: 1. London '12 QF#2: A1.Russia 6 match points vs B4.Brasil from 14 to 19, losing 19-21. Gamova retires. 2. Fall 2013: On a lark, I watch high school girl's volleyball (we're in the playoffs). It's my first time back since I graduated in 1983, so 30 years(!) -- hey life happens. One PHS alum is also a current Coug, and she visits, and gets mobbed like a pop star. I randomly overhear her telling a war story: "once at state, we were down 09-14 in the 5th ... and we came back and won", and everybody's eyes got huge. So the stage is set. 3. 2013/11/17 Sun, WSU - USC (a day after NCAA woso R1 WSU - UIUC, the unfamous Ice Melt Slush Bowl). USC led 08-14, so that's six match points until we tied at 14. USC had 3 more match points from 17 to 19. WSU 21-19. Two memes for the price of one!! It's in the "Illinois 2013" woso thread because I had (ahem) nowhere else to put it.
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Post by bumper2bumper on Jul 26, 2016 17:48:40 GMT -5
And after SC lost at the Hec Ed, they also had a 2 sets to none led in Pullman, with the Cougars rallying to send the match to a fifth set, the Trojans having 6 match points only to lose 21-19. Nine match points This actually happened: 1. London '12 QF#2: A1.Russia 6 match points vs B4.Brasil from 14 to 19, losing 19-21. Gamova retires. 2. Fall 2013: On a lark, I watch high school girl's volleyball (we're in the playoffs). It's my first time back since I graduated in 1983, so 30 years(!) -- hey life happens. One PHS alum is also a current Coug, and she visits, and gets mobbed like a pop star. I randomly overhear her telling a war story: "once at state, we were down 09-14 in the 5th ... and we came back and won", and everybody's eyes got huge. So the stage is set. 3. 2013/11/17 Sun, WSU - USC (just before NCAA woso R1 WSU - UIUC, the unfamous Slush Bowl). USC led 08-14, so that's six match points until we tied at 14. USC had 3 more match points from 17 to 19. WSU 21-19. Two memes for the price of one!! It's in the "Illinois 2013" woso thread because I had (ahem) nowhere else to put it. I was in Salem, Or at the time and my sister's cable service package only carried Pac12 Oregon, so I couldn't watch the match (though I don't know if it was shown live or streamed back in LA anyway), so I followed the match on CBS Sport's Gametracker. First, couldn't believe the Cougs came back, and secondly with the score at 14-8 SC, figured it was over. Checked again and it was tied! Finally saw the final score and was shocked.
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Post by scottysocc on Jul 26, 2016 18:44:16 GMT -5
For being arguably the best setting coach in the country, Mick has had pretty mediocre setters these past several years. Johnson was a good freshman, sure. But even with her it wasn't her setting that made her good.
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Post by liberosetter101 on Jul 26, 2016 19:16:42 GMT -5
For being arguably the best setting coach in the country, Mick has had pretty mediocre setters these past several years. Johnson was a good freshman, sure. But even with her it wasn't her setting that made her good. Except for Kendall Bateman.
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Post by ay2013 on Jul 26, 2016 21:05:01 GMT -5
For being arguably the best setting coach in the country, Mick has had pretty mediocre setters these past several years. Johnson was a good freshman, sure. But even with her it wasn't her setting that made her good. This isn't the first time someone has said that haley is arguably the best setting coach in the country. I find this suggestion odd and without many good on court examples in at least a decade.
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