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Post by socalsurf on May 9, 2016 23:08:17 GMT -5
Yeah, Hughes is pretty instinctive and seems to always make the right read on defense and up at the net attacking. Very quick to the ball, savvy, and unassuming as well--you don't expect much power to come out of her arm or her vertical, but it's there. Those videos posted above were great. The thing I like most about her though is her leadership. Even when she was a freshman paired with a senior Kirby Burnham back in 2013, she was constantly talking out on the court and you could always hear her. There's definitely a sense of poise and confidence there that makes it obvious that she grew up playing beach. Just a very good leader out on the court, never gets too down or too confident--but can be fiery and competitive as well. That's why I think her and Claes make a good pair, they're both pretty solid and even keel, but uber competitive and can explode and get the crowd roaring with some spectacular plays. E.g. this video: http://instagr.am/p/BFKM5jKszlU They've both got the power and finesse, and like geddy said, they're still pretty young and I think there's a lot of potential for growth, so I would not be surprised to see them in Tokyo in 2020.
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Post by guest2 on May 10, 2016 1:24:49 GMT -5
Those are awesome videos. Interesting perspectives. It will be nice to see another US team that can compete internationally. Who do other college teams serve?
Does anyone know what their plans are for the summer? Please say AVP.
Right now there is virtually nothing to look forward to on the women's side and these guys would create some interesting scenarios.
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Post by socalsurf on May 10, 2016 2:03:37 GMT -5
This season, I think teams served Hughes more simply because no one has been able to stop Claes at the net... She's a legit 6-2/6-3 and can absolutely hammer the crap out of the ball, which is pretty intimidating. She's ambidextrous too and can smash with both hands so teams tended to shy away from her.
Don't think that was the case last season though, IIRC. I think teams tried to target Claes on serve receive because she was still pretty unpolished as a passer and blocker (I believe Fopma/Ross targeted her in that one AVP in NY?) but that's something that has developed a ton since then--better first contact/ball control and better shot selection on third contact.
And as for summer, in the interview that DestinationVB did after the championship they mentioned international play, AVP, and NORCECA events
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Post by JB Southpaw on May 10, 2016 6:55:13 GMT -5
Love all this info on the college girls, I didn't get to see USC play.
Are there other legit #1 teams? or after this team it's more about single players?
I saw FSU, Hawaii, UCLA, Setson, FIU, FAU play and I saw players, more than I saw a "team" that stood out.
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Post by socalsurf on May 10, 2016 14:28:22 GMT -5
Love all this info on the college girls, I didn't get to see USC play. Are there other legit #1 teams? or after this team it's more about single players? I saw FSU, Hawaii, UCLA, Setson, FIU, FAU play and I saw players, more than I saw a "team" that stood out. Hmm, I don't think there are any pairs out there on the same level as Claes/Hughes... they're already thinking ahead with a pro-level mentality, and in interviews they often say "Would this shot go down on a Kerri Walsh/April Ross?" so if the college game was going to produce a future Team USA pair, it'd be them. There are a few solid one pairs out there though, like Spieler/Maglio (Hawaii), the Witt twins (Arizona), and the McNamara twins (UCLA). The thing is though, IMO it's tough to create a good consistent pairing that will last beyond college because of how often players come in and out of a program due to graduation, new recruits, transfers, etc. Plus you have some international players that come in and thus can't play for the same country (Maglio, the McNamaras, and Sophie Bukovec from USC all play for Canada), some pairings the might play together during summers or in high school but choose separate colleges, etc. That shuffles a lot of the pairings around throughout the years and so unless you come in and start out as a pair together at the same time as freshmen, it's rare that you end up playing 3+ years with just one person. (Like Spieler from Hawaii, who has been a very good single player but has had to move around with so many different partners. That's also why I think the Witt and McNamara twins are solid--they're sisters and have been developing that partnership since birth.) Of course, it can certainly be done, but if the plan is to churn out future national team players, it's pretty tough.
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Post by woodandsand on May 10, 2016 14:50:51 GMT -5
One of the top college players didn't even play this year, Sarah Sponcil! She and Betsi Metter beat Claes/Hughes twice last year if my memory serves me right?
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Post by FOBRA on May 10, 2016 15:03:23 GMT -5
One of the top college players didn't even play this year, Sarah Sponcil! She and Betsi Metter beat Claes/Hughes twice last year if my memory serves me right? I don't remember if it was twice, but yes that team was very good. I'm sure you'll see Sponcil, Spieler, Pardon and some others all take a crack at the pro tour. I think Hughes is actually the better player of Claes/Hughes but I can see Claes' height being coveted by players looking for partners. Much harder to find a skilled big than it is a defender.
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Post by haze on May 10, 2016 16:18:01 GMT -5
I might possibly be one of the few that actually think Hughes is going to be the higher ceiling, and that's absolutely no disrespect to Claes.
Claes's game has really grown, and she was deserved in her award this season. She's an explosive impact player that is dominating in college because she is bigger, stronger, and more dynamic than most all others. Some of that is going to be neutralized on the AVP, and even moreso on the FIVB, but I still think she is going to be a great World Class player on the FIVB.
Sara Hughes is really a special player. Her volleyball IQ and vision of the game is really unparalleled IMO. Her skill and technique is really nice, she does absolutely everything really really well, but what's going to separate her on the AVP and FIVB is her ability to just read the flow of the game. She has a unique ability to read players' ability and when you match that with her reaction and ability to make plays along with her already existing technique, it isn't only going to take her along to adapt to the different games but it's going to allow her to adapt to different types of competition and players as well.
I really love April Ross's game, she's arguably the best in the world right now and deservedly so, and she's also the sole reason why I even started paying attention to the women's game, but IMHO CLaes would really be doing her career a disservice by choosing her over Hughes, even if it's only for a few years. I don't know what their professional plans are going to be, but if they choose to stick together they both have the ability to put together a very special and unique career, one in which we really haven't ever seen before on either the men's or women's side. They have already proven they compete in the AVP right now together and they are both only going to get better fast.
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Post by haze on May 10, 2016 16:40:12 GMT -5
What's going on with Sponcil? I know nothing about her, but I see she's 19 years old, not playing college Beach anymore, according to her Bio she didn't play at all last year on the AVP or this year, is she mainly an indoor player or just not done playing? Also whatever happened to that Jane Croson? I know this is a crazy thread drift but we should have a "Whatever happened too......" thread.
Nevermind.....seeing Sponcil is still playing at Loyola indoors. SHe must be an indoors only player.
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Post by downtheline on May 10, 2016 16:56:42 GMT -5
Sarah S. is representing USAV Beach @ U21 world championships.
Hughes & Claes @ U25 most likely since they must still tryout for the spot.
I think VB fans might want to look at the position players v. whom is overall better of the two. Claes is the fence and Hughes the defense. What is a killer for the competition is they both posses fire power, shot making and setting skills beyond their age group right now. They both ran 6-2's in high school and club setting, blocking and crushing from the right.
Kelly has made amazing strides in the past few years, yet so has Sara. Remember she used to play the net with JWO, the Nebraska libero. As a matter of fact, both girls won NCAA championships in their chosen sports this year, pretty amazing factoid for such life long friends that played club and beach together at a high level since 10 years old.
Back to Kelly. Her ceiling is unknown both physically and mentally. After training hard in the weight room her body is far more in control and she is jumping higher than ever. When she can eliminate the unforced errors, look out world with these two partners. In the final 21-10 she hit 6 shots/serves out, but what are you going to do, slow down and beat them 21-4? At the next level those will be bigger mistakes, but week by week both of them play better as partners.
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Post by FOBRA on May 10, 2016 17:09:47 GMT -5
Nevermind.....seeing Sponcil is still playing at Loyola indoors. SHe must be an indoors only player. She took a year off of LMU beach. As mentioned, she's at U21 World Championships right now playing with Torrey Van Winden.
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Post by fetchin on May 10, 2016 17:41:05 GMT -5
Nevermind.....seeing Sponcil is still playing at Loyola indoors. SHe must be an indoors only player. She took a year off of LMU beach. As mentioned, she's at U21 World Championships right now playing with Torrey Van Winden. Im still curious about why she took the 2016 beach season off? Injury?
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Post by tinman2 on May 10, 2016 20:28:34 GMT -5
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Post by woodandsand on May 10, 2016 23:09:31 GMT -5
She took a year off of LMU beach. As mentioned, she's at U21 World Championships right now playing with Torrey Van Winden. Im still curious about why she took the 2016 beach season off? Injury? Sara didn't really have a partner to be paired with this year. Betsi graduated last year and nobody there to match her caliber, so saving a year of eligibility and guessing will resume with one of the incoming recruits.
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Post by fetchin on May 11, 2016 2:19:38 GMT -5
Im still curious about why she took the 2016 beach season off? Injury? Sara didn't really have a partner to be paired with this year. Betsi graduated last year and nobody there to match her caliber, so saving a year of eligibility and guessing will resume with one of the incoming recruits. I see thanks. Don't wanna piss LMU fans off, but if she transfers to UCLA she can possibly beat out Riley Buechler and start at a top 10 indoor team and partner up with Van Winden on the beach for 3 years and challenge for a National championship. Or she could do the same at Hawaii and beat out Mckenna Granato to start for a top 10 team indoor and partner with Morgan Martin or Maglio for 3 years to challenge for a beach championship, Or USC if she wants to be a beach only player and be favorites for the national championship lol
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