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Post by donnyw on Nov 3, 2017 18:26:12 GMT -5
How would one rank the US players? I would be curious to where Brittany Hochevar would rank? She is 36, but she is in tip top shape and I would consider her one of the more athletic players the US have right now. She is a 6' excellent all around player who has been successful both blocking and playing defense, at least in the US currently anyways. Is she better than she was a couple years ago when she was playing with Misty May in those couple tournaments? Why was she partnerless in the 2016 quad, she's a damn good player right now but I don't know where she was as a player 5 years ago. Honestly? Because nobody wants to put up with her sh!t. Heard lots about this chick đĽ. Wouldnât want to partner with her either!
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Post by donnyw on Nov 3, 2017 18:34:58 GMT -5
Iâm not crazy đ enough to bet against Kerri just yet....I think đ¤ Iâll reserve judgment until the last ball of the last qualifying tournament in 2019 comes around. I do know her first mistake is thinking she can get there with Nicole Branagh, which by the looks of npboth their social media pages seems to to the direction they are going...Leaves me shaking my head but I guess stranger things have happened....
Just one other thing to throw out there...,As great a player April ROss is, Maybe we shouldnât all assume that she is a lock for a spot in Toyko...I know it appears she is, but again...stranger things have happened....
Ok...One more thing...I originally thought Sara should go with April and I still think they will. This is the time to make the switch....Gives them 2 1/2 years together to really gel....I think whoever April picks should be her long term, make or break choice leading to 2020..
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Post by haze on Nov 3, 2017 21:19:46 GMT -5
She has a lot of natural ability and a great personality, but yes good grief she has a long ways to go. I saw her in one match this year set the serve, and then later in the same match (maybe later in tournament) I saw her go up to block and the ball stuck between her hands when she came down. Like the most goofiest plays ever. She seems to me like she could be very good in a few years but has a long ways to go to iron out a lot of those little IQ and court intricacies that come from a player transferring out to the beach. First year on tour, starting the season with no points and she ended up with a 2nd, 3rd, 2 7ths and a 9th place finish. That is WAY better than I (or most reasonable folks) would have expected. She did not come into season with a ton of beach experience (i.e., didn't play sand in college, didn't really play that much at the junior level given her indoor commitments). As for the goofy plays, that's to be expected when you're her height and you're learning the game. Pavan was just as awkward, if not more awkward, her first year and now she's perhaps the top blocker on the women's side. I'm bullish on Klineman if she is fully committed to putting in the work. Yea it does show her potential. But you cannot give points like that away on the fivb. Its hard enough just to earn points in general and teams jist dont give points away especially the better ones.
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Post by downtheline on Nov 5, 2017 1:21:13 GMT -5
Welll the AVP sees a future for Alix as she was awarded Rookie of the year, and Maria S. newcomer of the season, congrats to both. New faces, with upside is always a good thing for the sport.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Nov 5, 2017 13:21:48 GMT -5
My understanding is that Summer and April are not partnering. Summer will continue to play with Brooke. April is undecided on a partner. Of course, it's November, and much can change over the next few months.
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Post by donnyw on Nov 5, 2017 17:17:09 GMT -5
My understanding is that Summer and April are not partnering. Summer will continue to play with Brooke. April is undecided on a partner. Of course, it's November, and much can change over the next few months. Geddy.Looking at the FIVB Schedule, it appears the 1st 4 Star event will be in January & Fort Lauderdale is in Feb. She would have to decide sooner than later wouldnât she? A real short offseason for the USA Beach players this year, isnât it?
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Nov 5, 2017 18:08:32 GMT -5
My understanding is that Summer and April are not partnering. Summer will continue to play with Brooke. April is undecided on a partner. Of course, it's November, and much can change over the next few months. Geddy.Looking at the FIVB Schedule, it appears the 1st 4 Star event will be in January & Fort Lauderdale is in Feb. She would have to decide sooner than later wouldnât she? A real short offseason for the USA Beach players this year, isnât it? I think Lauderdale is the last weekend of February. And if the schedule is anything like 2017, the next 3 or 4 star will be late April/early May. If she wanted, Ross could pick up, say, Klineman and use Lauderdale as an "audition," so to speak. If the results weren't so great, April would still have a couple of months to figure something out before the season really picks up. Not an ideal situation, but a manageable one. Assuming, of course, she hasn't picked up a long-term partner before Lauderdale.
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Post by tamz on Nov 5, 2017 18:15:43 GMT -5
Geddy.Looking at the FIVB Schedule, it appears the 1st 4 Star event will be in January & Fort Lauderdale is in Feb. She would have to decide sooner than later wouldnât she? A real short offseason for the USA Beach players this year, isnât it? I think Lauderdale is the last weekend of February. And if the schedule is anything like 2017, the next 3 or 4 star will be late April/early May. If she wanted, Ross could pick up, say, Klineman and use Lauderdale as an "audition," so to speak. If the results weren't so great, April would still have a couple of months to figure something out before the season really picks up. Not an ideal situation, but a manageable one. Assuming, of course, she hasn't picked up a long-term partner before Lauderdale. I really hate to see her like this... two years in a row with an undecided partner. Must be super stressful.
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Post by bigfan on Nov 6, 2017 17:52:18 GMT -5
I agree April should look at blocking if need be and I also think she needs to be more aggressive in searching out a partner. What is the time for getting a partner for 2018?
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Post by JB Southpaw on Nov 6, 2017 18:52:29 GMT -5
apparently they are making changes to the FIVB point system again. People may be waiting on that for partnerships.
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Post by donnyw on Nov 6, 2017 19:24:23 GMT -5
apparently they are making changes to the FIVB point system again. People may be waiting on that for partnerships. This star âď¸ System is confusing! Go back to the way it was!!
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