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Post by dunninla3 on Aug 18, 2019 19:47:33 GMT -5
April ... needs to mix it up because Canada up 15-14 now. To be fair, she mixed it up a LOT more this match than at Worlds. I wrote in that thread that April only went high line exactly twice... twice, at the same time sending maybe 12 angle heaters into MHP's lap. This time April went high line at least 10 times, usually successfully. She made MHP start leaning one way or the other, which is what she wanted by mixing it up. Pavan is tough to sideout on, period. She can make any hitter look like anything other than offensive player of the year. April made a ton of progress since Worlds in her offensive game plan vs. Pavan, and extended them to extra time in the 3rd set. These two teams are now pretty much "pick em" when they meet. To make A-Team a favorite -- 1. Better serving in crunch time 2. Better sets from Alix in crunch time. 3. Alix getting blocks throughout the match and not mostly 3rd set. Pavan's serve receive was better than usual. Very few shanks. This team is really tough to beat when Pavan isn't shanking. I honestly don't think any hitter does better vs. Pavan, the way Pavan was blocking today, than April did, when the set was hittable. Don't forget April is only getting the ball set into her optimal hitting window only a little over half the time. Against the game's best block, set placement can be the difference between winning and losing. Does anyone have stats on hitting % vs. Pavan this year?
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Post by ajm on Aug 18, 2019 19:59:22 GMT -5
Man how many times did April get blocked this match??? She needs to mix it up because Canada up 15-14 now. To be fair, she mixed it up a LOT more this match than at Worlds. I wrote in that thread that April only went high line exactly twice... twice, at the same time sending maybe 12 angle heaters into MHP's lap. Pavan is tough to sideout on, period. She can make any hitter look like anything other than offensive player of the year. April made a ton of progress since Worlds in her offensive game plan vs. Pavan, and extended them to extra time in the 3rd set. These two teams are now pretty much "pick em" when they meet. To make A-Team a favorite -- 1. Better serving in crunch time 2. Better sets from Alix in crunch time. I honestly don't think any hitter does better vs. Pavan, the way Pavan was blocking today, than April, when the set was hittable. Does anyone have stats on hitting % vs. Pavan this year? Also, April doesn't have the vertical jump any more to be able to hit line cross-body with authority from the left side against an elite opponent. She got blocked or dug every time. I agree she used the high line more than at Worlds. I'd also like to see her use the cut shot a bit more, but those sets from Alix often don't give her that option. April is just going through the phase every older player does when she realizes she no longer has the explosiveness to swing away on everything. She just needs to get a bit more comfortable seeing the court and hitting shots and it will extend her career.
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Post by guest2 on Aug 18, 2019 22:43:51 GMT -5
April ... needs to mix it up because Canada up 15-14 now. To be fair, she mixed it up a LOT more this match than at Worlds. I wrote in that thread that April only went high line exactly twice... twice, at the same time sending maybe 12 angle heaters into MHP's lap. This time April went high line at least 10 times, usually successfully. She made MHP start leaning one way or the other, which is what she wanted by mixing it up. Pavan is tough to sideout on, period. She can make any hitter look like anything other than offensive player of the year. April made a ton of progress since Worlds in her offensive game plan vs. Pavan, and extended them to extra time in the 3rd set. These two teams are now pretty much "pick em" when they meet. To make A-Team a favorite -- 1. Better serving in crunch time 2. Better sets from Alix in crunch time. 3. Alix getting blocks throughout the match and not mostly 3rd set. Pavan's serve receive was better than usual. Very few shanks. This team is really tough to beat when Pavan isn't shanking. I honestly don't think any hitter does better vs. Pavan, the way Pavan was blocking today, than April did, when the set was hittable. Don't forget April is only getting the ball set into her optimal hitting window only a little over half the time. Against the game's best block, set placement can be the difference between winning and losing. Does anyone have stats on hitting % vs. Pavan this year? Other teams can because they have the ability to move Sara around. With all their awesome skills thats one ability the Ateam doesn't have. Agree on serving but I dont think its serving Sara hard its getting MHP in passing trouble the forcing Sara's unreliable bump set to get her close enough to swing. You are also dead on with the third key. Alix has to block better. The ATeam is almost ideal stylistically for MHP, because the relative lack of speed gives her an out when Sara sets poorly or when her swing is a little off. Alix has to make up for that. Love these rivalries though. Between Canada 1 and Duda the Ateam has some of the best serieses in VB going
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Post by guest2 on Aug 18, 2019 23:01:07 GMT -5
Very similar to Kerri/Brooke, Heather is not a very good player and a lot of what they do works less well the second or third time around. I think it’s more than just that. They were the #1 team in the world last year. Neither player has been playing her best this year. I think it’s fair to wonder whether there’s an injury involved. The way Heather and Brooke are playing now is basically the way they have played for their entire careers. Its why Pavan dumped her and its why Brooke never got a top partner previously. Heather/Brandie had a really nice run for 4-5 events, but then teams got used to Brandie and Heather remembered she is Heather. They are still probably a top 10 team, the way KW/BS sort of are, and Brandie is so dynamic, they are always a threat, but teams like Duda, the Ateam etc. wil always beat them when playing well because they can go to a level not accessible to Heather
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Post by txbvbfan on Aug 19, 2019 6:55:57 GMT -5
Too many missed serves by USA in finals.
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Post by beachbomb on Aug 19, 2019 11:53:01 GMT -5
I thought Alix was incredible... I thought April was in her head about having to put so much pressure on her serve and so much pressure getting around Pavan on the block... and well those two spots killed her... tons of kills but Pavan probably had 10 blocks in the final... again things that alix was doing makes me excited for her future and even Toyko ...
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Post by tamz on Aug 19, 2019 12:08:37 GMT -5
I thought Alix was incredible... I thought April was in her head about having to put so much pressure on her serve and so much pressure getting around Pavan on the block... and well those two spots killed her... tons of kills but Pavan probably had 10 blocks in the final... again things that alix was doing makes me excited for her future and even Toyko ... Agreed. Alix was saving them and keeping them alive. April needs to figure out when to stop serving so aggressively if it doesn’t work.
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Post by dunninla3 on Aug 19, 2019 13:16:13 GMT -5
I thought Alix was incredible... I thought April was in her head about having to put so much pressure on her serve and so much pressure getting around Pavan on the block... and well those two spots killed her... tons of kills but Pavan probably had 10 blocks in the final... again things that alix was doing makes me excited for her future and even Toyko ... Agreed. Alix was saving them and keeping them alive. April needs to figure out when to stop serving so aggressively if it doesn’t work. Disagree. April and Alix serving tough is how you beat Pavan/MHP, until such time as Alix can block as well as Pavan. They HAVE to serve tough to win. If they're tough serving is landing out or in the net, they have to stick with it and hope it comes around. Serving safe vs. Canada1 is a sure loss, at least the way Canada are playing these past two months.
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Post by dunninla3 on Aug 19, 2019 13:19:23 GMT -5
I thought Alix was incredible... I thought April was in her head about having to put so much pressure on her serve and so much pressure getting around Pavan on the block... and well those two spots killed her... tons of kills but Pavan probably had 10 blocks in the final... again things that alix was doing makes me excited for her future and even Toyko ... Yes, she was, EXCEPT for: 1. controlling the net. The way she controlled MHP the 3rd set has to happen in all sets, because Pavan doesn't miss any sets blocking. 2. setting into April's preferred hitting window more consistently I think A-Team wins with one of those two improvements, and wins handily with both. If I'm Alix, I'm wondering why Pavan is such a better blocker than Alix is. She doesn't jump higher than Alix. She is actually less of an athlete than Alix. So why does she block so much better? ?? Why can Pavan effectively alter April's game, and Alix does not alter MHP's game (except for 3rd set?) What did Alix do differently 3rd set that she wasn't doing the first two sets? April is not a quick defender. ATeam isn't going to get a lot of dig/transition kills like you would expect with MHP or Sponcil in defense. So April must have a blocker who shrinks the court for her. If I'm ATeam, I'm on the search for the best blocking coach for hire, cuz it clearly isn't Kessy or we would have seen more improvement by now.
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Post by beachbomb on Aug 19, 2019 14:19:54 GMT -5
well here's how i see serving tough... if you're the "best server on the planet" as she always gets named by the AVP broadcast crew... she needs to be smarter and not reckless... serving area 1 to 1 in the off shoulder corner top or float will be smarter and dangerous... also serving 5 to 5... i don't know why any server comes into the middle for their serve... it just shortens their possibilities and shrinks the court...
Alix's athleticism in the finals was incredible... she no longer looks like a T-Rex on sand... way more balanced and grounded... Love that girl and her hunger!
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Post by greenpier on Aug 20, 2019 18:14:27 GMT -5
Ateam never seem friendly to other players. Well good job to Mel and Sarah! Really going to shake up AVP as they keep playing. We’ve noticed that about April as well. And not just after a loss. My friends/family and I noticed a change in her ever since she teamed up with Alix (and Jen). We get that she’s not on the court to make friends, it’s just a noticeable change. Still love her though! Ross did graduate from USC
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