Coach of The Year

[Deleted]

I'd go with McLaughlin, if I had to pick one.

[Curious]

vbfan said:

....but the greatest difference was this year they could set more than two players and could pass and play defense and this was not due to teaching but the addition of the players. Moriarty was a huge reason for their success as well as Jennings and Acevedo.

I don't know your depth of experience with D1 volleyball, but to say teaching (coaching) did not play a major part in the success of the team is tantamount to blithering ignorance. I hope that is not true. Not only is the jump from high school/club to D1 play (at this level) a quantum leap in terms of conditioning and physical training, so is it also a quantum leap in the degree of complexity of systems of play, pressure to perform (especiially since these players are no longer the stars of their high school/club team, but one of many former stars), and in academic performance (not many can coast in college, at least on volleyball teams).

To say, "...the greatest difference was this year they could set more than two players and could pass and play defense and this was not due to teaching but the addition of the players", indicates one who does not understand the problem or the environment.

Regards

[silversurfer]

Harsh! Very harsh!

Yes, freshman often have to experience the D1 learning curve, but some players are more equipped to do so than others, so I don't think that what vbfan said was "blithering."

Surely _something_ Elliott imparted to his troops is responsible for his team's great season. But the abilities the new players brought in, especially Moriarity, also played a huge role.

[vbfan]

Take it easy Curious, I wasn't saying that Jerritt doesn't or can't coach just that they wouldn't have done as well without Moriarty, Acevedo or Jennings with two of those being true freshman and that the biggest difference this year was the addition of talent and being more balanced rather than last year. IMHO I think they would have gone much farther in the tournament and possibly into the Final Four had they kept Howden on the outside. This would have forced Armstrong to have to play and contribute but as everyone who knows volleyball and I DO KNOW volleyball, knows you win games at the highest level with your leftsides and with Christian struggling all year and Galler only coming on at the end, I think they could have gotten more production out of Howden (in point scoring situations) by having her on the left. Look at what Stanford was able to do against Texas when their leftsides both had double digit kills and hit over .300 but no one else was a huge contributor. This would have given them strength in all their rotations and would have made Acevedo more successful having a great leftside with her to defend against when Moriarty was back row.

[Curious]

vbfan said:

Take it easy Curious, I wasn't saying that Jerritt doesn't or can't coach just that they wouldn't have done as well without Moriarty, Acevedo or Jennings with two of those being true freshman and that the biggest difference this year was the addition of talent and being more balanced rather than last year. IMHO I think they would have gone much farther in the tournament and possibly into the Final Four had they kept Howden on the outside. This would have forced Armstrong to have to play and contribute but as everyone who knows volleyball and I DO KNOW volleyball, knows you win games at the highest level with your leftsides and with Christian struggling all year and Galler only coming on at the end, I think they could have gotten more production out of Howden (in point scoring situations) by having her on the left. Look at what Stanford was able to do against Texas when their leftsides both had double digit kills and hit over .300 but no one else was a huge contributor. This would have given them strength in all their rotations and would have made Acevedo more successful having a great leftside with her to defend against when Moriarty was back row.

Well said. You do seem to know the game, I'm sure better than I do, and you have apparently been watching Texas (Did you see the regional?). Thanks for more fully expressing yourself in this post, as opposed to the sketchy comments in the previous one. While Elliot has lost two great players, he has a great squad to move into next year with, a group that now has some valuable experience.

Regards

[Curious]

silversurfer said:

Harsh! Very harsh!

Yes, freshman often have to experience the D1 learning curve, but some players are more equipped to do so than others, so I don't think that what vbfan said was "blithering."

Surely _something_ Elliott imparted to his troops is responsible for his team's great season. But the abilities the new players brought in, especially Moriarity, also played a huge role.

Without a doubt. But, virtually all are NOT equipped to go straight to D1 elite play without guidance (coaching). Vbfan more fully explained what he meant subsequently. That's one of the problems with these forums. Sometimes folks pop-off a post that makes them seem out of touch with the reality of the freshman struggle. As to "blithering", I can only go by what is written. It's a little hard to get insight into what someone is saying in print, unless he or she is willing to flesh it out a bit.

Regards