|
Post by sonofdogman on Apr 8, 2022 19:08:06 GMT -5
Without Tina Graudina SUC and UCLA are equal but with the best player in the NCAA the last 4 years they are hard to beat the best blocker. Best player was Sponcil. No, it was Nuss.
|
|
|
Post by david38 on Apr 9, 2022 14:32:27 GMT -5
Peri Brennan is on court! Wins in 3 at the 5's with Tessa VW as the Bruins beat Cal 4-1. I haven't followed all of their matches this year, but it's the first I've seen her play/listed in the scores. She looked good, maybe not the best I've seen her play; a couple sharp dig kills in 1 game, and so smart placing her shots. Tessa basically stops playing at 11-8 in the 3rd after an apparent Cal net went uncalled, starts talking to the ref as the point is still live; but they win it a few points later. She did show some flashes of dominant hitting though.
|
|
|
Post by david38 on Apr 30, 2022 12:12:59 GMT -5
Haven't seen enough Bruins matches this year to weigh in but for those who have, thoughts on Gulf Shores? I see some comments in the other 2 threads (PAC-12's, USC) saying we're "getting closer" to USC in the recent head to heads. Agree?
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Apr 30, 2022 17:16:40 GMT -5
Not sure if you’re looking only for a Bruin response, but I’ll take the bait.
I think when UCLA plays at its best, it can come close to USC’s usual high effort. However, losing 21-19, 23-21, 21-18 is still losing. UCLA played better than other recent efforts against USC on Saturday but still lost effectively 8 out of 9 sets (court 5 set 2 was about to be lost as well).
Previous Bruins squads, such as last year’s, when playing at their peak have been able to rise above USC. In the past two months, I haven’t seen any evidence that that can happen with this year’s squad. Even if UCLA won court 1, they can no longer win court 4. Add in that, at the PAC-12 Championships, when it mattered most, USC’s Ebertin/Villapando pair was about to handily win court 5.
I’m not saying it is a USC lock, but there just isn’t evidence to say otherwise.
|
|
|
Post by david38 on Apr 30, 2022 17:25:28 GMT -5
Not sure if you’re looking only for a Bruin response, but I’ll take the bait. I think when UCLA plays at its best, it can come close to USC’s usual high effort. However, losing 21-19, 23-21, 21-18 is still losing. UCLA played better than other recent efforts against USC on Saturday but still lost effectively 8 out of 9 sets (court 5 set 2 was about to be lost as well). Previous Bruins squads, such as last year’s, when playing at their peak have been able to rise above USC. In the past two months, I haven’t seen any evidence that that can happen with this year’s squad. Even if UCLA won court 1, they can no longer win court 4. Add in that, at the PAC-12 Championships, when it mattered most, USC’s Ebertin/Villapando pair was about to handily win court 5. I’m not saying it is a USC lock, but there just isn’t evidence to say otherwise. No, absolutely, looking for responses like yours as well. I had a hunch things are looking as you say, and cool to get a detailed breakdown, much appreciated. Going with, 'They don't play the playoffs on paper' line of thought for now!! And one minor note/typo - If only it had been on Saturday! and not Friday. I couldn't get away from work here in Tucson to attend.
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on Apr 30, 2022 17:52:54 GMT -5
Haha, yeah my bad in mixing up the date of the finals. My curiosity makes me repost this question/comments. Hey, to any Bruins fans or knowledgeable beach fans, why has Maria Clara Salgado not been acting as the UCLA volunteer assistant coach as expected? Former volunteer assistant coach Sean Fallowfield has been coaching the third court every time I’ve seen the Bruins play in person or on screen. Yesterday, I heard Holly and Anne Marie reference Fallowfield as the volunteer assistant. And let me rant about the laziness or incompetence of the UCLA Sports Information Director’s office, because whoever puts out the pre-event release story just tacks on the latest paragraph and doesn’t revise or update the old information. Hence, the largest paragraph is about Maria Clara and we get sentences like this a month later: “The freshman duo (14-0) has the best record of any court-four tandem in the country at 13-0 and have helped the Bruins remain undefeated (15-0).” Plus, Maria Clara is still listed in multiple locations on the UCLA Bruins website as the volunteer assistant coach. uclabruins.com/news/2022/4/26/no-3-ucla-headed-to-arizona-for-pac-12-championship.aspx
|
|
|
Post by JB Southpaw on Apr 30, 2022 18:17:15 GMT -5
I would say UCLA needs to worry about TCU first. UCLA is very talented, but so is TCU and if the Bruins only focus on USC, their finals appearance could get snatched.
|
|
|
Post by dunninla3 on Apr 30, 2022 18:36:28 GMT -5
Haven't seen enough Bruins matches this year to weigh in but for those who have, thoughts on Gulf Shores? I see some comments in the other 2 threads (PAC-12's, USC) saying we're "getting closer" to USC in the recent head to heads. Agree? Basically, UCLA has a very, very young team. The talent is there but as everyone knows most of the game is played between the ears, or to use a different metaphor, in the heart, and that mental strength comes with experience and upperclass leadership. I was heartened that TVW and Dennon - burg (sorry, that P12 announcer just drives me crazy mispronouncing her name for two years now) took the first set in the P12 final. If they have any hope at a Natty, that sort of performance has to continue in Gulf Shores ... not necessarily win every matchup in GS, but most of them at the 1s. Off topic, but I'm really want to see Denaburg play AVP this year and FIVB eventually. She would be reminiscent of April with her power, if and only if she develops a powerful serve which I haven't seen yet. With a tough serve, she might be the best FIVB prospect in the NCAA this year. By all appearances she has a strong drive to win.
|
|
|
Post by david38 on Apr 30, 2022 18:37:26 GMT -5
Very true. Just going by the Mapes loss to TCU, I didn't see the other, they will have to play up a level to get by them.
|
|
|
Post by gobruins on May 1, 2022 4:14:13 GMT -5
Haha, yeah my bad in mixing up the date of the finals. My curiosity makes me repost this question/comments. Hey, to any Bruins fans or knowledgeable beach fans, why has Maria Clara Salgado not been acting as the UCLA volunteer assistant coach as expected? Former volunteer assistant coach Sean Fallowfield has been coaching the third court every time I’ve seen the Bruins play in person or on screen. Yesterday, I heard Holly and Anne Marie reference Fallowfield as the volunteer assistant. And let me rant about the laziness or incompetence of the UCLA Sports Information Director’s office, because whoever puts out the pre-event release story just tacks on the latest paragraph and doesn’t revise or update the old information. Hence, the largest paragraph is about Maria Clara and we get sentences like this a month later: “The freshman duo (14-0) has the best record of any court-four tandem in the country at 13-0 and have helped the Bruins remain undefeated (15-0).” Plus, Maria Clara is still listed in multiple locations on the UCLA Bruins website as the volunteer assistant coach. uclabruins.com/news/2022/4/26/no-3-ucla-headed-to-arizona-for-pac-12-championship.aspxI believe Maria Clara's playing season has begun.
|
|
|
Post by thelat on May 7, 2022 1:42:42 GMT -5
UCLA vs USC winner finals UCLA wins 3-2!
|
|
|
Post by dunninla3 on May 7, 2022 23:07:43 GMT -5
UCLA vs USC winner finals UCLA wins 3-2! Well... UCLA was up in the second set to force a third on two courts, but USC just overpowered UCLA. From what I saw of Court 1, AVM did not play confidently and aggressively as I wrote above she would need to do in order for UCLA to have a chance. I was wrong though about the only path being winning 1-3. It turns out if UCLA had won court 1, they were on track to force set 3 on courts 3 and 5... and could have eeked out a victory. I'm very curious to see what Steino and the team will do to prepare for a rematch should UCLA beat FSU in the morning.
|
|
|
Post by burbank55 on May 8, 2022 3:54:52 GMT -5
Just want to give my thoughts on a couple topics: 1) The two DNFs this afternoon were at 18-19 and 12-13. You could project those as on track for UCLA to have won those sets, but many/most fans would consider those practically toss-ups. 2) Regarding UCLA being a very very young team… True, UCLA is playing three true freshmen and one recent older indoor->beach convert, but the rest of the squad is very experienced. Monkhouse - 5th year, Abby VW, Whitmarsh - 4th years, Denaburg, Powers, Newberry - 3rd years. Was USC a very young team last year playing 2 true freshmen and 2 true sophomores? Scoles was only in her second year of beach in 2021 as well.
|
|