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Post by WahineFan44 on Apr 11, 2020 15:36:42 GMT -5
I also don’t think Preston is a great coach either. Not sure what you’ve seen that proves otherwise. Here are my Big West head coach rankings: 1. Stork (CSUN) 2. Ah Mow (Hawaii) 3. Conners (UC Davis) 4. Walters (Cal Poly) 5. Lantagne-Welch (UCSB) 6. Hain (UC Irvine) 7. Melo (Bakersfield) 8. Luyties (UCSD) 9. McKienzie-Fuerbringer (LBSU) 10. Preston (CSUF) 11. Patton (UCR) My take: 1. Ah Mow (Hawaii) - Came in after a legend and quickly established her style of a program and was immediately successful. 2. Walters (Cal Poly) - only 1 year sample size but team did not skip a beat with the lose TVW and also developed a 4th team AA. 3. Hain (UC Irvine) - Do not like her demeanor but a tough coach that had her program poised for consistent top third finishes until injury bug. 4. Lantagne-Welsh (UCSB) - results have value and she has had two years better than most. Mid major transfers are part of the game now. 5. McKienze-Fuerbringer (LBSU) - has struggled but after 3 years program now in position for big gains. One of the best recruiters in conf. 6. Conners (UC Davis) - 5 or 6 years at the helm and his teams are usually upper mid pack. Has had time to do better. 7. Stork (CSUN) - a few years back coach had the team moving forward but has now stepped back. Decent coach but not a great recruiter. 8. Patton (UCR) - only positioned above CSF because coach’s program has typically finished above CSF. Both coaches are not very good. 9. Preston (CSF) - results speak for themselves with 6 conference wins in 5 years. Currently I only see two upper tier programs right now in Hawaii and Cal Poly. UCSB had a couple of good years under their coach but one was with the other coaches players and it took her four years to get enough players around Ruddins to make any noise. I believe both Conners and Hains are mid level conference coaches that can have good years here and there. Stork had some momentum but has settled in to the lower mid level of the conference. I see no hope for Patton and Preston to ever develop a top third program. You may call me a homer but the only coach/program currently that can join Hawaii and Cal Poly as regional players is LBSU and MCKienze-Fuerbringer. She is a very good recruiter that is bringing in not only good recruits but also top national recruits. This next season will be her first with all of her players and she must make a big splash or she will start losing her recruiting momentum. Her team’s look to have under achieved, maybe so, but she has had some significant deficiencies at key positions. Vehemently disagree with number four. IMO she is doing more harm to the program than good ATM.
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Post by volleyguy on Apr 11, 2020 16:46:44 GMT -5
The Big West was a pioneering conference in women's volleyball, with some of the greatest coaches of all-time--Shoji, Dunning, Gimmillaro and Gregory. The fact that there is an extended debate about whether Preston or Patton is the better or worse coach makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.
Robyn Ah-Mow stands out in the new group of coaches, although it still remains to be seen how well she develops her players in the long run. Joy McKienze-Fuerbringer has had a very disappointing start, but is the only other person in the conference with the potential and technical volleyball ability to be a great coach. The middle of the pack--Lantagne-Welch, Connors, Walters and Hains (Stork is now the longest tenured coach and is closer to retirement than a conference championship)--are decent coaches but not extraordinary.
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Post by SmokeDogg on Apr 11, 2020 18:52:59 GMT -5
beachgrad - Fullerton led by Ashley Preston beat Long Beach at LB last year.
I cannot rate the coaches because I only know one. I will say that over the last 2 years Fullerton has had more people out for injuries than any team in the league.
Most people did not notice because Fullerton did not have a CPSLO's TVW or Hawaii's JR, but Fullerton guided by Ashley Preston did an amazing job with the girls left.
I still wear my 2010 T-shirt celebrating Fullerton's Big West championship. I know how much more fun it is to win.
Ashley and her staff will bring Fullerton back to the top half on a regular basis over time.
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Post by beachgrad on Apr 12, 2020 10:08:41 GMT -5
SmokeDogg, sadly I remember that match but one match does not validate a season let alone Preston’s entire body of work. You have to remember that last season UCI, a two win conference team, beat Hawaii in Honolulu.
I hope people are right about Preston and she will improve the program to where they are not a drag on the top teams RPI. Since I am not a Fullerton insider all I can go by is results and that is what I base my opinion on.
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Post by beachgrad on Apr 12, 2020 10:14:42 GMT -5
Going into next season Rasmussen and Dvoracek appear to be the top two pin hitters in the conference. Who do you guys and gals think will be the top five pin hitters next season.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2020 10:22:33 GMT -5
Going into next season Rasmussen and Dvoracek appear to be the top two pin hitters in the conference. Who do you guys and gals think will be the top five pin hitters next season. Interesting question. Before I answer I'll ask one in return; who do you think was the most terminal pin in the conference last year? Minimum 200 swings. And that's not just for beachgrad. Anyone can answer.
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Post by 808empath on Apr 12, 2020 11:08:31 GMT -5
Going into next season Rasmussen and Dvoracek appear to be the top two pin hitters in the conference. Who do you guys and gals think will be the top five pin hitters next season. Interesting question. Before I answer I'll ask one in return; who do you think was the most terminal pin in the conference last year? Minimum 200 swings. And that's not just for beachgrad. Anyone can answer. Froley
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2020 11:33:34 GMT -5
Interesting question. Before I answer I'll ask one in return; who do you think was the most terminal pin in the conference last year? Minimum 200 swings. And that's not just for beachgrad. Anyone can answer. Froley Bingo! I thought that'd take longer. She terminated 45.3% of her 660 odd swings. Now, obviously she's a RS so she's mostly hitting balls in system AND she had one of the best passing teams in the nation. But on the flip side, she was a RS-Frosh. For context, Helvig terminated at 36.7%, Rasmussen at 39.8% - of course I know that Froley wasn't the primary option on her team and that after Rasmussen went down Helvig became that, but even before JR got hurt Helvig was only terminating at 34% and Rasmussen was 39.9%. Maia Dvoracek was at 42.1% on the year but if we're comparing pins it should be noted that Dvoracek is a liability in blocking. While Rasmussen recorded a +41.1% blocking differential and Froley a +15.3% ratio, Dvoracek was in the negative (which is rare) at -2.1%. Froley actually had a better season than either Frohling or Aiko Jones, both of whom were freshman AA selections. She had a very good season. Hopefully losing her best setter and libero don't hurt her too much.
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Post by jake on Apr 12, 2020 13:54:12 GMT -5
How UCI (2-14) knocked off UH (14-2) in Manoa is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the 2019 season.
Another reason why Ah Mow should not be the COY!!!
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Post by noblesol on Apr 12, 2020 14:08:54 GMT -5
How UCI (2-14) knocked off UH (14-2) in Manoa is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the 2019 season. Another reason why Ah Mow should not be the COY!!! Hawaii did blow that game. Excuses would be injury (BVS-bum knee, no Rasmussen), and a memorable bad call or two in the fifth set by a down ref that needs to retire already. But UCI was at the peak of its health and play for the year for that game, which is what Hawaii typically gets from its BigWest competition. Most BigWest volleyball teams manage their seasons to be at their peak against Hawaii, even at the cost of health and emotional preparedness against others. I think L.Carter broke a bone in her hand against Hawaii that game, but stayed in and played it out. But it was the last game she played that season, is my recollection.
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Post by WahineFan44 on Apr 12, 2020 14:08:58 GMT -5
How UCI (2-14) knocked off UH (14-2) in Manoa is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the 2019 season. Another reason why Ah Mow should not be the COY!!! Hawaii was without JR, then when Hawaii was up 2-0, they lost BVS. They lost 2 of their leaders, and probably best players. They still should have won but the shock from that alone can cause a team to win. Ah mow can coach circles around Walters any day of the week
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Post by beachgrad on Apr 12, 2020 15:19:18 GMT -5
Going into next season Rasmussen and Dvoracek appear to be the top two pin hitters in the conference. Who do you guys and gals think will be the top five pin hitters next season. Okay, I guess I will be the first. My top five pin hitters are Rasmussen (Hawaii), Dvoracek (Cal Poly), Helvig (Hawaii), Williams (LBSU) and Froley (UCSB). Even though Dvoracek was 4th team AA I still like Rasmussen as the overall top hitter. The most explosive hitter is Williams and I believe Helvig has the potential to be an AA (not honorable mention) by her junior year. There are some talented and gutsy sub six foot hitters in the conference but I think the five I have listed have the ability and talent to perform well when facing an opposing opponent in a big match.
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Post by hwnstunner on Apr 12, 2020 15:31:03 GMT -5
How UCI (2-14) knocked off UH (14-2) in Manoa is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the 2019 season. Another reason why Ah Mow should not be the COY!!! Shut up. With all due respect to the Cal Poly program of course.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2020 17:24:32 GMT -5
Going into next season Rasmussen and Dvoracek appear to be the top two pin hitters in the conference. Who do you guys and gals think will be the top five pin hitters next season. Okay, I guess I will be the first. My top five pin hitters are Rasmussen (Hawaii), Dvoracek (Cal Poly), Helvig (Hawaii), Williams (LBSU) and Froley (UCSB). Even though Dvoracek was 4th team AA I still like Rasmussen as the overall top hitter. The most explosive hitter is Williams and I believe Helvig has the potential to be an AA (not honorable mention) by her junior year. There are some talented and gutsy sub six foot hitters in the conference but I think the five I have listed have the ability and talent to perform well when facing an opposing opponent in a big match. Just rating in terms of hitting ability: 1. Dvoracek (42.1% termination rate) 2. Williams (42.8%) 3. Rasmussen (39.8%) 4. Froley (45.4%) - not #1 because she wasn't the top priority in her offense this year 5. White (44.7%) - similar knock to Froley Overall Rating: 1. Rasmussen - one of the best blockers in D1 (+41), tough serve (36.4% opposing receive score) 2. Dvoracek - can carry an offense (1k+ swings), one of the best serves in D1 (32% opposing receive score), very poor blocker (-2) 3. Williams - can carry an offense (1k+ swings), poor passer (1.69), average blocker (+10) 4. Froley - most terminal arm in BW 2019, good blocker (+18) 5. Helvig - can carry an offense (929 swings as a Fr), average passer (2.07), good blocker (+15), good serve (39.9% opposing serve receive score) less terminal (35.6%) Best of the rest: White - great arm, good blocker, poor server, doesn't pass (UCD), Crawford - still developing, needs support (CSUF), BvS - smart, great versatility, not very terminal (UH), Martinez - great arm, can't pass (LBSU), Farmer - inconsistent year but terminated at 51.7% in the tournament, very bad blocker (UCSB).
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Post by raian13 on Apr 12, 2020 19:05:38 GMT -5
How UCI (2-14) knocked off UH (14-2) in Manoa is one of the biggest unanswered questions of the 2019 season. Another reason why Ah Mow should not be the COY!!! Let it go.
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