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Post by ilalum92 on Oct 29, 2021 14:38:42 GMT -5
Does anyone actually know what is wrong with Gregus? She played in a scrimmage last year but other than that, 2 years of not being dressed for matches.
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Post by exit237a on Oct 29, 2021 14:43:32 GMT -5
Does anyone actually know what is wrong with Gregus? She played in a scrimmage last year but other than that, 2 years of not being dressed for matches. I don't have any insight into her being unavailable. She did dress for matches earlier this season and saw the court in at least one game, maybe two. Hope she's on the mend!
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Post by oldmanvb on Oct 29, 2021 21:03:23 GMT -5
The box score shows Becca Sakoda playing in one set and getting one dig. I missed her on the floor. When did she go in and for whom? I’ve been under the impression Cooney has stayed on the court because there wasn’t anyone significantly better in the back row on the bench.
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Post by exit237a on Oct 29, 2021 22:26:56 GMT -5
The box score shows Becca Sakoda playing in one set and getting one dig. I missed her on the floor. When did she go in and for whom? I’ve been under the impression Cooney has stayed on the court because there wasn’t anyone significantly better in the back row on the bench. In set 3 when the Illini were up big, maybe like 19-5 or something, Becca subbed in for Raina and I think she was out there in the back row for 2.5 rotations and had a nice dig and maybe received serve a couple times. A good opportunity for some game reps. Can we get a Sarah Bingham appearance?!
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Post by ilalum92 on Oct 30, 2021 1:52:57 GMT -5
Another abysmal showing by our OH’s and OPP - hitting .082, .138 & .174. So many hitting errors
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 30, 2021 2:13:53 GMT -5
Really, however, style points aside, they got the win at Rutgers, and that done, the weekend was really all about how they can do against Penn State. I hope they DO NOT get the Lions who showed up to Minneapolis and Madison last weekend! The Illini can be dangerous, but that PSU team is, yeah, really hard to beat!
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 30, 2021 2:17:15 GMT -5
Even without upsets, which they are totally capable of pulling, I am seeing 19 wins and a winning league record.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 30, 2021 4:39:13 GMT -5
Another abysmal showing by our OH’s and OPP - hitting .082, .138 & .174. So many hitting errors The announcers were kind to the Illini hitters in their commentary, I thought. The female announcer was frequently excusing some of the hitting errors by describing the Illini hitter as trying to go high hands and missing or the Illini hitter trying to use the outside hand of the Rutger blocker in an attempt to swipe the ball out of bounds and being unsuccessful. I am old enough to remember past Ilini outsides like Jocelyn Birks and Colleen Ward who could reliably succeed vs. an opponent's well-formed block and excellent back court defenders. I don't credit the Illinois coaching so much in those days for the success of those outstanding hitters, as I do the natural talent of Birks and Ward. There really is no coaching substitute for accumulating naturally talented athletes.
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Post by notpriddy (COIF) on Oct 30, 2021 6:43:14 GMT -5
Very happy (relieved) for the win last nite. Credit to a very game Rutgers team. When they were good, they were quite good. It goes without posting that Illinois will have to perform much better to compete with Penn State today...but I will post it anyway.
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Post by vbkahuna on Oct 30, 2021 7:03:05 GMT -5
Another abysmal showing by our OH’s and OPP - hitting .082, .138 & .174. So many hitting errors The announcers were kind to the Illini hitters in their commentary, I thought. The female announcer was frequently excusing some of the hitting errors by describing the Illini hitter as trying to go high hands and missing or the Illini hitter trying to use the outside hand of the Rutger blocker in an attempt to swipe the ball out of bounds and being unsuccessful. I am old enough to remember past Ilini outsides like Jocelyn Birks and Colleen Ward who could reliably succeed vs. an opponent's well-formed block and excellent back court defenders. I don't credit the Illinois coaching so much in those days for the success of those outstanding hitters, as I do the natural talent of Birks and Ward. There really is no coaching substitute for accumulating naturally talented athletes. Very perceptive comment. You can't really teach "Tooling the Block 101". Yes, coaches do, but it's really more a natural instinct and a crafty acquired skill of very few hitters. Great examples are Jordan Larson and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley on our USWNT and Wisconsin's Julia Orzol. When they do it you can tell it wasn't just a lucky swing. And so far, the Illinois hitters haven't developed that instinct/skill. Faced with an imposing block, they rely too much in some matches on rolls and tips. But in this match, there was another factor that impacted their hitting numbers...Rutgers actually played some insanely good defense. They were digging bombs and pancaking some really good tips all over the court. Kojadinivic had 24 digs (!!) on the right side. On one rally alone she dug two bombs from Terry that looked like they were going through her if she didn't get her hands up in time. And along with their Libero, they did this repeatedly throughout the match. The Illinois hitters definitely need to work on their hitting options off a block, but in this case give a lot of credit where it's due. Rutgers played enough excellent defense (blocks, touches, digs) to earn some respect.
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Post by vbkahuna on Oct 30, 2021 7:16:04 GMT -5
One more comment that really has to be said. Kennedy Collins...Wow, is there ANY player in the B1G that has improved more than her? Short answer: NO. What a transformation. Her slide has become killer. Ditto on overpasses. And now, even her serving and digs. Take a standing O, young lady! Part genius recruiting and development work by the coaches and great personal work ethic and effort by Kennedy. She is now a real game changer.
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Post by oldmanvb on Oct 30, 2021 7:30:58 GMT -5
If one is not born with the ability to use a block it takes tons of experience to otherwise develop the skill, which we don’t have yet. Think Jackie Quade’s improvement from year 1 to year 2 and year 2 to 3. Sometimes it never comes, but I have “high” hopes for our left side pin hitters. And as great a hitter as Birks was, she.would have struggled in this offense. She had a slow approach. There was a reason Illinois was known for a moon-ball offense when she played. Finally, Collins has made incredible strides from year 2 to year 3. Credit Tamas for recognizing the raw talent when he offered her a scholarship. Credit the coaching staff for the time taken to develop her skills, and credit Collins for the hard long-term work and for paying attention. Did she really have 10 digs against Rutgers? Maybe the only double-double ever from a middle when one of the doubles was digs. Wow.
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Post by ilalum92 on Oct 30, 2021 17:12:02 GMT -5
Wow - ILLINOIS with a huge upset of PSU 3-1. Our first win at Rec Hall since 2014. Not gonna lie, after the 1st set I thought it was going to be a quick 3-0 PSU sweep. PSU started making errors, we started making digs & cleaned up our attacks. Swanson was $$$$ in the middle. We need to feed her more - but that is dependent on our passing!
Huge statement win! Should solidify our tourney invite if we finish out the season as expected. We should crack the Top 25 in the polls next week.
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Post by ilalum92 on Oct 30, 2021 17:15:06 GMT -5
And this win puts us tied for 3rd place in the BIG 10
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Post by exit237a on Oct 30, 2021 17:15:16 GMT -5
Woohoooooo!!!!!!
Great volleyball out of the Illini today. A few shoutouts to:
Kylie Bruder on some steady, aggressive serving Taylor Kuper on good D, flying around and picking up some massive digs Kyla Swanson on her termination- several middle quicks and a late, Fourth Set slide conversion that came out of nowhere Raina Terry on finding another level, swinging aggressive from the left side and looking increasingly comfortable on back row attacks
And many more on a gutty team win!
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