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Post by newbeach on Jul 8, 2021 12:02:58 GMT -5
What happens if Barnsley retires after the Olympics though? Interesting question. Have to wonder how long Pavan will keep going, too, but I think it's a bit early for this discussion. When it does happen, they will all be fighting to play with Brandie! I think Sophie Bukovec is still a big to watch. Former U19 world champ, NCAA champ at USC. It hasn't happened for her yet at this level, but still time. Maybe with the right partner fit... Bukovec has been getting into phenomenal shape. Her and Alex made an interesting pairing. I’m just not sure where she fits on a team. Though she’s a good player, she’s not the best blocker or defender. She would do well with someone like Monkhouse if she continues to play. Pavan needs a pure defender behind her. Other than the twins, I don’t know who she would partner with if she and Melissa split. Harnett, May? It would be a great opportunity for a defender to play with her. I can’t see anyone but Melissa and Brandie together…Brandie and Gordon, maybe. Or, again one of the twins (but, I’m not sure they will make the move).
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Post by newbeach on Jul 8, 2021 12:05:37 GMT -5
The potential battle between Slaes and Latvia will be fun because it’ll happen again at the Olympics. Only three NCAA players in the field as well. I’ve watched them play enough times in practice. Slaes in a walk in this match. Just saying…. If I’m a betting man. Give the points and take Slaes. lol How much better is Claes over Graudina?
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Post by southbay11 on Jul 8, 2021 13:03:15 GMT -5
I’ve watched them play enough times in practice. Slaes in a walk in this match. Just saying…. If I’m a betting man. Give the points and take Slaes. lol How much better is Claes over Graudina? Claes has: Size. Power. Strength. Court smarts. This is just personal opinion from watching them battle it out against each other. Tina has a couple of years ahead of her. lol . To me; they are in 2 different classes. Slaes has 2 easy matches to start. Only way for them to lose one is to royally screw up
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Post by sonofdogman on Jul 8, 2021 13:29:35 GMT -5
I feel awful saying this, but Hughes/Day will go 0-2 no matter who ends up in their pool. Well, they fought. Lost in the 3rd set 22-20 in first match. Lost in another 3rd set 18-16 in their second match. But 0-2 all the same. Day needs a different profession. Love her very much and hope she stays in the game coaching or something. Hughes needs a revamp. I'm sure she can make something more of this game, but mindset, advisors, and training approach (all of which I know nothing about in her case) may all need changing.
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Post by KAP on Jul 8, 2021 13:30:02 GMT -5
Overall a very favorable draw for Slaes! Talita/Maria, Agatha/Duda, Barbara/Carol, MHPavs, Australia, and the Russians are all on the other half of the bracket. There are plenty of solid teams on their half who are capable of beating Slaes on any given day, but with how they are playing right now, they should be a favorite to make the medal rounds again. There are two single-digit seeded teams in their half of the bracket, and they wouldn’t play either until the semis.
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Post by haze on Jul 8, 2021 13:42:49 GMT -5
I feel awful saying this, but Hughes/Day will go 0-2 no matter who ends up in their pool. Well, they fought. Lost in the 3rd set 22-20 in first match. Lost in another 3rd set 18-16 in their second match. But 0-2 all the same. Day needs a different profession. Love her very much and hope she stays in the game coaching or something. Hughes needs a revamp. I'm sure she can make something more of this game, but mindset, advisors, and training approach (all of which I know nothing about in her case) may all need changing. IMO Hughes is what she is right now. I don't think she's a great FIVB player by any means.
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Post by sonofdogman on Jul 8, 2021 13:51:15 GMT -5
Well, they fought. Lost in the 3rd set 22-20 in first match. Lost in another 3rd set 18-16 in their second match. But 0-2 all the same. Day needs a different profession. Love her very much and hope she stays in the game coaching or something. Hughes needs a revamp. I'm sure she can make something more of this game, but mindset, advisors, and training approach (all of which I know nothing about in her case) may all need changing. IMO Hughes is what she is right now. I don't think she's a great FIVB player by any means. I think we agree here. My suggestion is that maybe possibly she could make a bit more of it if there is some revamp of her entire game, both mental and physical. Maybe. But my beloved Emily Day just never had the possibility.
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Post by ajm on Jul 8, 2021 13:56:03 GMT -5
I feel awful saying this, but Hughes/Day will go 0-2 no matter who ends up in their pool. Well, they fought. Lost in the 3rd set 22-20 in first match. Lost in another 3rd set 18-16 in their second match. But 0-2 all the same. Day needs a different profession. Love her very much and hope she stays in the game coaching or something. Hughes needs a revamp. I'm sure she can make something more of this game, but mindset, advisors, and training approach (all of which I know nothing about in her case) may all need changing. I’ll be interested to see whether Day/Hughes stick together for the AVP events. Betsi has started training again and seems to be aiming to return this summer. Sara would presumably love to go back to Brandie, but I imagine Brandie will have other options if there are any post-Olympics breakups.
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Post by newbeach on Jul 8, 2021 16:01:14 GMT -5
How much better is Claes over Graudina? Claes has: Size. Power. Strength. Court smarts. This is just personal opinion from watching them battle it out against each other. Tina has a couple of years ahead of her. lol . To me; they are in 2 different classes. Slaes has 2 easy matches to start. Only way for them to lose one is to royally screw up ”Tina has a couple years ahead of her”? You mean Kelly has a couple years ahead of Tina (with FIVB experience)? Tina is 2.5 years younger than Claes. I think Tina also has plenty of beach smarts (Claes only started using hers recently). 😉 You don’t seem to think much of Graudina if all she she has is “ a couple years ahead of her”?
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Post by houdini on Jul 8, 2021 16:04:07 GMT -5
I’ve watched them play enough times in practice. Slaes in a walk in this match. Just saying…. If I’m a betting man. Give the points and take Slaes. lol How much better is Claes over Graudina? Slaes may win with a big advantage on defence, but I'll take Tina's power, quickness and athleticism (including jump & block) over Kelly any day. Claes outperforms only on twos with her poke and court sense.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Jul 8, 2021 18:51:16 GMT -5
How much better is Claes over Graudina? Slaes may win with a big advantage on defence, but I'll take Tina's power, quickness and athleticism (including jump & block) over Kelly any day. Claes outperforms only on twos with her poke and court sense. Tina is a more explosive athlete, I’d agree. She was a legit heptathlete at the junior level, and there were at one time discussions with USC’s track coach about having Graudina compete in the jumps. Also one of the best natural blockers I’ve personally come across. Thats not to say Claes isn’t athletic - she a good athlete in her own right, just not quite as dynamic. Claes has a small height advantage, better hands, and is smoother in transition at this point in their respective careers. Tina can still be a little mechanical in some of her movements, but that will iron itself out. But if I’m looking for a pure blocker long term, I’m giving Graudina the nod. She’s already really good, but nowhere near her ceiling yet. In terms of playing each other, the better question right now - which you alluded to - might be “how much better is Claes’ partner than Graudina’s partner.”
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Post by newbeach on Jul 8, 2021 21:33:15 GMT -5
Slaes may win with a big advantage on defence, but I'll take Tina's power, quickness and athleticism (including jump & block) over Kelly any day. Claes outperforms only on twos with her poke and court sense. Tina is a more explosive athlete, I’d agree. She was a legit heptathlete at the junior level, and there were at one time discussions with USC’s track coach about having Graudina compete in the jumps. Also one of the best natural blockers I’ve personally come across. Thats not to say Claes isn’t athletic - she a good athlete in her own right, just not quite as dynamic. Claes has a small height advantage, better hands, and is smoother in transition at this point in their respective careers. Tina can still be a little mechanical in some of her movements, but that will iron itself out. But if I’m looking for a pure blocker long term, I’m giving Graudina the nod. She’s already really good, but nowhere near her ceiling yet. In terms of playing each other, the better question right now - which you alluded to - might be “how much better is Claes’ partner than Graudina’s partner.” I personally think Graudina is more athletic - more fluid with natural abilities. Claes has had more time on the FIVB circuit than Graudina and that experience has improved her game. She might be ahead of Graudina right now. Give Tina more time against better competition, and a partner like Sponcil, and she will do well also. I assumed Sponcil is easily the better defender over Kravcenokaa.
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Post by southbay11 on Jul 8, 2021 22:50:34 GMT -5
Claes has: Size. Power. Strength. Court smarts. This is just personal opinion from watching them battle it out against each other. Tina has a couple of years ahead of her. lol . To me; they are in 2 different classes. Slaes has 2 easy matches to start. Only way for them to lose one is to royally screw up ”Tina has a couple years ahead of her”? You mean Kelly has a couple years ahead of Tina (with FIVB experience)? Tina is 2.5 years younger than Claes. I think Tina also has plenty of beach smarts (Claes only started using hers recently). 😉 You don’t seem to think much of Graudina if all she she has is “ a couple years ahead of her”? She has a couple years ahead of her to catch up to Claes.
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Post by geddyleeridesagain on Jul 8, 2021 22:54:56 GMT -5
Tina is a more explosive athlete, I’d agree. She was a legit heptathlete at the junior level, and there were at one time discussions with USC’s track coach about having Graudina compete in the jumps. Also one of the best natural blockers I’ve personally come across. Thats not to say Claes isn’t athletic - she a good athlete in her own right, just not quite as dynamic. Claes has a small height advantage, better hands, and is smoother in transition at this point in their respective careers. Tina can still be a little mechanical in some of her movements, but that will iron itself out. But if I’m looking for a pure blocker long term, I’m giving Graudina the nod. She’s already really good, but nowhere near her ceiling yet. In terms of playing each other, the better question right now - which you alluded to - might be “how much better is Claes’ partner than Graudina’s partner.” “Small” height advantage? Have you stood next to them both? Lol I have. Many times. 3” is not “small”. As have I, many times. 3 inches? Nah. I’m 6’3,” and Kelly’s shorter than me. Tina’s 6’ plus. Inch, maybe inch and a half, and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Graudina has a longer wing span. At any rate, I do think that, as we speak, Kelly is a better volleyball player than Tina. I also think that Graudina’s skills will catch up to her athleticism over the course of a season or two and she can be a Walkenhorst 2016-level blocker.
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Post by bumpsetsonly on Jul 9, 2021 7:32:28 GMT -5
Pavan just had more hard driven kills in the first set against Germany than she did in all 3 hubs of Cancun 😂 aggressive sarah >>>
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