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Post by guest2 on Aug 6, 2021 0:50:35 GMT -5
I mean, this is a team that got Silver. Lets be fair, sure it wasn't the BIGGEST upset of the tournament, but Canada seemed the more likely team to get to the final. But agree that it definitely wasn't their best match by far. I had forgotten that both Taliqua and Mariafe played in the Rio Olympics with different partners. There’s really no one that would be an upgrade for either at this point. Hard to see them breaking up after one subpar game. They’re both relatively young and seemingly getting better each year. No one at this point maybe, but in 2017 Alix was not really an upgrade over Fendrick. In terms of potential she definitely was, but when April made the choice, Lauren was the better player. Maybe Taliqua's Alix is one of Australia's younger players. Not like qualifiying is tough for Australia anyway
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Post by hammer on Aug 6, 2021 0:53:50 GMT -5
Not particularly an A Team fan but found myself really wanting them, and particularly April, to win. Just felt so happy for her. Minor quibble - their point celebration/hug always kind of pulls me out of the intensity of the match, like there's something additional/more than usual going on there, along the lines of, it's important for us to reaffirm our emotional support for each other as teammates. Just seems out of the norm to me. Love CAN 2's celebration, for example, where it feels more straightforward, like 'Yeah, great play!...Let's keep this going.' It continues rather than detours from the competitive excitement of the match, for me anyway. The hugs was a strategy to increase the time between the end of the last point and the next serve. Under the circumstances, extreme heat/humidity, I think it was a good idea.
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Post by jwvolley on Aug 6, 2021 1:02:53 GMT -5
Not particularly an A Team fan but found myself really wanting them, and particularly April, to win. Just felt so happy for her. Minor quibble - their point celebration/hug always kind of pulls me out of the intensity of the match, like there's something additional/more than usual going on there, along the lines of, it's important for us to reaffirm our emotional support for each other as teammates. Just seems out of the norm to me. Love CAN 2's celebration, for example, where it feels more straightforward, like 'Yeah, great play!...Let's keep this going.' It continues rather than detours from the competitive excitement of the match, for me anyway. Lol I'm sure they'll take note of that to enhance your viewing experience after they reflect on their gold medal.
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Post by swim4life107 on Aug 6, 2021 1:07:11 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past.
I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now.
Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years.
I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically.
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Post by david38 on Aug 6, 2021 1:11:00 GMT -5
Not particularly an A Team fan but found myself really wanting them, and particularly April, to win. Just felt so happy for her. Minor quibble - their point celebration/hug always kind of pulls me out of the intensity of the match, like there's something additional/more than usual going on there, along the lines of, it's important for us to reaffirm our emotional support for each other as teammates. Just seems out of the norm to me. Love CAN 2's celebration, for example, where it feels more straightforward, like 'Yeah, great play!...Let's keep this going.' It continues rather than detours from the competitive excitement of the match, for me anyway. Lol I'm sure they'll take note of that to enhance your viewing experience after they reflect on their gold medal. Not clear how my post is being interpreted as a suggestion that they change what they're doing. It works for them so they do it. Just giving my experience watching their matches.
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Post by guest2 on Aug 6, 2021 1:17:39 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past. I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now. Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years. I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically. April/Alix are good but not near as good as April/Kerri were when healthy. I'd start with the women's tour was stronger at the top in 2012-2016. Kira/Laura would have blitzed this field, and Larissa/Talita are also better than any current team. I'd say the Swiss were in better partnerships then also. Given all that Kerri/April won almost half of the non-injury events they entered (They played for a while with Kerri playing lefty to meet stupid Q requirements) April/Alix, against a weaker field, won almost 25%. I think Alix can be the best player in the world now if she wants to be. No one sides out better who is on a contending team, her blocking is improving, great serve, ok setter
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Post by david38 on Aug 6, 2021 1:19:51 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past. I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now. Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years. I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically. ATeam better than Kerri and April? I think so, but more than that they're definitely more of a TEAM than Kerri/April. They seem to be in it together during each match whereas I never thought Kerri really fully did her part along those lines with April, like she sometimes viewed April as not quite measuring up.
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Post by swim4life107 on Aug 6, 2021 1:34:53 GMT -5
Kerri/April defo felt like their sum was less than the parts. April clearly does better when she has to lead a team, which is why some of her best play came when Kerri played lefty and April was forced to carry her. April having to take a step back against Kerri never really worked better. Their personalities did not mesh. Alix/April felt like the opposite. I, for one, have a tough time seeing Alix be able to form a top team with anyone else but April. She's come a long way but April is very much the difference maker on that team. It's tough to argue with Kerri/April's win percentage though.
This next quad should be fun----we will have 4 major championships back to back to back to back. The only drawback, is we lose that first transition year of partner swapping. That can be fun, even if the results feel a bit meaningless because we don't have deep fields. Everyone will be looking to get their ducks in a row much earlier on.
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Post by guest2 on Aug 6, 2021 1:35:47 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past. I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now. Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years. I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically. ATeam better than Kerri and April? I think so, but more than that they're definitely more of a TEAM than Kerri/April. They seem to be in it together during each match whereas I never thought Kerri really fully did her part along those lines with April, like she sometimes viewed April as not quite measuring up. Not sure about the unity, who really knows what happens behind the scenes. Alix not really known as a workout warrior for example, whereas April is and, according to Kevin Wong, so was Kerri? One advantage the Ateam has is that Alix is a real right side players, whereas neither April nor Kerri ever was (although I think Kerri should play right if she continues). Both teams really had just over two true seasons together (I don't count the Kerri injury season). Kerri/April won: 6 of 12 in the stretch from end of 2013 through the 2014 season 5 of 11 in the 2016 season Ateam won 6 of 26. Its 5 of 18 if you omit Alix's first season. Only the gold medal makes this a conversation and even then?
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Post by SakiBomb25 on Aug 6, 2021 1:35:48 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past. I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now. Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years. I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically. Why is it obvious Alix isn’t one for tour life?
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Post by swim4life107 on Aug 6, 2021 1:41:56 GMT -5
YAYYYY!! April Ross just became a machine out there at some point. She did not lay a foot wrong from the QFs onward this tournament. The moment I saw this team in Hague in 2018, I just knew they were built for the Gold medal match. Obviously, Australia was pretty nervous. I think some of that was the ATeam's serving took them completely out of system. They also weren't giving Australia the errors they were used to seeing back during the Cancun matches. When Australia strung together a few points, you could see exactly why they've troubled the ATeam in the past. I am glad April's greatness is no longer a hypothetical. It always felt like she was one of, if not, the best player on tour but it was always some %*$# that prevented from her winning on the big stage. Kerri got injured. She was left without a partner, broke her toe, and dragged Fendrick to a world championship final. It just never felt like it all came together when it mattered until now. Question for y'all: do we think the ATeam were a better team than April/Kerri? I say yes, but with the qualification that the top teams were tougher in the Rio quad. I don't think Pavan/MPH would have cracked the Top 4 teams in Rio, etc. I think both Brazil teams from Rio were better than the Tokyo teams. In fact, I think better Brazillian teams were left home. Rebecca/Ana were fortunate they established their qualifying position early, because they were not the second best team from Brazil the last 2 years. I am so interested to see what April does this next quad. I am happy she is not retiring. She is too good to hang it up now. With nothing left to prove, there should be an incredible amount of freedom. She will have her pick of the litter of partners should Alix call it quits. It's obvious Alix probably isn't one for the tour life, but given how much her life will change because of this Gold, she should reconsider it. Honestly, if Alix sticks around, she should be even better come Paris. There will be team shakeups (especially with Brazil) but if Alix is game, it's tough to see who tests them domestically. Why is it obvious Alix isn’t one for tour life? She seems to get worn down by the grind (she has said as much in less words). She certainly performs and comes alive for big matches/crowds. However, she was always susceptible to a low-energy performance in pool play or an early-morning knockout round. That is partly why their tournament win percentage is not that great. If you only ever watched Alix in their SFs/Fs matches each tournament, you'd be very confused as to why they didn't win every week. If you saw their earlier rounds, you'd get the bigger picture.
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Post by david38 on Aug 6, 2021 1:52:29 GMT -5
ATeam better than Kerri and April? I think so, but more than that they're definitely more of a TEAM than Kerri/April. They seem to be in it together during each match whereas I never thought Kerri really fully did her part along those lines with April, like she sometimes viewed April as not quite measuring up. Not sure about the unity, who really knows what happens behind the scenes. Alix not really known as a workout warrior for example, whereas April is and, according to Kevin Wong, so was Kerri? One advantage the Ateam has is that Alix is a real right side players, whereas neither April nor Kerri ever was (although I think Kerri should play right if she continues). Both teams really had just over two true seasons together (I don't count the Kerri injury season). Kerri/April won: 6 of 12 in the stretch from end of 2013 through the 2014 season 5 of 11 in the 2016 season Ateam won 6 of 26. Its 5 of 18 if you omit Alix's first season. Only the gold medal makes this a conversation and even then? True. As swim4life concurred, it's hard to argue with stats. Just saying that something often seemed a little off between K/A. If something seems off but they're still winning matches, does it really matter. If Kerri/April played Alix/April, K/A would be favored, but watching the match I might be thinking, love Alix and April's chemistry, I think they just might have a shot at the upset!
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Post by guest2 on Aug 6, 2021 1:59:19 GMT -5
Not sure about the unity, who really knows what happens behind the scenes. Alix not really known as a workout warrior for example, whereas April is and, according to Kevin Wong, so was Kerri? One advantage the Ateam has is that Alix is a real right side players, whereas neither April nor Kerri ever was (although I think Kerri should play right if she continues). Both teams really had just over two true seasons together (I don't count the Kerri injury season). Kerri/April won: 6 of 12 in the stretch from end of 2013 through the 2014 season 5 of 11 in the 2016 season Ateam won 6 of 26. Its 5 of 18 if you omit Alix's first season. Only the gold medal makes this a conversation and even then? True. As swim4life concurred, it's hard to argue with stats. Just saying that something often seemed a little off between K/A. If something seems off but they're still winning matches, does it really matter. If Kerri/April played Alix/April, K/A would be favored, but watching the match I might be thinking, love Alix and April's chemistry, I think they just might have a shot at the upset! I definitely agree with both you and Swimfan. Kerri/April were always less than the sum of their parts and often I think the Ateam are better than theirs
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Post by donnyb on Aug 6, 2021 6:42:27 GMT -5
I think Alex played some of the best I have ever seen her play those last 2 rounds. April was steady as always but she turned her serving up and that was the big difference. Those last 2 matches not many teams could of beat them they was on fire on serving, blocking, defense and offense.
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Post by ajm on Aug 6, 2021 7:17:33 GMT -5
True. As swim4life concurred, it's hard to argue with stats. Just saying that something often seemed a little off between K/A. If something seems off but they're still winning matches, does it really matter. If Kerri/April played Alix/April, K/A would be favored, but watching the match I might be thinking, love Alix and April's chemistry, I think they just might have a shot at the upset! I definitely agree with both you and Swimfan. Kerri/April were always less than the sum of their parts and often I think the Ateam are better than theirs It’s funny how the narrative changed around Kerri/April just because of that one semifinal loss in Rio. If they had won and then gone on to beat Kira/Laura nobody would be questioning their chemistry and they’d rightfully be considered one of the greatest short-term partnerships ever. Sure there was still the off-the-court AVP drama and obviously different political views, but I never felt that stuff affected their game together.
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