Future of USC

[burbank55]

Feb 16, 2022 1:30:05 GMT -5 hbmb10k said:

The term hermit kingdom can refer to an organization which willfully walls itself off, metaphorically, from the rest of the world.
If you like having emails replied to, coaches showing up at clinics, this is very apt description of Cal. 

Not looking to argue, just curious… are you referring to Cal’s overall athletics dept, Olson’s staff, Owusu’s past staff, Owusu’s current staff, or all of the above?

[hbmb10k]

Feb 16, 2022 11:13:22 GMT -5 burbank55 said:

Feb 16, 2022 1:30:05 GMT -5 hbmb10k said:

The term hermit kingdom can refer to an organization which willfully walls itself off, metaphorically, from the rest of the world.
If you like having emails replied to, coaches showing up at clinics, this is very apt description of Cal. 

Not looking to argue, just curious… are you referring to Cal’s overall athletics dept, Olson’s staff, Owusu’s past staff, Owusu’s current staff, or all of the above?

Just beach, but maybe this attitude flows from the AD or the academic side? USC, UCLA, Cal, are ranked about even academically, but seem like the culture at Cal is less about sports than the other two. 

[beachindoor]

Question how is Kraft training with Kelly and also doing USC? She must be tired lol

[volley2022]

"When I arrived at USC and joined the beach volleyball team, I expected to be able to rise to the same level I had in the past, but I was sorely mistaken. I was not where I needed to be in terms of my fitness, skill, or overall readiness. Rather than reacting rationally and accepting the challenges of growth and improvement, I became frustrated with myself and my perceived deficiencies," said Caitlin Cummings. "Throughout my freshman year, exacerbated by the fact that school was online, beach volleyball practice was my only connection to the life I knew. I noticed that I began equating my performance at practice with my dignity and self worth."

www.uncutlosangeles.com/caitlin-cummings

[burbank55]

Feb 16, 2022 18:58:21 GMT -5 beachindoor said:

Question how is Kraft training with Kelly and also doing USC? She must be tired lol

I thought Meg Kraft was going to partner with Emily Stockman.  Which Kelly are you thinking of?  Former Stockman partners, Kelley Larsen or Kelley Kolinske?

I’d guess Kraft practices with the USC team and adds a session or two on the weekend with her “pro” partner until the college season is over.

[gobruins]

Feb 17, 2022 16:57:50 GMT -5 burbank55 said:

Feb 16, 2022 18:58:21 GMT -5 beachindoor said:

Question how is Kraft training with Kelly and also doing USC? She must be tired lol

I thought Meg Kraft was going to partner with Emily Stockman.  Which Kelly are you thinking of?  Former Stockman partners, Kelley Larsen or Kelley Kolinske?

I’d guess Kraft practices with the USC team and adds a session or two on the weekend with her “pro” partner until the college season is over.

Aren't Kelley Larsen and Kelley Kolinske the same person?

[burbank55]

Feb 18, 2022 9:54:52 GMT -5 gobruins said:

Feb 17, 2022 16:57:50 GMT -5 burbank55 said:

I thought Meg Kraft was going to partner with Emily Stockman.  Which Kelly are you thinking of?  Former Stockman partners, Kelley Larsen or Kelley Kolinske?

I’d guess Kraft practices with the USC team and adds a session or two on the weekend with her “pro” partner until the college season is over.

Aren't Kelley Larsen and Kelley Kolinske the same person?

Yep.
Just trying to see who was the reference.

[volley2022]

2022 USC Beach Volleyball Schedule

usctrojans.com/sports/womens-beach-volleyball/schedule/2022?grid=true

Feb 24 (Thu) 1:00 PM Away - Long Beach State, Long Beach, Calif.
Feb 26 (Sat) 4:00 PM Home - Cardinal and Gold, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)

Battle For L.A. Invitational
Mar 5 (Sat) 10:00 AM Away - UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif.
Mar 5 (Sat) 3:00 PM Home - Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)
Mar 6 (Sun) 12:00 PM Home - Stanford, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)
Mar 6 (Sun) 2:00 PM Home - Long Beach State, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)

Stetson Sun-N-Sand Invitational
Mar 12 (Sat) 7:00 AM Neutral - Florida State, DeLand, Fla.
Mar 12 (Sat) 1:00 PM Neutral - Florida Atlantic, DeLand, Fla.
Mar 13 (Sun) 7:00 AM Neutral - Tampa, DeLand, Fla.
Mar 13 (Sun) 10:00 AM Away - Stetson, DeLand, Fla.

FIU Beach Bash
Mar 16 (Wed) 11:00 AM Away - Florida International, Miami, Fla.
Mar 16 (Wed) 1:30 PM Neutral - Florida Gulf Coast, Miami, Fla.

Mar 22 (Tue) 9:30 AM Home - Houston Baptist, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)
Mar 22 (Tue) 2:30 PM Home - CSU Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)

Pac-12 South Invitational
Mar 26 (Sat) 2:00 PM Neutral - Utah, Tucson, Ariz.
Mar 26 (Sat) 7:00 PM Neutral - Arizona State, Tucson, Ariz.
Mar 27 (Sun) 11:45 AM Neutral - Washington, Tucson, Ariz.

East Meets West Invitational
Apr 2 (Sat) 9:00 AM Neutral - LSU, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Apr 2 (Sat) 3:00 PM Neutral - Hawai'i, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Apr 3 (Sun) 9:30 AM Neutral - TCU, Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Apr 3 (Sun) 1:30 PM Neutral - Florida International, Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Pac-12 North Invitational
Apr 9 (Sat) 8:00 AM Away - Stanford, Stanford, Calif.
Apr 9 (Sat) 2:00 PM Neutral - California, Stanford, Calif.
Apr 10 (Sun) 10:00 AM Neutral - Arizona, Stanford, Calif.
Apr 10 (Sun) 2:00 PM Neutral - Oregon, Stanford, Calif.

Center of Effort Challenge
Apr 15 (Fri) 12:30 PM Neutral - Loyola Marymount, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Apr 15 (Fri) 3:30 PM Away - Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Apr 16 (Sat) 3:00 PM Neutral - Florida State, San Luis Obispo, Calif.
Apr 16 (Sat) 5:50 PM Neutral - UCLA, San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Apr 23 (Sat) 12:00 PM Home - UCLA, Los Angeles, Calif. (Merle Norman Stadium)

2022 Pac-12 Beach Volleyball Championship
Apr 28 (Thu) All Day Neutral - Pac 12 Championship, Tucson, Ariz.
Apr 29 (Fri) All Day Neutral - Pac 12 Championship, Tucson, Ariz.
Apr 30 (Sat) All Day Neutral - Pac 12 Championship, Tucson, Ariz.

[volley2022]

Season Opener Video

Video: Gage Masterson

[volleyon75]

Does anyone know if there is a way to watch the matches today? If not, if anyone is there, please report on how the team looks and who the pairs are. So excited for USC beach to start!! ❤️💛🏐✌️

[volley2022]

#1 USC vs #15 Long Beach State

stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=381347

1 Tina Graudina/Hailey Harward (USC) vs Skyler Germann/Katie Kennedy
2 Megan Kraft/Sammy Slater (USC) vs Holland Jackson/Nicci Reinking
3 Julia Scoles/Delaynie Maple (USC) vs Emily Mattoon/Sydney Stevens
4 Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) vs Claire Newlander/Jillian Rodriguez
5 Caroline Schafer/Sunny Villapando (USC) vs Christine DeRoos/Sophie Major
6 Mollie Ebertin/Shannon Scully (USC) vs Leah Black/Haley Carrington

[volley2022]

USC vs Long Beach State 5-0

1 Tina Graudina/Hailey Harward (USC) vs Skyler Germann/Katie Kennedy 21-18, 21-11
2 Megan Kraft/Sammy Slater (USC) vs Holland Jackson/Nicci Reinking 20-22, 21-17, 15-2
3 Julia Scoles/Delaynie Maple (USC) vs Emily Mattoon/Sydney Stevens 21-14, 21-12
4 Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) vs Claire Newlander/Jillian Rodriguez 21-15, 22-20
5 Caroline Schafer/Sunny Villapando (USC) vs Christine DeRoos/Sophie Major 17-21, 21-18, 15-13
Exh. Mollie Ebertin/Shannon Scully (USC) vs Leah Black/Haley Carrington 21-12, 21-15
Order of finish: 4, 2, 3*, 1, 5

usctrojans.com/news/2022/2/24/womens-beach-volleyball-no-1-usc-beach-volleyball-sweeps-no-15-long-beach-state-in-season-opener.aspx

[Wahinevball1234]

Feb 24, 2022 15:52:22 GMT -5 volley2022 said:

#1 USC vs #15 Long Beach State

stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=381347

1 Tina Graudina/Hailey Harward (USC) vs Skyler Germann/Katie Kennedy
2 Megan Kraft/Sammy Slater (USC) vs Holland Jackson/Nicci Reinking
3 Julia Scoles/Delaynie Maple (USC) vs Emily Mattoon/Sydney Stevens
4 Audrey Nourse/Nicole Nourse (USC) vs Claire Newlander/Jillian Rodriguez
5 Caroline Schafer/Sunny Villapando (USC) vs Christine DeRoos/Sophie Major
6 Mollie Ebertin/Shannon Scully (USC) vs Leah Black/Haley Carrington

Interesting to go with Kraft/Slater and Scoles/Maple considering the success Scoles/Slater had last year and that Kraft/Maple have had so much success together….. This is especially true considering that Kraft/Maple are almost surely going to be the 1s team next year. But, hey, Dain won last year so not gonna question him!

[ncaabeachfan]

I was surprised by the pairings also, but time will tell - Dain tinkered with pairings last year and if these don’t work out I’m sure he has other combos in mind. I think spreading out Graudina and Kraft is a move to add depth and it could work well if those teams gel.

[burbank55]

We’ve also seen the Bruins learn the Trojans’ tendencies over the course of a season so switching pairs half way through reduces that level of comfort. Just like how most starting baseball pitchers often are not nearly as effective against batters the third time through the lineup. Not saying this is going to happen… just pointing out the benefits.

A bit intrigued that Shannon Scully got the nod for the exhibition match.
A bit disappointed that Schafer/Villapando didn’t dominate more at the Fives.