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Post by courtwatchers on Sept 25, 2021 10:03:21 GMT -5
Minnesota's own "Wonder Woman", Samedy. I too am glad she decided to return this season.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Sept 25, 2021 10:36:24 GMT -5
Myers wasn't effective, Glenn was just as bad. |
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Post by vbkahuna on Sept 25, 2021 10:57:20 GMT -5
Another factor in last night's match (as well as across the country) is the rise of those teams that have "team quickness" when they play the higher ranked "big" (literally) teams. It's been most notable in Louisville, Kentucky, Utah, and last night in Maryland and Michigan. Their quickness is showing in getting to the blocking wall and closing it quicker, better overall court coverage and defense, and with a decent setter, playing offense at a faster speed to give their undersized (comparatively) hitters holes in the bigger-but-slower team's blocks.
The top teams are still snatching most of the best tall players (front lines of 6'3"- 6'8") but the new upstarts are compensating by assembling a team of shorter but much quicker and more athletic girls that on a given night can pull the upsets.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Sept 25, 2021 10:57:54 GMT -5
I will have to respectfully disagree with a few posters regarding the crowd. They were heavily into this match and went nuts on the point where CC slammed into a chair on the bench and then ran across the court to make a great dig all in one sequence. A couple of reasons that made it a bit abnormal from a typical match. 1. The parking situation was the worst that I can remember. I took one of my alternative "back routes" to get to the game but was stymied by a police barrier. The main parking ramp was unavailable. Many people got to the match late and I wouldn't be shocked if others didn't make it at all. 2. As previously mentioned, masks clearly reduce some of the noise. 3. No pep band and for some reason almost no music was played during timeouts. It made a difference. That CC play was incredible, and should be in the top plays of the week. 32 digs for her was amazing to see. I'm so tired of this narrative from fans watching the broadcast. Nobody cares what your impressions of the noise level are. It's fine, we all cheer as loudly as ever, despite the masks muffling those cheers. That said, there are many open seats in sections 4 and 5 and the premium seat rows on the ends of the courts. Assume these are mostly COVID no shows as most of those ticket holders have had them forever. No Band is a big difference too. Can't believe they wouldn't have a pep band for the B1G opener, but then they could sell a few hundred more tickets. |
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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Sept 25, 2021 11:09:58 GMT -5
Was at the match and a few takeaways. Some things may have already been addressed, so in that case I'll be echoing previous posters.
Full masked, crowds are quieter. No brainer. Secondly, in a five-set match that should've been won in three by the home team, it's a bit annoying and demoralizing. Thirdly, the challenge system is a cancer on college volleyball from a crowd perspective. It was a long match, made unnecessarily longer by the time it takes to review film. Not to mention all the timeouts. It was sort of like...can we PLEASE get on with it??
After a handful of solid performances, Shaffmaster had a rough night again from a location standpoint. Not sure if her knee was part of the problem (she was wearing a decent-sized brace for the first time). Her mobility isn't exactly world class to begin with, and her set quality is worse when she's not in position. There was a fair amount of that, despite passing being OK (until game 3).
I agree that Wenaas was not the problem. She was not set well and had a very untimely error on set point in the third. Samedy wasn't set particularly well either in my opinion, but she IS world class, and can do more with less.
It was nice to see Landfair come in and hit well. I'm convinced that the starting lineup needs to include Landfair and Wenaas. No disrespect to Miyabe, who has done wonderfully, but her blocking and serve receive are a bit frightening at times, and when at close to their best, Wenaas is also a more terminal hitter. If Miyabe earns a starting spot for performing better, awesome. But that's frustrating to me as a fan, since that would essentially mean that those players with likely the highest potential aren't rising up to it. That said, I do expect a Landfair/Wenaas pairing eventually. They both need to play like Landfair did last night and Wenaas did the last two weeks to be competitive for a B1G title, which, after last nights matches, shows me is possible for the Gophers.
I wish Rubright also lived up to what I would consider a higher ceiling than Ellie Huseman.
CC so great. She was burned on several plays by what I consider poor blocking, often on L by Miyabe. Myers had a few conversations with Ari after such points. Was impressed with Kilkelly passing for the most part too. Hope we can keep it together for Maryland.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Sept 25, 2021 11:14:54 GMT -5
This is a tough opening draw for Michigan's B1G season. Blue has a young team and their inexperience has shown throughout the non-conference schedule with their inconsistent play. Their most experienced veteran Paige Jones has been pulled from the back row; Jess Mruzik has quietly taken over the team's leadership on the floor and in the box score. Johnson is still finding her rhythm in an offense that often shoots itself in the foot; averaging more than 9 attack errors and nearly 4 service errors per set. But they have also shown flashes of brilliance, making them dangerous on any given night. Blocking has been much improved from a conference worst last season, but passing remains a significant concern. Hoping we can squeak out a set tonight. Go Blue! Pretty much summed up their play last night. It was like watching two different teams for Michigan. Their ability to raise the level of play in sets 3 and 4 was impressive, especially that 8 point run in 4. Paige Jones getting more action was a big part of that as well as Mruzik's inspired play as well as Petrofsky. The lack of any middle attack (where have I heard that before) was an issue. Great match for Michigan overall that they can build off for the rest of the season. |
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Sept 25, 2021 11:30:28 GMT -5
My impressions from last night from section 5.
Uh oh, Shaffmaster has a knee brace, not good.
Samedy is on fire!
Landfair and Crowl seem to have a nice bond on the bench damn when is Taylor going to get back on the court though.
CC is everywhere and 4 aces was sweet!
Landfair with her jacket on, guess she knows she isn't playing.
Rubright just yawned.
Oh cool, Hugh just talked to Landfair and she is riding the bike.
Oh Jenna, B1G POW one week, and can't get past the block or get anything down the next. The B1G is hard.
Landfair in! Ope, just a little too much on her first attack...OK, she's fine crushing it.
WTG Jenna going to give your sub a well-deserved high five on the TO. Great team chemistry.
Going 5, ugh. Thanks wife for suggesting we should get our money's worth in set 2.
OMG, solo block from Mruzik, over celebrate that, Samedy takes notice.
That's right serve Mruzik for the ace, ha! Celebrate that!
Ope and now a service error.
Samedy! Samedy! Samedy! Point U! Now finish them!
What, they set Robinson and she puts it down, that was unexpected, yet strangely expected in set 5.
Landfair! Landfair!! Landfair!!!
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Sept 25, 2021 11:42:08 GMT -5
Landfair had 8 kills in 32 POINTS.
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Post by andrewwmic on Sept 25, 2021 12:12:29 GMT -5
Samedy looks like she is jumping higher and hitting harder than I have seen, which I didn't think was possible. Quite a few of those hits are not seen at this level .
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Post by courtwatchers on Sept 25, 2021 12:15:10 GMT -5
How many times does a player get recognized for their outstanding talent one week in the BIG and then seem to falter the next? For whatever reason, you see that happen on occasions. Moving forward Wenaas is very capable and will adjust to the displaced setting going on, which is also something I wish our middles could learn to do. I don't believe the setting will change much, but here's hoping it will.
If at all possible, the coaches some how need to figure out how to get our team's hitting percentage up. Right now it is at .237 which is second to the lowest in the last 10 years. With that said, we are holding the opponent's to a .178 hitting percentage.
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Post by mcmike on Sept 25, 2021 17:02:39 GMT -5
the coaches some how need to figure out how to get our team's hitting percentage up. Right now it is at .237 which is second to the lowest in the last 10 years.
The Gopher hitting percentage encapsulated: Watch the last point of set #1 and the first five? points of set #2. At 24-20 Shaff put a set back to Samedy about 6-7' behind the net and Samedy had to put the ball into the opponent's court from above her head. A few moments later the set was nigh unto perfect and Samedy nearly put a dent in the Terraflex.
As the second set started Wenaas got a few good sets, a set that couldn't be attacked and then shortly thereafter a plum she pounded.
The inconsistency in set location is the ONLY thing, imo, that prevents MN from hitting .300. There is a negative-reinforcing feedback loop for Wenaas that is confidence-robbing. Myers gave her a plum later that was too sweet.
I am more convinced than ever that the attitude toward second balls from OOS passing has dramatically improved across the NCAA from watching the Olympics where free balls are sent over VERY sparingly and the pins will attack whenever possible. We used to see many more free ball points, particularly from MN's low error approach.
Miyabe and Wenaas had many 1 on 1 kills early before MI realized we have no real middle attack. When you can't run a slide and the passing doesn't create a tempo quick to the middle the opponent block camps down on the left pin and down down down goes our hitting %.
If MN can't establish their middle to "hold" the opponent's MB our hitting % will never reach its potential. Shaff just cannot yet seem to give Husemann a ball she can put on the floor. If a MB has to wait to gauge where a set is going the tempo loss cannot be recaptured. You have to believe that when you leap the ball will be there where you can drive it. More reps more reps leading to duadic(sic) muscle memory between setter & MB. The better the hitter the more wiggle room there is to make little adjustments, but the height of the set and its location from the net can't deviate as much as they have been. You want your MB to 'know/trust' where its coming so you can select your angle of attack.
I haven't rewatched past the part of the third set where things dis - integrated. It's all fixable.
That is one hefty knee brace and Gopher passing has to maintain sharpness. It all starts with first contact, particularly if your setter has mobility issues. When Shaff is front row the passing HAS to give her multiple set options or we will be in trouble against any B1G team with good terminal hitters.
It sorta looks like that could be almost everyone.
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