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UCLA
Nov 18, 2021 6:08:51 GMT -5
Post by thelat on Nov 18, 2021 6:08:51 GMT -5
Anybody know anything aboutthe game last night, UCLA lost in 3 at the last tournament?
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UCLA
Dec 31, 2021 18:01:22 GMT -5
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Post by babybacksets on Dec 31, 2021 18:01:22 GMT -5
I know getting Californians to be more outspoken about their support for an in state Mens Volleyball team is a lofty goal, but after Hawaii as the favorites to repeat, I think UCLA is one of the Top 3 favorites to win it all in the upcoming season.
Not sure how interested any on here are in discussing their reasons in agreement or disagreement but
1. If they can find a real solid answer at the setting position, the amount of depth everywhere else is as good as anyone else in the country.
2. If he gets stronger offensively I think Champlain is that plus defender/receiver Outside Hitter that every Men’s team needs to get them over the edge.
3. Looks like some former big arms are back with the team and transitioning to the middle. JR Norris hits an extremely heavy ball and is athletic enough to make the transition to middle. If he locks it down on the blocking end, he and McHenry could be a really dangerous tandem. The freshman will have room to grow but I think Guy Genis will get some looks. Matheny probably will as well, hopefully he’s more productive this year.
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UCLA
Dec 31, 2021 18:19:46 GMT -5
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Post by lipton on Dec 31, 2021 18:19:46 GMT -5
I think UCLA's second team could beat any second team in the nation. The problem is that the matches are played by first teams, so unless something happens where every team ends up playing their second team as often as their first team, all that depth will not give them an advantage. It will make the first team work harder and get more realistic reps in practice, but only six players can be on the court at once. There will be plenty of matches where the talent on the other side of the net will exceed UCLA. And Speraw's revolving door will be spinning at full speed at all six spots, meaning no one will get consistent reps. I don't see that as a good thing. Sorry to be a downer here, but I see their insane depth as being a hindrance rather than an asset.
And it's a shame that they have a second team full of players that could start at nearly every top 15 team. To think that there will be matches where Knight, Kobrine, Metheny, Burgi, and Partain 2.0 won't see any reps followed by a match where Champlin, Genis, David, Ketrzynski, and Partin 1.0 don't see any action is absurd in terms of depth.
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UCLA
Dec 31, 2021 19:14:01 GMT -5
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Post by babybacksets on Dec 31, 2021 19:14:01 GMT -5
I think UCLA's second team could beat any second team in the nation. The problem is that the matches are played by first teams, so unless something happens where every team ends up playing their second team as often as their first team, all that depth will not give them an advantage. It will make the first team work harder and get more realistic reps in practice, but only six players can be on the court at once. There will be plenty of matches where the talent on the other side of the net will exceed UCLA. And Speraw's revolving door will be spinning at full speed at all six spots, meaning no one will get consistent reps. I don't see that as a good thing. Sorry to be a downer here, but I see their insane depth as being a hindrance rather than an asset. And it's a shame that they have a second team full of players that could start at nearly every top 15 team. To think that there will be matches where Knight, Kobrine, Metheny, Burgi, and Partain 2.0 won't see any reps followed by a match where Champlin, Genis, David, Ketrzynski, and Partin 1.0 don't see any action is absurd in terms of depth. Although I agree with this, I do think we see the door revolve a lot less this upcoming season as I felt like Speraw was trying to get all these guys that missed out on a season a chance to play the game again. By now he should know Ket needs to stay on the court on either pin, hopefully on the left so Kobrine gets more looks. No need to play around at libero, McHenry is a lock and IMO if one setter is working best early on, keep it that way but yea we’ll see. Every time I look at the guys that don’t start for UCLA I’m reminded how annoying it is that there aren’t more PAC12 schools that field a Mens team. These guys have too much (well earned) pride to go to smaller D1-2 but plenty would jump to an Oregon, Washington, or Arizona in a heartbeat and not look back.
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Post by lipton on Jan 1, 2022 1:13:36 GMT -5
I think UCLA's second team could beat any second team in the nation. The problem is that the matches are played by first teams, so unless something happens where every team ends up playing their second team as often as their first team, all that depth will not give them an advantage. It will make the first team work harder and get more realistic reps in practice, but only six players can be on the court at once. There will be plenty of matches where the talent on the other side of the net will exceed UCLA. And Speraw's revolving door will be spinning at full speed at all six spots, meaning no one will get consistent reps. I don't see that as a good thing. Sorry to be a downer here, but I see their insane depth as being a hindrance rather than an asset. And it's a shame that they have a second team full of players that could start at nearly every top 15 team. To think that there will be matches where Knight, Kobrine, Metheny, Burgi, and Partain 2.0 won't see any reps followed by a match where Champlin, Genis, David, Ketrzynski, and Partin 1.0 don't see any action is absurd in terms of depth. Although I agree with this, I do think we see the door revolve a lot less this upcoming season as I felt like Speraw was trying to get all these guys that missed out on a season a chance to play the game again. By now he should know Ket needs to stay on the court on either pin, hopefully on the left so Kobrine gets more looks. No need to play around at libero, McHenry is a lock and IMO if one setter is working best early on, keep it that way but yea we’ll see. Every time I look at the guys that don’t start for UCLA I’m reminded how annoying it is that there aren’t more PAC12 schools that field a Mens team. These guys have too much (well earned) pride to go to smaller D1-2 but plenty would jump to an Oregon, Washington, or Arizona in a heartbeat and not look back. Since the early 2000s, Speraw has used a revolving door at any position where he had good depth. It's what he does. He eventually settled on a lineup during the 2005-2007 window at UCI, but as soon as Smith, Steller, Jablonksy, etc... graduated and he had four viable OHs and two good setters, he went back to juggling. This roster is going to get more juggling than most years, because you have so little drop-off between first and second units. Ket and McHenry will likely stay on the court the most, but you have Kobrine and David who are both AA caliber opposites along with a talented Van Steeg. You have Champlin, Knight, and Burgi all very capable at OH2 and spelling Kat at OH1 from time to time. In the middle you have Genis, Metheny, and Parrish all fighting to play alongside McHenry. All three of those guys would start ate pretty much every school in nation but maybe one or two. At setter you have two Partains and a transfer who will need to battle it out to see who starts. That starter job will change multiple times this season. Again, depth is great in theory, but it has undermined team chemistry on Speraw-coached teams in the past. This team has the horses to win it all this season, but the attitude and the camaraderie will dictate how far they go.
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Post by CoastalVB on Apr 5, 2022 22:39:36 GMT -5
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UCLA
Apr 5, 2022 22:44:55 GMT -5
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 5, 2022 22:44:55 GMT -5
Love it. Better to have 14 guys that can contribute than 7 who have zero help when someone has an off night.
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UCLA
Apr 6, 2022 18:54:31 GMT -5
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Post by bruinsgold on Apr 6, 2022 18:54:31 GMT -5
Does anyone think junior Cole Ketrzynksi might transfer after this season? Perhaps USC? The Trojans are losing a couple OHs after this season… Nothing against Champlin (sophomore) or Knight (junior) - they’re incredible athletes, however it sucks to see Ketrzynski on the bench and the fact that he is rarely subbed in. The comment from Speraw in this article about Pender, Champlin, and Knight being the teams best passing back row makes me wonder if Ketrzynski’s digs/passes are the reason why Champlin and Knight have the slight advantage. ? To be honest, I loved Ketrzynski at OPP. I don't think his future is at OH. If I remember correctly, one of the main reasons he was moved to the left was because Knight was injured, Champlin was in and out with injuries, and they needed their best offensive weapons on the court at the same time -- Ketrzynski and Kevin Kobrine. Kobrine was just too good to take off the court and then David came, basically leaving Ketrzynski on the left where there are better passers already holding down the spot. I don't know what Ketrzynski prefers (OH or OPP) but if he transfers, I hope it's to get back on the right side. If anything, I'm wondering if a middle transfers out. McHenry and Genis have a lot of years left.
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dude2112
Junior
2023 Men's Fantasy League Champion
Posts: 453
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UCLA
Apr 7, 2022 14:56:24 GMT -5
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Post by dude2112 on Apr 7, 2022 14:56:24 GMT -5
Does anyone think junior Cole Ketrzynksi might transfer after this season? Perhaps USC? The Trojans are losing a couple OHs after this season… Nothing against Champlin (sophomore) or Knight (junior) - they’re incredible athletes, however it sucks to see Ketrzynski on the bench and the fact that he is rarely subbed in. The comment from Speraw in this article about Pender, Champlin, and Knight being the teams best passing back row makes me wonder if Ketrzynski’s digs/passes are the reason why Champlin and Knight have the slight advantage. ? I heard he's not playing because he can't get his serves in. funny, considering how many service errors ucla always has🤪. I'm sure having ido and kevin on the team doesn't help either.
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UCLA
Apr 7, 2022 15:43:16 GMT -5
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Post by babybacksets on Apr 7, 2022 15:43:16 GMT -5
Does anyone think junior Cole Ketrzynksi might transfer after this season? Perhaps USC? The Trojans are losing a couple OHs after this season… Nothing against Champlin (sophomore) or Knight (junior) - they’re incredible athletes, however it sucks to see Ketrzynski on the bench and the fact that he is rarely subbed in. The comment from Speraw in this article about Pender, Champlin, and Knight being the teams best passing back row makes me wonder if Ketrzynski’s digs/passes are the reason why Champlin and Knight have the slight advantage. ? I heard he's not playing because he can't get his serves in. funny, considering how many service errors ucla always has🤪. I'm sure having ido and kevin on the team doesn't help either. I remember at least 2 games where Cole Ket must have missed every 1st or 2nd serve he attempted lol it’s unfortunate but UCLA has had high level players in the past hit bumps in their careers after stellar starts only to finish their years playing their best ball in their last seasons. UCLA won’t be hurt by him transferring, just being as stacked as they are, but he’s a big time player so you hate to see it.
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