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Post by basil on Dec 5, 2022 20:00:10 GMT -5
Noticed something very cool -- Dustin Watten, pro libero for the USA men's team, commented on UK Volleyball's instagram with Emma Grome "Stud. LFG Kentucky 🙌"
she's part of Watten's online volleyball coaching thing noezybuckets they have liberos and setters from both mens and womens NCAA doing promos and getting private coaching from some of the pros that Watten is friends with for example, Fleck and Rodriguez are both 'noezybuckets' athletes and they get one-on-one coaching from Watten, Grome joined when they expanded to setting this season and seems like she gets one-on-one coaching from TJ Sanders, former Canadian Olympic setter |
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Post by donut on Dec 9, 2022 15:09:23 GMT -5
Took a break after last night's heartbreak. Finally finding time to string my thoughts together in hopefully a coherent manner. First, in some ways this team exceeded expectations. Losing Skinner and still co-championing the SEC (again) is a testament to Craig and co., as well as players like Rollins and Rutherford stepping up HUGE this year. Not sure it's been emphasized enough, but UK was a Top 10 RPI AND Pablo team pre-tournament. Especially after the preseason, who woulda thunk it? However, ironically, it's frustrating because even despite the above, I don't think we saw this team reach its full potential. So, in other ways, it felt like UK fell short of expectations. UK played some messy volleyball this year. So many games where UK handed opponents 10+ unforced errors. At times, it seemed like there was a lack of focus or willpower. UK arguably had more terminal hitters this year than they had their National Championship year, but streaky play and the inability to maintain momentum will hurt ya. Regardless, huge shout out to these players for improving substantially throughout the year. Our passing and block was night and day as compared to the beginning of the season. Bell and Whitworth win "most improved" undoubtedly, and it was so enjoyable to watch Rollins at her best all season. We have one of the best opposites in the country, and our emotional team leader back next year. We have enough middles to fill 8 rosters, and a very elite OH coming, so the future is bright. Thanks Bella, Maddie and Kelly for your contributions to this program. Already created next year's thread so onwards! |
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Post by gocatsrawr on Dec 9, 2022 15:30:31 GMT -5
I’m very confused about the strategy from last night. It’s obvious we needed offense, yet Elise never saw the court. But whether or not she came in, Bell was only set 6 times?? And Rebo had the 2nd fewest attempts?? Someone on the coaching staff should have noticed that. Rebo was obliterating balls. Maybe it had to do with tooling Blossom’s block, but at the end of the day Rollins or Lamb should never get more attempts than Rebo.
Loved this year’s team and I can’t wait for next year. Sad we couldn’t capitalize on the growth from during the season
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Post by 2Close4Missiles on Dec 9, 2022 15:38:01 GMT -5
Great post. I think if you asked me 10 months ago what my hopes were, I would have said bring in a transfer who can help win the SEC, advance to the second weekend (I would have been over the moon with an elite 8), and develop our young outsides for the future. So check, check, and... maaayyybe? Both showed flashes this year, but probably too early to tell what their long term impact will be.
Is Bell for sure gone or is that up in the air still?
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Post by donut on Dec 9, 2022 16:43:28 GMT -5
I’m very confused about the strategy from last night. It’s obvious we needed offense, yet Elise never saw the court. But whether or not she came in, Bell was only set 6 times?? And Rebo had the 2nd fewest attempts?? Someone on the coaching staff should have noticed that. Rebo was obliterating balls. Maybe it had to do with tooling Blossom’s block, but at the end of the day Rollins or Lamb should never get more attempts than Rebo. Loved this year’s team and I can’t wait for next year. Sad we couldn’t capitalize on the growth from during the season We got stuck in rotations with Tealer in the front row. That's why Rollins, Lamb and Tealer had the most attempts -- we couldn't side out when they (Rollins and Tealer, or Lamb and Tealer) were our two attack options. This is the downside of not having Rebo play 6-rotations.
Our "play with no middle strategy" works with Tealer when Grome gets a good pass, and Grome can quickly set it to either pin. Our passing wasn't good enough for Grome to be deceptive enough, and SD's big block was able to key in on where the ball was going. SD's block wasn't quick -- just big. When passing was good, we consistently beat the block. Honestly, we should have subbed in Goetz for Tealer. Goetz's height and slide might have been more efficient last night.
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