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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 22, 2022 20:54:31 GMT -5
Zyonna Fellows has decided to return for her COVID year! There still should be one more spot if a transfer middle does decide to come. http://instagr.am/p/CaTT7GAJH79 |
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zzyzx
Sophomore
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Post by zzyzx on Feb 23, 2022 11:29:02 GMT -5
Saw Rubio shopping on the 15s courts at the Las Vegas Classic Sunday. He took a good long look at 949 volleyball's outside and middle.
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Post by kimdc on Feb 28, 2022 10:08:14 GMT -5
I talked to Dave late last week about Zyonna's decision to return. There's also news about China Rai Crouch and a few other tidbits in there. |
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Post by azcatsfan on Feb 28, 2022 12:05:34 GMT -5
I talked to Dave late last week about Zyonna's decision to return. There's also news about China Rai Crouch and a few other tidbits in there. Ahhhhhhhh so excited to hear about China coming back!!! I know you touched on it but now I’m really wondering what Dave is going to do with her. China’s blocking would be much better than Stubbes but will she be able to match the offensive production? With this being announced, will the they start looking for a transfer setter to try and run the 6-2 instead of the 5-1? I can’t wait to find out! |
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2022 13:24:15 GMT -5
I talked to Dave late last week about Zyonna's decision to return. There's also news about China Rai Crouch and a few other tidbits in there. Ahhhhhhhh so excited to hear about China coming back!!! I know you touched on it but now I’m really wondering what Dave is going to do with her. China’s blocking would be much better than Stubbes but will she be able to match the offensive production? With this being announced, will the they start looking for a transfer setter to try and run the 6-2 instead of the 5-1? I can’t wait to find out! Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. |
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Post by azcatsfan on Feb 28, 2022 13:39:13 GMT -5
Ahhhhhhhh so excited to hear about China coming back!!! I know you touched on it but now I’m really wondering what Dave is going to do with her. China’s blocking would be much better than Stubbes but will she be able to match the offensive production? With this being announced, will the they start looking for a transfer setter to try and run the 6-2 instead of the 5-1? I can’t wait to find out! Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. Yeah I know they ran a 6-2 against Utah a couple of years ago when Whipple was still on the team. However, it didn’t really go well so they scrapped it but now they have more right side options/production so it might work. I’m not a huge fan of the 6-2, none of the premier teams run it so I always doubt if it can win a national championship. So many lineup possibilities now! |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 28, 2022 13:45:38 GMT -5
Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. Yeah I know they ran a 6-2 against Utah a couple of years ago when Whipple was still on the team. However, it didn’t really go well so they scrapped it but now they have more right side options/production so it might work. I’m not a huge fan of the 6-2, none of the premier teams run it so I always doubt if it can win a national championship. So many lineup possibilities now! well not to like speak down of the program but I’m not sure the goal of Arizona WVB is to win the NC. I think they would be content making the second round of the ncaa tournament. So running a 6-2 if it’s their best option wouldn’t be terrible idea |
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2022 13:57:54 GMT -5
Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. Yeah I know they ran a 6-2 against Utah a couple of years ago when Whipple was still on the team. However, it didn’t really go well so they scrapped it but now they have more right side options/production so it might work. I’m not a huge fan of the 6-2, none of the premier teams run it so I always doubt if it can win a national championship. So many lineup possibilities now! Meant for like a whole season or even a chunk of a season. With how good Puk is (highest hitting percentage and passing numbers out of the three starting pins), I think it would be against our best wishes to run a 6-2 UNLESS we moved her to outside. |
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Post by azcatsfan on Feb 28, 2022 14:16:49 GMT -5
Yeah I know they ran a 6-2 against Utah a couple of years ago when Whipple was still on the team. However, it didn’t really go well so they scrapped it but now they have more right side options/production so it might work. I’m not a huge fan of the 6-2, none of the premier teams run it so I always doubt if it can win a national championship. So many lineup possibilities now! Meant for like a whole season or even a chunk of a season. With how good Puk is (highest hitting percentage and passing numbers out of the three starting pins), I think it would be against our best wishes to run a 6-2 UNLESS we moved her to outside. I don’t see Puk getting moved to the left. IDK if she can best the production of the other two pins but then again, you would have better insight on that then I do haha. |
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Post by kimdc on Feb 28, 2022 14:23:47 GMT -5
Ahhhhhhhh so excited to hear about China coming back!!! I know you touched on it but now I’m really wondering what Dave is going to do with her. China’s blocking would be much better than Stubbes but will she be able to match the offensive production? With this being announced, will the they start looking for a transfer setter to try and run the 6-2 instead of the 5-1? I can’t wait to find out! Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. He told me last season that he had only run it as his primary offense two years at Arizona. I'd have to look back or ask him which two those were. However, he briefly ran it Emery's freshman year with Akia Warrior. He thought it might help Emery get comfortable. He abandoned it very quickly. I think he also ran it early this past season in like one set. If he wanted to run a 6-2, he could run Emery and Ana together. Both were 6-2 setters before coming to Arizona. I have wondered a tiny bit whether he would, especially considering how aggressive Emery is in calling her own number. I just don't know that he's ready to change his ways that much. I imagine Lauren will have some input into that, too. |
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2022 18:17:40 GMT -5
Dave hasn't ever run a 6-2 in his 30 years I do not think, but I would think China staying in the middle would be the most beneficial for the team, at least for as long as Puk is here. We won't know where she is in her development until she's back on the court, but she's a quick learner. That would also allow Lauren Rumel to develop as both a pin hitter and a middle and not just a middle, considering she played outside in high school. He told me last season that he had only run it as his primary offense two years at Arizona. I'd have to look back or ask him which two those were. However, he briefly ran it Emery's freshman year with Akia Warrior. He thought it might help Emery get comfortable. He abandoned it very quickly. I think he also ran it early this past season in like one set. If he wanted to run a 6-2, he could run Emery and Ana together. Both were 6-2 setters before coming to Arizona. I have wondered a tiny bit whether he would, especially considering how aggressive Emery is in calling her own number. I just don't know that he's ready to change his ways that much. I imagine Lauren will have some input into that, too. Yes, I realize now my post was a bit of a hyperbole in writing, but I really just meant for a whole season or even opening the season with one. The Utah game with Akia was because we were being utterly dominated, it didn't start with a 6-2 though if I remember correctly, that was just one of his attempts to stop the bleeding. This season, we still never ran a 6-2, but Ava came in a lot and oftentimes would be subbed out once she hit front row, turning the offense from a 5-1 to a 5-2. Although for Dave to run a 6-2, my GUESS would be he would want one of the two setters to also be a hitter (like Pitt did), so Ana could be the one to "break" his habit, but I somewhat doubt it. Nothing against Ana, she is an incredible player and athlete in general with super high work ethic and coachability, but I'm just not sure anyone could make him run a 5-1 when we still have a solid 6-foot setter on the team. Then again, there is so much time until next season. I'm not counting anything out at this point. I mean if you would have told me two months ago Z and China would BOTH be coming back, I would have probably laughed. I think that just goes to show a positive shift in culture though. I think there's more talent in the gym this year than any year I have been at Arizona so far. |
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2022 18:24:14 GMT -5
Meant for like a whole season or even a chunk of a season. With how good Puk is (highest hitting percentage and passing numbers out of the three starting pins), I think it would be against our best wishes to run a 6-2 UNLESS we moved her to outside. I don’t see Puk getting moved to the left. IDK if she can best the production of the other two pins but then again, you would have better insight on that then I do haha. Puk looked absolutely unstoppable from the left the other day... but she's much more consistent from the right. I feel like with her passing ability, left would be the more "normal" position for someone like her (most opposites do not pass, at any level). Her blocking is also a bit behind because she still shuffle blocks a lot like beach players do instead of swing blocking and reaching her maximum height and press over the net. But that "weakness" is less obvious when you are playing on the left because you are blocking a lot less as an outside (blocking against the opposing opposite/setter) vs blocking on the right (against the opposing outsides). It's an interesting thought, and it's also worth noting that outside of Dilara (and Ana and Lauren if we want to count them in the mix), any of our pins can play left or right at close the same level as the other pin imo. |
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Post by azvolleydad on Feb 28, 2022 18:27:00 GMT -5
Yeah I know they ran a 6-2 against Utah a couple of years ago when Whipple was still on the team. However, it didn’t really go well so they scrapped it but now they have more right side options/production so it might work. I’m not a huge fan of the 6-2, none of the premier teams run it so I always doubt if it can win a national championship. So many lineup possibilities now! well not to like speak down of the program but I’m not sure the goal of Arizona WVB is to win the NC. I think they would be content making the second round of the ncaa tournament. So running a 6-2 if it’s their best option wouldn’t be terrible idea |
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Post by kimdc on Feb 28, 2022 18:45:41 GMT -5
Although for Dave to run a 6-2, my GUESS would be he would want one of the two setters to also be a hitter (like Pitt did), so Ana could be the one to "break" his habit, but I somewhat doubt it. Nothing against Ana, she is an incredible player and athlete in general with super high work ethic and coachability, but I'm just not sure anyone could make him run a 5-1 when we still have a solid 6-foot setter on the team. Then again, there is so much time until next season. I'm not counting anything out at this point. I mean if you would have told me two months ago Z and China would BOTH be coming back, I would have probably laughed. I think that just goes to show a positive shift in culture though. I think there's more talent in the gym this year than any year I have been at Arizona so far. Oh, he would definitely want one of the setters to be a hitter. From what I have seen of Ana, she's definitely got hitter potential. I am super excited about covering this team in the upcoming season. As far as culture, my first year of covering this program was the 2018 season, so I am going into my fifth season. I have seen a decided change in Dave over that short time. I don't know how he is in practice because I usually only see a couple of practices per year if that. However, I know that in press conferences he is much kinder when discussing his players. I am an old-school kind of gal and I have always liked Dave, but just a few years ago, occasionally the things he would say about his players would make me wince. I thought at the time that I could never play for him. As hard as I am, I'm not tough enough for that. These days, he makes a decided effort to choose his words more wisely. He will still give an honest critique, but it's nowhere near as harsh. I know that when he gathered via Zoom with his current and former players to celebrate his 30th anniversary at Arizona, his current players said that he apologized to his former players for how he treated them. I did a story on Rita a couple of years back when she described those times. She credits him with saving her--twice, in fact--but she also relayed some things that he said to her when she was a player that were kind of pointed, to put it lightly. (By the way, I adore Rita so much. Incredible woman and extremely kind.) Whatever made him decide to change, it has done good things for the proggram, IMO. It also seems to have made him more relaxed, at least from the point of view of an outside observer. I learn a lot from him and I never feel like he'll be annoyed if I ask something basic. |
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Post by JJVb on Mar 9, 2022 20:25:05 GMT -5
Looks like AZ will be hosting a Spring tourney March 26th weekend, based on ASU posting about it.
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