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Post by kimdc on Oct 31, 2024 20:34:38 GMT -5
I don't think they have to win out. The league is strong enough. However, they have to get at least a win or two against a better team. BYU is their only good win. It pushed them up like 20 spots in RPI at the time, iirc. They're in the 50s right now.
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Post by kimdc on Nov 2, 2024 17:35:03 GMT -5
More of the same for Arizona. Losing a 3-setter on the road against a ranked team by a total of 10 points. Losing the first two sets by a total of 5 points despite getting literally nothing from Jaelyn Hodge. Hodge was one of several Arizona players (at least 3 starters) who was sick. She had just 1 kill and hit -.125. Rita tried both backup setter Ana Heath and Syd Vanek at OPP since Jae was having a bad day, but neither could get much going, either. Ana played a little bit of OPP her freshman season but she hasn't played the pin much since high school. I didn't realize how wildly unbalanced the Big 12 schedules were. Arizona is 2-8 in conference play. Kansas State in 6-4. Arizona has played 8 matches against teams that have been ranked this season (2xASU, 2xUtah, 2xBYU, TCU, Baylor). KSU has played 2 matches against opponents who are currently ranked (KU, Utah). We just started the second half of conference play. That's bizarre. Anyway, here's the recap for the BYU match with Rita's comments. |
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Post by bbg95 on Nov 2, 2024 17:44:30 GMT -5
A look at where things stand at the midpoint of conference season. While I agree with Rita that the team is "very, very close," the question is how long they can hang around in that "oh-so-close" area and it still be acceptable. The team has some very young pieces at every position (S, OH, MB, L/DS), but they also have some really experienced players out there, too. The youth excuse doesn't explain it all. It just can't when you have a fifth-year OPP, a senior MB, and a junior OH starting alongside a freshman OH and a sophomore MB. One of the liberos is also a senior to offset the fact that the other one is a freshman, and the primary reserves are a senior MB and a junior setter. I agree. This team is giving 2022 vibes big time. Just an inability to pull out wins. In your opinion, do we have to win out to make the tournament? Unfortunately, I think it looks pretty grim. I just looked at their RPI profile. Arizona only has one win over a top 50 opponent. Arizona's adjusted RPI is in the high 50s. And they only have one more match against a top 50 opponent, which is Kansas. That seems like a must win to have a shot. They also can't afford to lose any of the matches that they have against sub-100 opponents. There are six more of those matches and one against Colorado (84). |
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Post by huskersoftroy on Nov 8, 2024 23:51:30 GMT -5
SO happy for Jordan! What a monster match!!!
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Post by JJVb on Nov 9, 2024 0:28:48 GMT -5
I agree. This team is giving 2022 vibes big time. Just an inability to pull out wins. In your opinion, do we have to win out to make the tournament? Unfortunately, I think it looks pretty grim. I just looked at their RPI profile. Arizona only has one win over a top 50 opponent. Arizona's adjusted RPI is in the high 50s. And they only have one more match against a top 50 opponent, which is Kansas. That seems like a must win to have a shot. They also can't afford to lose any of the matches that they have against sub-100 opponents. There are six more of those matches and one against Colorado (84). Now where do they stand after actually beating Kansas? Chances have really improved I would think. Still need more wins though. |
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Post by kimdc on Nov 9, 2024 4:16:50 GMT -5
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Post by kimdc on Nov 9, 2024 4:19:14 GMT -5
SO happy for Jordan! What a monster match!!! She's really a cool person with good priorities. Just thrilled for her. |
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Post by kimdc on Nov 10, 2024 0:52:14 GMT -5
Now where do they stand after actually beating Kansas? Chances have really improved I would think. Still need more wins though. They now have 2 top 20 RPI wins according to Figstats. They have opportunities for 2 more top 100s at Colorado and Texas Tech, but they also have to play 2 sub-200s. Loading up on 8 sub-200s in nonconference play could kill them even though they won all 8 of them. They're at 53 in RPI now. I don't think they can afford another loss. Losing to K-State was just a killer, too. Opportunity for a fringe top 100 win and they didn't even show up. |
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Post by kimdc on Nov 12, 2024 14:32:13 GMT -5
Jordan and Avery took Big 12 Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week awards. It was the first time for a pair of Wildcats to win in the same week since Penina Snuka (freshman) and Madi Kingdon (offensive player) took those awards in the Pac-12 back in 2013. It was the first Offensive Player of the Week award for Arizona since Kendra Dahlke in 2018. Helps to get out of a league with Stanford/UCLA/USC/Wazzu/UW/Oregon, I guess. Avery has now won 4 rookie of the week awards, including 3 of the last 4. It surpasses Sofia Maldonado Diaz and the 3 FOTW awards she won in the 2020-21 spring season.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 14, 2024 15:01:57 GMT -5
alright now that everyone is signed, what’s the too early prediction on next seasons lineup?
Jordan and Carlie are obviously locked in on the left, but who gets opposite? Vanek? An? Paige? does Jordan scoot over to opposite and Paige starts on the left (doubt)?
Journey is nothing short of a lock in the middle, but who wins between Bridges and Flemister?
Scoggins has setter locked down.
libero is another question mark. Ginder has been great, but Hatton is highly regarded from what I’ve heard. I don’t think we’ll see another two lib system just because we need a DS for whoever is playing opposite next season unless Jordan actually moves over or An wins the spot and she proves she doesn’t need a DS.
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Post by JJVb on Nov 14, 2024 18:38:26 GMT -5
Signed for 2025:
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Post by kimdc on Nov 14, 2024 22:24:17 GMT -5
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Post by azcatsfan on Nov 15, 2024 2:51:44 GMT -5
alright now that everyone is signed, what’s the too early prediction on next seasons lineup? Jordan and Carlie are obviously locked in on the left, but who gets opposite? Vanek? An? Paige? does Jordan scoot over to opposite and Paige starts on the left (doubt)? Journey is nothing short of a lock in the middle, but who wins between Bridges and Flemister? Scoggins has setter locked down. libero is another question mark. Ginder has been great, but Hatton is highly regarded from what I’ve heard. I don’t think we’ll see another two lib system just because we need a DS for whoever is playing opposite next season unless Jordan actually moves over or An wins the spot and she proves she doesn’t need a DS. Without any transfers I would think the lineup looks like this: OH: Carlie, Jordan Middles: Journey, Adrianna Setter: Avery Libero: Ginder (Hatton will challenge IMO) Opp: Sydnie? Renee is a 6’5 lefty though so I’m assuming she’s probably going to get a good look in spring. Biggest question mark by far |
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Post by kimdc on Nov 15, 2024 10:53:38 GMT -5
Rita wants to carry 4 MB, 6 pins, 3 setters, and 5 littles under the new roster limits. Look for a MB from the portal perhaps taking the spot next to Journey. Haven has another year and could return. I suspect 2 liberos again, either offense/defense like this year or Ana as a serving-focused libero. Ryan Windisch discussed the 3rd setter as libero at the start of the season.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Nov 15, 2024 11:10:02 GMT -5
Rita wants to carry 4 MB, 6 pins, 3 setters, and 5 littles under the new roster limits. Look for a MB from the portal perhaps taking the spot next to Journey. Haven has another year and could return. I suspect 2 liberos again, either offense/defense like this year or Ana as a serving-focused libero. Ryan Windisch discussed the 3rd setter as libero at the start of the season. I forgot Wray didn’t play in 2021 at all. wouldn’t mind a 2 lib system with her and Ginder again and then Hatton as a DS for the opposite maybe? |
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