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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Oct 2, 2022 15:42:44 GMT -5
Hoboy. Gophs lost a set to Iowa at home. First ball contact still an issue. Passing wasn't awful, but from my view, serving pressure was just way too tepid. The times they got IA out of system, it seemed more like IA was just not very good at passing versus it being a tough serve to handle. I'm still not sold at Wenaas on the right, but it was connecting better that last match. I'd really be curious to see Wucherer on the right for two of her three front-row rotations. Rachel would be fine at right back and can set pretty well. Jenna hits so much better out of the middle back row as well. I doubt we'll see it though.
I was curious if we'd see a different middle in the starting lineup. Glad the switch to Gros was made. Ellie simply cannot put balls away. Landfair was a beast. Haven't seen official final stats yet, but I believe we had four gophers in double digit kills and fifth with seven (Booth). Mel HAS to keep going to the middle. With Booth and Gros in there, we actually have a chance at a few kills. It was nice to see that when they got her in-system passes that Mel was able to offer really nice sets (with the exception of a string in set three where I had no idea who she was setting).
I couldn't help but feel that MN has turned a bit into pre-2022 Texas. Big, physical hitters, top notch recruits, but they just keep getting majorly outplayed on serve and pass. Seemingly lesser teams are always going to be dangerous in those cases. Offense is easy at this level. Any hitter in the B1G can put a ball away when the block is one-on-one. Minnesota is giving their opponents too many chances at that, and not giving themselves enough chances at that. It results in set (and match) losses to teams like IA and Northwestern. And yeah yeah Northwestern is scrappy and their setter is tall and deceptive. MN still should've swept them, ZERO question.
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Post by mcmike on Oct 2, 2022 18:03:34 GMT -5
One more piece to go, Hugh
you replaced MirWu with McGhie
you put Gros in for Husemann
now do the right thing and put Wenaas back where she belongs.
Wookie can probably be terminal from the Maui Wowi concession stand
Zero-Ro said "I'd really be curious to see Wucherer on the right for two of her three front-row rotations." I've seen enough when she's just there in serve receive in ro1 after Shaff's service point is lost.
Wookie terminated at 1-1 (on her second swing) and at 20-20 in the second set, a FBSO on a nice cross-court swing.
Wookie terminated at 0-2 in the third set, a FBSO.
Later in the third set Wookie's first attack hit the block and came back. Her second swing was blocked to the floor.
I make her line on the right in ro1 as 3 1 5 for this match. It's possible I missed a swing or two from other rallies.
There are many more data points from other matches.
Just as the MN offensive machine's cylinders ran well with Gros in, it will run even better with Wenaas on the left.
Zero-ro's perspective of the ramifications on back court serve receive with such a switch is beyond my non-existent understanding of serve reception lineups. Sometimes they were four across, sometimes three.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2022 18:20:34 GMT -5
Hawks had the lead late in set 2 but couldn’t finish it. Was impressed they were in the same spot in 3rd set but finished it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2022 20:11:29 GMT -5
MB transfer from Wake Forest; Delaney McSweeney If they pass in system I hope it is Booth mirroring her her line was 9 1 13 vs Purdue a week ago, but hit neg. on Wed. vis Indiana So McSweeney was 6-1-16=.312 Booth 7-4-17= .176 |
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Post by clob on Oct 2, 2022 20:20:32 GMT -5
The MN middles totally stole the show.
I think that MN ran more slides today than they have in the last three years put together cumulatively.
I'm not a big fan of the slide but hey, if it works...
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Oct 2, 2022 21:03:47 GMT -5
The MN middles totally stole the show. I think that MN ran more slides today than they have in the last three years put together cumulatively. I'm not a big fan of the slide but hey, if it works... Well they had a supporting role to Landfair's brilliance. Wenaas led the team with 16 digs. Perhaps this is more why she is going to stay at OPP, no matter how many times mcmike suggest otherwise. |
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Post by mcmike on Oct 2, 2022 21:46:59 GMT -5
Possibly. Wookie's digging skills are considered suboptimal given that right back is where Shaff & Wenaas see the most hard driven balls.
Call me 'dumb all over' [I've been loving Frank Zappa in the age of covid] in matters of the backcourt.
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Oct 2, 2022 21:48:21 GMT -5
Possibly. Wookie's digging skills are considered suboptimal given that right back is where Shaff & Wenaas see the most hard driven balls. Call me 'dumb all over' [I've been loving Frank Zappa in the age of covid] in matters of the backcourt. I really want to see Wucherer have some 6-ro opportunities this year and see how she terminates from the back row. But that's probably a pipe dream too. |
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Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Oct 2, 2022 21:54:50 GMT -5
MB transfer from Wake Forest; Delaney McSweeney If they pass in system I hope it is Booth mirroring her her line was 9 1 13 vs Purdue a week ago, but hit neg. on Wed. vis Indiana So McSweeney was 6-1-16=.312 Booth 7-4-17= .176 McSeeny in on 4 blocks, Booth 9. |
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Post by Hawk Attack on Oct 2, 2022 22:55:39 GMT -5
now do the right thing and put Wenaas back where she belongs. Wenaas hit .200 in this match. She hit .208 as an OH last season. There is literally no difference in production between Wenaas as an OPP vs OH. |
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Post by mcmike on Oct 3, 2022 1:00:40 GMT -5
Hawk.... instead of repeating yourself
please respond to what I offered you the last time: there is a huge difference in production so far this season vs last year...
and you shouldn't count swings on the left in ro1 as stats as an OPP.
Last season MN had no middle attack, but this year they are establishing the middle and getting 'holds' that open the left pin
vs Iowa the MBs tallied 19 kills on 37 attacks... when that is happening the opponents' MBs have to stay closer to home and the left pins have MANY more 1 on 1s and more open court to hit into.
This year Wenaas is on the left in ro1 and is hitting at a very high % with many FBSOs
vs Purdue Wenaas line in ro1 1 0 6 with the 1 kill a FBSO. not sure how much more terminal she might have been with different sets
a week ago Sunday vs WI she racked up 3 FBSOs and a 4th sideout after Shaff's first set forced a tip at 24-25 at the end of that dramatic 3rd set 4 0 5 .800
against NW 2 FBSOs in set 2, 2 more in set 3, was blocked once in set 4 (didn't receive the first set), and was blocked early in set 5. 4 2 6 .333
vs Iowa she had 3 kills and 1 error on the left in ro1 3 1 6(i think)
i make her line on the left in ro1 in B1G play after 4 matches is 12 3 23 .391
you say she hit .200 vs Iowa, but she hit .400 on the left in ro1 and 7 4 19 .158 on the right.
you quote globally (2001 season) without context. even my stats deserve closer scrutiny. On her error on the left the set was tight and her attack was blocked. is a trap set really a hitter's error? it is on the stat sheet.
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Post by Hawk Attack on Oct 3, 2022 15:03:38 GMT -5
Last season MN had no middle attack, but this year they are establishing the middle and getting 'holds' that open the left pin Do you truly believe Wenaas would be a better terminator than a .286 Wucherer or .251 Landfair as a 6-ro OH? |
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Post by Hawk Attack on Oct 3, 2022 15:27:40 GMT -5
Jenna Wenaas has a .219 season, a .208 season, and currently a .199 season. Minnesota fans that are clamoring to hold back their true left side terminators in Landfair (.255, .256, and currently .251) or Wucherer (currently .286) just to make Wenaas feel better about having to play out of comfort zone are truly something. You have two pins that are proven .250+ producers and a proven .200-.210 cap producer and you want to handicap the two better pins? Even all your pins out to mediocrity? It’s a bold strategy.
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Post by mcmike on Oct 3, 2022 16:31:41 GMT -5
don't know where you live Hawk or how much MN volleyball you've absorbed at Maturi Pavilion
I've always wondered if Wenaas could have a career arc similar to Wilhite
whose stats were .189 .215 .247 .286 & player of the year
I think Wenaas' VB IQ was higher as an underclassperson
Wilhite had SSS to set her and a pretty schnickling awesome middle with the Tapps, Taymo sucking up opponent MBs
Wilhite didn't have a pandemic interruption to start her career.
You might be right, but
Wookie might be more terminal on the right than Samedy, particularly if Shaff can do better disguising her set location choice
I contend that Wenaas has much higher ceiling and we are not likely to see it as an OPP.
I see nothing wrong with 'a bold strategy' and it has everything to do with maximizing the athletes' potential and nothing to do with Wenaas' feelings.
That being said, if Wenaas is being a 'good sport', plays OPP and then enters the transfer portal to be a left pin for her last two years we will, imo, have made a significant mistake.
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Post by courtwatchers on Oct 3, 2022 16:46:32 GMT -5
don't know where you live Hawk or how much MN volleyball you've absorbed at Maturi Pavilion I've always wondered if Wenaas could have a career arc similar to Wilhite whose stats were .189 .215 .247 .286 & player of the year I think Wenaas' VB IQ was higher as an underclassperson Wilhite had SSS to set her and a pretty schnickling awesome middle with the Tapps, Taymo sucking up opponent MBs Wilhite didn't have a pandemic interruption to start her career. You might be right, but Wookie might be more terminal on the right than Samedy, particularly if Shaff can do better disguising her set location choice I contend that Wenaas has much higher ceiling and we are not likely to see it as an OPP. I see nothing wrong with 'a bold strategy' and it has everything to do with maximizing the athletes' potential and nothing to do with Wenaas' feelings. That being said, if Wenaas is being a 'good sport', plays OPP and then enters the transfer portal to be a left pin for her last two years we will, imo, have made a significant mistake. I agree about Wenaas who could possibly decide to move on next season. It certainly would not surprise me. I think the same about McWu. This HC and coaching staff have made many decisions that I as a fan, absolutely, do not understand. Next season we have another Top Ranked OH coming in when we have a present Top Ranked OH moved to Opp and an Opp and another OH waiting in the wings to get playing time. One thing Hugh has done and keeps doing is recruiting TOP PINS. I have repeated it so many times how he wants 6R OH players....and he has certainly recruited well in that position. It's no secret there will not be enough playing time for all of them. I do expect player(s) again to enter the portal. Who exactly and how many remains to be seen. |
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