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Post by courtwatchers on Oct 3, 2022 16:50:58 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? I do believe she is capable of it at OPP, but here at Minnesota they all need to adjust to an OOS volleyball program that will continue through this season for sure. Right now Wenaas is that player that just does a lot of little things right to keep us in a match. |
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Post by Hawk Attack on Oct 3, 2022 17:01:22 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. Well that is fair. A Wilhite-esque development is never out of the question. It is possible. I just see no evidence that supports Wenaas being the OOS left side terminator that Wucherer or Landfair could be/are. And if moving to the OPP makes them all uncomfortable then it makes sense to me to move Wenaas’ static efficiency number to the RS than risk decreasing Wucherer/Landfair’s capabilities. What if you move one of those two and THEY decide to transfer to be a 6-ro OH elsewhere? Numbers and logic would dictate that’s an even more significant mistake. |
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Post by Hawk Attack on Oct 3, 2022 17:02:36 GMT -5
Do you truly believe Wenaas would be a better terminator than a .286 Wucherer or .251 Landfair as a 6-ro OH? I do believe she is capable of it at OPP, but here at Minnesota they all need to adjust to an OOS volleyball program that will continue through this season for sure. Right now Wenaas is that player that just does a lot of little things right to keep us in a match. I do also believe Wenaas is doing well in her current role, especially with the little things. |
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Post by BigDigEnergy on Oct 3, 2022 17:46:02 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. Isn’t it expected when you decide to come play for a program like Minnesota where there will always be competition to get a starting spot? Also next year the gopher is getting a true RS from MN which is what we need. |
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Oct 3, 2022 17:48:30 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. There seems to be a clamoring for position switches from a few vocal Gophers fans. Not sure where that comes from, other than the team having an up and down season so far, and folks would like to see something different. In thinking about how Hugh coaches, I would imagine he chose the most athletic and well-rounded of his options for opposite and that is Wenaas. I like mcmike's passion, but seems to be some confirmation bias in his stats. The work they have put in during practice to move Wenaas to the right side, probably trumps a few plays from a match or two against Iowa and Northwestern. |
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Post by mcmike on Oct 3, 2022 22:47:39 GMT -5
Many good points raised in the recent comments
Y, I cop to passion
I'd prefer 'reiterating' rather than clamoring
pavsec5row10 said: Not sure where that comes from, other than the team having an up and down season so far, and folks would like to see something different.
In thinking about how Hugh coaches, I would imagine he chose the most athletic and well-rounded of his options for opposite and that is Wenaas. I like mcmike's passion, but seems to be some confirmation bias in his stats. The work they have put in during practice to move Wenaas to the right side, probably trumps a few plays from a match or two against Iowa and Northwestern.
I made numerous observations of MN's troubles on defense in ro1 last year re. runs against us and sideout issues.
MN is having a huge "up" this year with Wookie on the right and Wenaas on the left and I've been charting this for the entire league season comparing the play-by-play with video (not just IA & NW).
Voilaballers mentioned the RS recruit coming next year and
Hawk cautioned that any of the pins could seek other pastures in the portal... Barnes saw CC on top of the depth chart and maybe Wenaas will follow suit.
Nuneviller started as libero for Oregon and now is a leader and a pin. Maybe Wenaas acknowledges a more limited ceiling and becomes the best DS MN has ever had, but giving up 6ro status seems like an impossibility.
My focus is not on next year but the strongest alignment that will get us to Omaha this year.** Based on the efficiency I've seen I think Wenaas on the left, Wookie on the right and Booth in the middle when our strongest server is behind the line would be ideal. We have dynamic middles and balance not seen like 5-6 years. Would it hurt to leave Wookie on the right and Wenaas on the left when Shaff serves? That's just an additional 1/2 of 1 rotation.
However, maybe this creates problems in defensive reception as PavSec5 & Courtwatchers alluded to. We need Wenaas back right when Shaff is front court. As mentioned, I am backcourt illiterate.
Hugh is disinclined to experiment unless things are truly awful so I will make an effort to sound less clamorous
I will reserve the right to keep reiterating the great hitting%s in ro1.
** We won't be going deep into the tourney without good passing, better block/seam closures, and solving recurring 'campfire' balls to the floor. Our tip coverage seems markedly better this year, but still not great.
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