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Post by bops68 on Sept 20, 2023 21:26:52 GMT -5
Well to sum it up Indiana is just better all around than us....like WAY better than us. Their passing, defense, and serving is light years better than us...but most of the teams we have played are.
Indiana had athletes at all positions. All their hitters can move and jump and slug it. They are great at blocking bc they move great laterally and they all get up enough to penetrate on the block.
Sorry Indiana to be this much better than us is unacceptable.
The trajectory we are going is straight down. If you think we are bad this year wait until next year! You got to see Bingham in her third year.....you got to see Sophie in her second year....
If Tamas makes as much as he does and then hires his freaking wife that has zero recruiting experience when we desperately need talent!! This is year seven.... time for a change.
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Post by bops68 on Sept 20, 2023 21:29:56 GMT -5
Mosher isn’t a good setter. Indiana’s setter has had just as many balls at the 10 footline and out and she still sets the middles and sets really well to the outsides. Just stick Mosher at a pin and let May set. Get a setter in the portal and Mosher can stick at OH next season. Moser is not a good setter but with May setting we won't win another match sorry..but maybe that gets a coaching change.
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Post by inpaign on Sept 20, 2023 21:30:06 GMT -5
Is it a little unfair to but blame on mosher’s location when she’s running all over the court nearly every play? Not being combative - asking a true question. Then you bring Nunge back onto the roster after she was essentially done, to sub her out and bring on Sophie Stephenson? They’re scrambling for answers and quick fixes with a roster that has zero depth haha. Then barnes let’s a ball go thinking it’s out and it’s clearly two feet from the back line. You're absolutely right, but she has received MANY good passes tonight that she clearly set too low, to tight, etc. As a Big Ten setter, she should be more than capable of handling those. She should also be able to put a decent out of system ball up, but I'll give her a break on those. At the beginning of the season I was giving her a break since she had just taken over the setter role...we are now 11 games into the season and she looks just as lost. Chris Tamas was a setter and has traditionally handled the coaching of our setters. Why haven't we seen any progress? Sophie looked lost out there the 3 points she played. Totally scrambling for answers and they have none. Why? Because we didn't address any of our needs this offseason. & I am tired of hearing the "outdated facilities" argument to that. Sure, that can absolutely impact us getting high major transfers. But I can promise you there are very talented pin hitters that would do anything to come play big ten volleyball. Look at almost every team we have played this season - their best outside is ALWAYS better than our OH2 (and without Raina they'd be better than our entire roster). I truly believe we didn't reach out to many transfers...and I have good reason to believe that. I love the makeup of this coaching staff but it feels like they can't be defended anymore. I also remember a post a few pages ago mentioning that now that Jen is on the staff she can help recruit ---- from what I understand, she has already been actively involved in recruiting LOL...I wouldn't expect that to help anything. Barnes is so off and on. She had some good, tough passes tonight but also got aced what felt like 15 times. & the sense of what's flying out of bounds by our backrow players is nonexistent. Side note - I feel as though Nunge needs to play six rotations. I have no idea if she can even effectively hit back row, but having Kennedy and Raina as our only two options for a rotation sets us up for failure when the block camps on Raina when we are out of system. Or maybe let Lily attack back row? She played outside in high school. Either way, Pan isn't cutting it and contributes practically nothing. I have a lot of false hope for this team but they really needed this one tonight, this was one of those toss up games that makes or breaks your tournament chances. Obviously ours are low and it would take many upsets from us this season. I guess they have to regroup Sunday and come out firing. They absolutely cannot lose to Michigan St. or our season is washed and Tamas might be fired on the spot lol.
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Post by inpaign on Sept 20, 2023 21:33:49 GMT -5
Not that this is breaking news, but this team has serious problems. Make free balls look difficult to pass. None of our back row players can set a decent ball. Constantly out of position. Mosher's sets are so inconsistent and constantly put our players in a bad position. Burbage hits out more than she hits in. Service errors are overwhelming - over half a sets worth of free points to Indiana. We are going to be absolutely run over in conference play. Illinois volleyball is on the decline and it is truly sad to see. I've never been one to call for a coach's firing, but it feels like this season needs to be their last...we aren't above average in any aspect of the game and I firmly believe it comes down to coaching at this point. Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t you have an in with the coaching staff? What is the temperature there? Like I just need to know if they are oblivious to the absolute embarrassment in the back court. I admire them at the very least, if they are not oblivious, for maintaining their composure because this is more cringey to watch than middle school volleyball at this point. I can tell you it is a panic. A sense of urgency is felt. I have no idea what the message is to the players, but I can only hope the pressure being felt isn't placed on them. It feels like we are watching the crumbling of the Illinois volleyball program and it truly is sad. I really hope they can do a 180 and turn things around this season, but night after night I'm disappointed and I'm just not sure we will get to a competitive level this year.
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Post by bops68 on Sept 20, 2023 21:35:44 GMT -5
Oh watch a little of Houston and BYU that are playing right now and they are light years ahead of Indiana let alone us.
Also coaches need to have Moser demand the second ball. She lets others step in way too much.... maybe she is ok not handling it??
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Post by bops68 on Sept 20, 2023 21:39:18 GMT -5
Correct me if I’m wrong but don’t you have an in with the coaching staff? What is the temperature there? Like I just need to know if they are oblivious to the absolute embarrassment in the back court. I admire them at the very least, if they are not oblivious, for maintaining their composure because this is more cringey to watch than middle school volleyball at this point. I can tell you it is a panic. A sense of urgency is felt. I have no idea what the message is to the players, but I can only hope the pressure being felt isn't placed on them. It feels like we are watching the crumbling of the Illinois volleyball program and it truly is sad. I really hope they can do a 180 and turn things around this season, but night after night I'm disappointed and I'm just not sure we will get to a competitive level this year. I guess my question is why now a sense of panic? The huge holes in the roster have been their since the end of last year but didn't seem to be addressed.
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Post by liberovb10 on Sept 20, 2023 21:52:07 GMT -5
I can tell you it is a panic. A sense of urgency is felt. I have no idea what the message is to the players, but I can only hope the pressure being felt isn't placed on them. It feels like we are watching the crumbling of the Illinois volleyball program and it truly is sad. I really hope they can do a 180 and turn things around this season, but night after night I'm disappointed and I'm just not sure we will get to a competitive level this year. I guess my question is why now a sense of panic? The huge holes in the roster have been their since the end of last year but didn't seem to be addressed. they falsely felt confident in the roster they had…and to be frank i had high hopes for this roster too. Thinking they would iron out the kinks this spring/summer - but nothing changed, nothing looks better. Makes you wonder if they even practiced or met with each other during the offseason haha. The state of this roster with who we had coming back and the stability we should have felt is just frustrating. I just don’t know how many more times we’re going to say the same things this season…the bright side is that come Thanksgiving weekend, the season will be over?
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Post by liberovb10 on Sept 20, 2023 22:01:27 GMT -5
Is it a little unfair to but blame on mosher’s location when she’s running all over the court nearly every play? Not being combative - asking a true question. Then you bring Nunge back onto the roster after she was essentially done, to sub her out and bring on Sophie Stephenson? They’re scrambling for answers and quick fixes with a roster that has zero depth haha. Then barnes let’s a ball go thinking it’s out and it’s clearly two feet from the back line. You're absolutely right, but she has received MANY good passes tonight that she clearly set too low, to tight, etc. As a Big Ten setter, she should be more than capable of handling those. She should also be able to put a decent out of system ball up, but I'll give her a break on those. At the beginning of the season I was giving her a break since she had just taken over the setter role...we are now 11 games into the season and she looks just as lost. Chris Tamas was a setter and has traditionally handled the coaching of our setters. Why haven't we seen any progress? Sophie looked lost out there the 3 points she played. Totally scrambling for answers and they have none. Why? Because we didn't address any of our needs this offseason. & I am tired of hearing the "outdated facilities" argument to that. Sure, that can absolutely impact us getting high major transfers. But I can promise you there are very talented pin hitters that would do anything to come play big ten volleyball. Look at almost every team we have played this season - their best outside is ALWAYS better than our OH2 (and without Raina they'd be better than our entire roster). I truly believe we didn't reach out to many transfers...and I have good reason to believe that. I love the makeup of this coaching staff but it feels like they can't be defended anymore. I also remember a post a few pages ago mentioning that now that Jen is on the staff she can help recruit ---- from what I understand, she has already been actively involved in recruiting LOL...I wouldn't expect that to help anything. Barnes is so off and on. She had some good, tough passes tonight but also got aced what felt like 15 times. & the sense of what's flying out of bounds by our backrow players is nonexistent. Side note - I feel as though Nunge needs to play six rotations. I have no idea if she can even effectively hit back row, but having Kennedy and Raina as our only two options for a rotation sets us up for failure when the block camps on Raina when we are out of system. Or maybe let Lily attack back row? She played outside in high school. Either way, Pan isn't cutting it and contributes practically nothing. I have a lot of false hope for this team but they really needed this one tonight, this was one of those toss up games that makes or breaks your tournament chances. Obviously ours are low and it would take many upsets from us this season. I guess they have to regroup Sunday and come out firing. They absolutely cannot lose to Michigan St. or our season is washed and Tamas might be fired on the spot lol. i think you teleported into my brain haha, you said everything that i’ve been thinking and feeling…ESPECIALLY the facilities excuse and Tamas/setting. The facilities “issue” is a cop out at this point and something that we know he’ll continue to bring up “i can’t get good talent without good facilities” - maybe that’s on Whittman for overlooking volleyball needs or appropriating funds to the wrong facelifts (i.e. scoreboard) - idk, but i’m tired of giving them that out. My gripe with Diana Brown the last few seasons was that she never looked better year over year. It’s tough to come in after Poulter and run the show, i get it, but with Tamas overseeing setting/offense and there being little to no development over the course of her tenure - it’s very concerning. what sucks the most to see (especially when you’re on BTN) is the demeanor and look of defeat on Collins’ face at the end of set 4 when she was subbing out. I cannot blame her for looking/feeling that way - but as a 5th year starter/returner, the rest of the team is going to look to you for leadership - if you look defeated, they will feel the same. There’s no leadership on the court, on the bench, during time outs, nothing.
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Post by bops68 on Sept 20, 2023 22:27:53 GMT -5
I guess my question is why now a sense of panic? The huge holes in the roster have been their since the end of last year but didn't seem to be addressed. they falsely felt confident in the roster they had…and to be frank i had high hopes for this roster too. Thinking they would iron out the kinks this spring/summer - but nothing changed, nothing looks better. Makes you wonder if they even practiced or met with each other during the offseason haha. The state of this roster with who we had coming back and the stability we should have felt is just frustrating. I just don’t know how many more times we’re going to say the same things this season…the bright side is that come Thanksgiving weekend, the season will be over? It is obvious they must have had a false sense of confidence but that is scary. What does that say about your coaching staff if you can't see the glaring holes in the roster? A lot of us armchair coaches saw it?? .....you can't see your passing is atrocious....do they not see it in practice? I heard Tamas say in preseason interview he heard Pan was doing good or something. I was like "heard" what does that even mean?? Did he ever watch her play before bringing her in? To right the ship next year someone needs to overhaul the roster from the portal. Outside of a few players not seeing people that would play on majority if not all of the other BT teams.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 20, 2023 22:29:56 GMT -5
Also nice for Nunge to come back but she needs to stay on the bench the rest of this season. and replace her with who?
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 20, 2023 22:40:21 GMT -5
The "facilities complaint" and the failure to do something about the roster are not mutually exclusive problems. The facility sucks. Nothing was done to fix the roster. We haven't done anything to fix either problem. Pan is not any help, we would be better with Nunge or Burbage playing 6 rotations. We used to have an effective block. Where has that gone?
And all of the off speed hits to keep the ball in play drive me crazy. Doesn't anyone on the coaching staff add up the number of times an off-speed keep the ball in play hit is followed by the opponent getting an easy pickup and blasting away at us.
No one is better than they were last year - how is that possible?
Was Stephenson put in to show us she is not a solution to our OH problem?
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Post by vbcoltrane on Sept 20, 2023 22:47:11 GMT -5
Illinois just not looking very Illinois. I'm not even talking "very good" Illinois - just the Illinois that can pull upsets, finish around .500 in conference and make the tournament. They have a long history of being decent to very good. Dips happen, but you want to make sure they're just temporary dips.
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Post by pointillinois on Sept 21, 2023 5:26:00 GMT -5
At one of our football tailgates, a friend said Tamas is Bruce Webering the Volleyball program. I think the comparison is perfect. Both inherited talented squad (Weber from Self, Tamas from Hambly) and almost won championships. But, neither could sustain the level of recuiting or coaching needed to compete in the Big Ten. It took basketball a decade to recover from Weber. We'll just have to see if Volleyball can recover from these years. Oof, this is depressing. Sorry.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 21, 2023 8:35:07 GMT -5
The hardest part of the AD job is firing people you like. I’m sure Whitman likes Tamas, impossible not to. But Whitman is paid $1M per year to make hard decisions. It cannot be said Tamas has not had plenty of opportunity. There have been big obstacles thrown at him - covid, injuries to some of his best recruits, poor facilities and so on. Given all of the obstacles it will be especially difficult for Whitman to fire Tamas, but at this point if Whitman does not want a bottom of the B1G program for the foreseeable future he has to make some changes. Probably not until after the season is over, but the changes have to be made. Which I suppose gives Tamas a small and closing window to save his job, but he had better get to work.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 21, 2023 8:36:20 GMT -5
I just hope Whitman does a better job of replacing Tamas than the hiring of Groce to replace Weber.
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