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Post by badgerbreath on Feb 22, 2023 18:30:14 GMT -5
The more I think about this team, the more I wonder if MJ (or even Izzy) will be up to running a 5-1. I think this would allow us to run our two best hitters at OH - Franklin and TTA. I'm sure this has been rehashed before and so I'm recycling new content, but this is the image I have right now: S: Hammill H1: TTA/DS M2: Robinson (Ashburn Serve) Opp: Smrek/DS H2: Franklin M1: Booth (GG Serve) L: GG The outside hitters and DS's could be switched around, of course. The keys to this lineup are a setter being strong enough to go 6 rotations and either Damrow or Boyer being strong/healthy enough to be a DS (Orzol would be the other DS). It does leave CC out of the lineup, but fortunately or unfortunately injuries happen and she'll definitely get a lot of playing time. There are two things that make this unlikely. First, Orzol has passed better than both our libero and Boyer (not to mention everybody else). You absolutely need good passers in a 5-1, and I'm not sure we have them yet. Second, MJ has been the most problematic setter on average, but she is also the bigger blocker. I don't know if having TTA and Franklin both hitting from the left would compensate for the decline in setting and/or blocking and/or passing that would result from going to a big single setter and no Orzol passing. There are a number of ways to set the team up given the talent, but I think the setting position and the lack of good passing from the OHs is what limits those options and argues for the bigger block and more diversified attacking that a 6-2 gets you. That said, TTA is on record (in the podcast above) saying that one of her motivations in coming to UW was learning how to pass better. I wouldn't put it past her to do so. So who knows?
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Post by greenesail on Feb 22, 2023 19:47:43 GMT -5
On the point of MJ having an advantage as the sole setter in a 5-1 because she is taller, I question whether that is true once you take into account their vertical jump. I got to watch both Izzi and MJ in one of the Spring games last year, and I would put Izzi's vertical as equal to or better than MJ's. There is a lot more that goes into blocking, of course, but I don't think we've seen enough of either of them in a 5-1 to assess who would be the better blocker based on technique and execution. I think Izzi has the advantage in serving (although not by much), defense, speed at getting to balls, decision-making and set placement. MJ improved a lot in the last category as the season went on last year but she really needs a good pass to get a set where it needs to go. I love them both and would prefer a 6-2 for the reasons stated above but if it is going to be a 5-1, my money is on Izzi to start.
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Post by tablealgebra on Feb 22, 2023 21:25:04 GMT -5
The more I think about this team, the more I wonder if MJ (or even Izzy) will be up to running a 5-1. I think this would allow us to run our two best hitters at OH - Franklin and TTA. I'm sure this has been rehashed before and so I'm recycling new content, but this is the image I have right now: S: Hammill H1: TTA/DS M2: Robinson (Ashburn Serve) Opp: Smrek/DS H2: Franklin M1: Booth (GG Serve) L: GG The outside hitters and DS's could be switched around, of course. The keys to this lineup are a setter being strong enough to go 6 rotations and either Damrow or Boyer being strong/healthy enough to be a DS (Orzol would be the other DS). It does leave CC out of the lineup, but fortunately or unfortunately injuries happen and she'll definitely get a lot of playing time. Are you thinking Orzol would be hitting from back row? Yes, but she wouldn't be as keyed in on it like Demps was. She also would be there to pass and play middle back defense.
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Post by luvbadgervb on Feb 27, 2023 13:49:55 GMT -5
Was anyone able to acquire digital tickets to the UW vs Marquette match on 3/31 at Oconomowoc High School today? I finally found the ticket page at 12:05 (they were supposedly not accessible until Noon?) and there were none left. I called the UW Badger ticket office and the person I talked to said they were gone very quickly and getting lots of calls. If you got tickets and are unable to use them, I am very interested in taking them off your hands. I was looking for 4 but would be delighted with 2 if that's what was available. I am shocked that they were gone in minutes, anyone else?
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Post by robtearle on Feb 27, 2023 13:53:24 GMT -5
Was anyone able to acquire digital tickets to the UW vs Marquette match on 3/31 at Oconomowoc High School today? I finally found the ticket page at 12:05 (they were supposedly not accessible until Noon?) and there were none left. I called the UW Badger ticket office and the person I talked to said they were gone very quickly and getting lots of calls. If you got tickets and are unable to use them, I am very interested in taking them off your hands. I was looking for 4 but would be delighted with 2 if that's what was available. I am shocked that they were gone in minutes, anyone else? It slipped my mind until about ten minutes ago, and of course they were long gone. I was coming here to ask how quickly they went. I had had the web site bookmarked. Between us, we almost did it right! LOL
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Post by badgerbyproxy on Feb 27, 2023 14:18:08 GMT -5
The more I think about this team, the more I wonder if MJ (or even Izzy) will be up to running a 5-1. I think this would allow us to run our two best hitters at OH - Franklin and TTA. I'm sure this has been rehashed before and so I'm recycling new content, but this is the image I have right now: S: Hammill H1: TTA/DS M2: Robinson (Ashburn Serve) Opp: Smrek/DS H2: Franklin M1: Booth (GG Serve) L: GG The outside hitters and DS's could be switched around, of course. The keys to this lineup are a setter being strong enough to go 6 rotations and either Damrow or Boyer being strong/healthy enough to be a DS (Orzol would be the other DS). It does leave CC out of the lineup, but fortunately or unfortunately injuries happen and she'll definitely get a lot of playing time. While I like the idea of a 5-1 for this team, I think that the 6-2 last year offered a lot of good offensive and blocking options. I also think, regardless of 5-1 or 6-2, Orzol should stay in the OH1 slot. While she’s not as terminal as Franklin or TTA, her serve receive and discipline on the block are going to be needed regardless of the offensive system. I’d run with TTA because, from what I’ve seen, she’s a bit more terminal and has more control over herself in her gameplay. Franklin could always sub in as well for Orzol if she’s struggling offensively or could slide in for Smrek/Robinson if they have an off night. I think we’ll see a lineup similar to last year’s: S1/Opp1: Ashburn/Robinson OH1: Orzol M2: Crawford S2/Opp2: Hammill/Smrek OH2/DS: TTA/one of Damrow or Reed M1: Booth (reserve Boyer for a serving sub if needed) L: GG
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Post by badgerbreath on Feb 27, 2023 14:38:11 GMT -5
Was anyone able to acquire digital tickets to the UW vs Marquette match on 3/31 at Oconomowoc High School today? I finally found the ticket page at 12:05 (they were supposedly not accessible until Noon?) and there were none left. I called the UW Badger ticket office and the person I talked to said they were gone very quickly and getting lots of calls. If you got tickets and are unable to use them, I am very interested in taking them off your hands. I was looking for 4 but would be delighted with 2 if that's what was available. I am shocked that they were gone in minutes, anyone else? It slipped my mind until about ten minutes ago, and of course they were long gone. I was coming here to ask how quickly they went. I had had the web site bookmarked. Between us, we almost did it right! LOL
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Post by badgerbreath on Feb 27, 2023 17:39:24 GMT -5
Did anyone on this board get tickets? I'd love it if we could have reports, as I doubt we'll have video. Very interested to hear.
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Post by badgerguru on Feb 27, 2023 17:55:15 GMT -5
Did anyone on this board get tickets? I'd love it if we could have reports, as I doubt we'll have video. Very interested to hear. I agree with this, I hate that there is no stream of the matches that happen. Although I assume this maybe might be to keep everyones cards close to their chest before season starts. Just sucks for fans out of state with no opportunity to watch, so anyone going who could share what they watched would be excellent!
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Post by robtearle on Feb 27, 2023 18:46:46 GMT -5
Did anyone on this board get tickets? I'd love it if we could have reports, as I doubt we'll have video. Very interested to hear. I agree with this, I hate that there is no stream of the matches that happen. Although I assume this maybe might be to keep everyones cards close to their chest before season starts. Just sucks for fans out of state with no opportunity to watch, so anyone going who could share what they watched would be excellent! I lucked out. After forgetting myself, I got an email from a friend who is getting more and more interested in UW VB. He happened to have included a ticket for me in his 'order'. So I will likely be there. As for video, etc.: first, I'm not sure that the Marquette match in Oconomowoc is even a Wisconsin 'home' match; Oconomowoc is closer to Milwaukee than Madison. Second, setting up video for streaming broadcast on a one-time basis from a high school gym - even a really nice HS gym - is probably something of a logistical undertaking.
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Post by talkbdgrvb65 on Feb 27, 2023 21:54:46 GMT -5
Did anyone on this board get tickets? I'd love it if we could have reports, as I doubt we'll have video. Very interested to hear. I was on the page at 11:59, refreshed at 12, and had tix by 12:01. Be glad to do some "reporting" from the game!
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Post by tablealgebra on Feb 27, 2023 22:16:06 GMT -5
The more I think about this team, the more I wonder if MJ (or even Izzy) will be up to running a 5-1. I think this would allow us to run our two best hitters at OH - Franklin and TTA. I'm sure this has been rehashed before and so I'm recycling new content, but this is the image I have right now: S: Hammill H1: TTA/DS M2: Robinson (Ashburn Serve) Opp: Smrek/DS H2: Franklin M1: Booth (GG Serve) L: GG The outside hitters and DS's could be switched around, of course. The keys to this lineup are a setter being strong enough to go 6 rotations and either Damrow or Boyer being strong/healthy enough to be a DS (Orzol would be the other DS). It does leave CC out of the lineup, but fortunately or unfortunately injuries happen and she'll definitely get a lot of playing time. While I like the idea of a 5-1 for this team, I think that the 6-2 last year offered a lot of good offensive and blocking options. I also think, regardless of 5-1 or 6-2, Orzol should stay in the OH1 slot. While she’s not as terminal as Franklin or TTA, her serve receive and discipline on the block are going to be needed regardless of the offensive system. I’d run with TTA because, from what I’ve seen, she’s a bit more terminal and has more control over herself in her gameplay. Franklin could always sub in as well for Orzol if she’s struggling offensively or could slide in for Smrek/Robinson if they have an off night. I think we’ll see a lineup similar to last year’s: S1/Opp1: Ashburn/Robinson OH1: Orzol M2: Crawford S2/Opp2: Hammill/Smrek OH2/DS: TTA/one of Damrow or Reed M1: Booth (reserve Boyer for a serving sub if needed) L: GG So, I probably put too much detail in my original argument on this. My theory behind the 5-1 is that we gain: a) DS's, which will counter our passing woes b) Two really terminal OH's (as opposed to one) c) Consistent setting d) Better back row defense What we lose is a) One strong front row blocker (Izzy or MJ would have to block instead) b) The ability to have three hitters up front at all times. But if Orzol was one of the DS's we wouldn't lose back row hitting. What convinced me that this approach makes sense is: 1) Texas did it last year - the "we don't need an OH who can pass dimes if we have two that can destroy Moltens". (to be fair, they had Fleck but I really think GG's passing will be better, though not Fleck-esque, next fall) 2) Sheffield has mentioned the option of moving back to a 5-1 in the Fall. which led me to think about things and realize that... 3) Two of our best three players (arguably - I count Devyn as the third) are OH's and moving or sitting one felt wrong to me. 4) A 5-1 would mitigate the passing woes sufficiently, which I think is more important than the extra blocker. The question becomes hitting then, and having an OOS outside hitter who can destroy it for 6 rotations feels like it mitigates always having 3 attackers (which, after all, doesn't help if you can't pass a 3). Not to mention we have the best OOS bump-setter in the nation to get it there.
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Post by tablealgebra on Feb 27, 2023 22:19:22 GMT -5
Plus, the way Imoco Conegliano sometimes uses KRob as a "DS" for Plummer (which they can only do once I think by international rules, but they often do) got me thinking about Orzol as a similar-type "utility OH" sub
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Post by badgerbyproxy on Feb 28, 2023 1:26:41 GMT -5
I think there’s definitely an argument to return to a 5-1. You have a good argument for using Orzol as a DS/Utility hitter, but my biggest concern is that we’d lose her serve receive for 3 rotations. She was by far the best passer last season, and I think you need someone proven they are reliable in that phase of the game. I’m sure that GG, TTA, and Franklin’s passing will improve, but I’d personally go with the proven 6-rotation outside just for the stability in that phase of the game.
I do think we’ll see a 6-2 again next year after the success we had with it last year. A DS coming in for Franklin/TA could help with a lot of the back row issues we had last year. There were other teams (Nebraska and Pitt come to mind) that used a DS in the 6-2 last year and it definitely helped them.
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Post by badgerguru on Feb 28, 2023 2:27:33 GMT -5
I would love for Pitt to be on our non conference schedule, would be a fun opponent.
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