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Post by bobinmd on Nov 19, 2023 11:33:55 GMT -5
Can’t wait to have the victory bell back in Mapes Beach/Westwood back in blue this spring Yes! Send me a pic (please).
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Post by Leftrightapproach on Nov 19, 2023 13:22:57 GMT -5
NCAA college beach has definitely had a great impact on the pro tour, but its strange to see so little height here. Seems pretty similar at other top programs. Since a school like UCLA, along with USC, basically has its pick of players, it seems odd that neither team has a player over 6'2 (which is smallish for an elite international blockers). Are there just not taller players interested in beach, because it seems like every indoor team has a few players 6'3 or taller. Or maybe USC and UCLA just don't see the point in developing bigger, more initially awkward athletes over time when they can grab ready to contribute players who may have less long term potential (thinking Nourses here) The old way of the tallest indoor players considering beach after their college careers is almost non-existent. They don't have any success in these beach tournaments anymore. Before college ball came around they would enter these tournaments and play other players new to the sport. They'd win. Now they play high school pairs that beat the socks off and they don't stick with it. I've watched two games with starting middles for Florida and Texas just got beat by 2nd tier junior players. Thing is, there are coaches out (not most) there that can't adjust to the fact either. Always reaching for tall and squandering their shorter players talents trying to fit them in to this AVP defender/blocker model that's been around for forty years. I would argue it has less to do with them not succeeding right away and more to do with the lack of pro money and the extended indoor careers due to Covid. Ncaa eligibility stuff led to a lack of grad transfers like we were used to seeing. Kloth was that last year but I’d imagine after 24 we will see it pick back up again as they have a fifth year but no indoor eligibility left. See Taylor Head from Arkansas exploring beach options
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Post by blackmambabeto on Nov 29, 2023 0:34:26 GMT -5
how can we get more NIL deals for the current and upcoming student athletes/Sandy Bruins?!?
gotta 1 up $10K so let's say ~$15K
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Post by barnesnclark on Dec 4, 2023 16:41:45 GMT -5
Will be interesting to see if Coach JJJ has a different philosophy or strategy regarding pairing than Steino. Split up Boyd and Denaberg if Sparks is healthy? several unknowns here. How healthy is Sparks, really? Perhaps start her at 3s early season, then move her to 1s. By the time Nationals rolls around, I could see Denaburg/Sparks, Boyd/Newberry split blocking, but then what to do with a Whitmarsh? Maybe go Newberry/Whitmarsh at 2s and Boyd/Brennan at 3s. In that case, Whitmarsh (if she continues with the attack philosophy she used in AVP this summer) and Sparks fight it out for Little 1 and Little 2. I think with a healthy Sparks last year UCLA makes more of a challenge for the Title vs. USC. Lindsey Sparks has enrolled at Cal Poly. Will join the Mustangs this spring.
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Post by dunninla3 on Dec 4, 2023 22:11:36 GMT -5
Good to hear. I learned at the Laguna Open, probably after a lot of other people knew, that Sparks was not going to be playing for UCLA in 2024. She'll be a real asset to the Mustang program this year. Actually, since 2020 doesn't count, she's only played two official seasons -- 2019 and 2021. Is she planning to play two seasons there?
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Post by burbank55 on Jan 4, 2024 12:05:29 GMT -5
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Post by bobinmd on Jan 4, 2024 12:09:37 GMT -5
Saw that. Will I see you in Gulf Shores? B
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Post by burbank55 on Jan 4, 2024 12:14:21 GMT -5
Saw that. Will I see you in Gulf Shores? B Wish I could Bob, but I have two other vacations booked for the first half of the year.
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Post by bobinmd on Jan 4, 2024 21:10:50 GMT -5
Saw that. Will I see you in Gulf Shores? B Wish I could Bob, but I have two other vacations booked for the first half of the year. Retire. 😂
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Post by blackmambabeto on Jan 31, 2024 13:22:26 GMT -5
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Post by robonthemic on Jan 31, 2024 14:33:59 GMT -5
They needed to have Rileigh Powers in that shot also. They're all so solid, clutch players and people.
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Post by blackmambabeto on Jan 31, 2024 18:10:43 GMT -5
They needed to have Rileigh Powers in that shot also. They're all so solid, clutch players and people. yea, I was thinking, "poor Ri-Dog" got left out
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Post by bobinmd on Jan 31, 2024 21:21:58 GMT -5
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Post by dunninla3 on Jan 31, 2024 23:30:43 GMT -5
They needed to have Rileigh Powers in that shot also. They're all so solid, clutch players and people. yeah, but think about the context. All three of the interviewees hit the AVP pretty hard last summer/fall.
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Post by robonthemic on Feb 1, 2024 21:10:12 GMT -5
They needed to have Rileigh Powers in that shot also. They're all so solid, clutch players and people. yeah, but think about the context. All three of the interviewees hit the AVP pretty hard last summer/fall. I overlooked the AVP common thread. Getting to know them throughout their Juniors/HS years, then at UCLA Beach they've always been "running in the same group" playing (Lexy (at times with Abby VW) & Rileigh; Devon (with Lindsay Sparks now at Cal Poly) and Jaden. All those ladies are foundational components to the Bruins success. Watched Lexy play with Maria Salgado, but I really feel she clicked with Carly Kan. Haven't had the chance to watch Devon & Jaden play in AVPs but with the way they compete they have the potential consistently get into main draws.
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