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Post by ajm on May 18, 2024 11:22:14 GMT -5
For Sponcil fans missing her at Huntington Beach this weekend, her PVF team is playing in the championship game this afternoon at 4:30 Eastern on CBS Sports Network. Sponcil has not regained her starting libero position but has been used regularly as a serving and defensive specialist for one or two rotations per set. It has been revealed that starting libero Camila Gomez was struggling with an injury earlier in the season, and that was likely why Sponcil was starting. I'd love to see Sponcil do well, but I'll admit that Gomez has been phenomenal since returning to the lineup. Her performance in the Grand Rapids semifinal upset of top seeded Atlanta was simply incredible, where she clearly outplayed Atlanta's Morgan Hentz, who is widely considered the #2 libero in the US.
PVF teams are supposed to start announcing contracts for next year shortly. It will be interesting to see whether Sponcil returns for another season of indoor. Maybe she will return to the AVP this fall, though I suppose she may have other indoor opportunities as well.
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Post by guest2 on May 18, 2024 20:46:49 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league?
But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach
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Post by genisvel on May 18, 2024 20:56:31 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league? But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach Not why I don't like the beach game... but my reason is just as stupid. Anyway... If you're being sarcastic, would you mind replying with "/s" Thank you.
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Post by guest2 on May 18, 2024 22:30:56 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league? But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach Not why I don't like the beach game... but my reason is just as stupid. Anyway... If you're being sarcastic, would you mind replying with "/s" Thank you. I wasn't replying to you, just talking about a general complaint several posters have made in the past
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Post by ajm on May 19, 2024 0:53:23 GMT -5
Felt bad for Sponcil today as her team got swept in three sets and she didn’t play at all. Her coach tried to sub her in as server late in the third set but was too late as the up ref had already blown her whistle to serve. When the original server realized this she ran back to avoid a time violation and ended up hastily serving into the net while Sponcil walked back sheepishly to the bench.
Anyway, was trying to watch Sponcil whenever the cameras caught her and she never looked very happy, probably a combination of not playing and her team losing. I suppose at some point she’ll write about her season playing indoors on her blog. Hopefully it was still a positive experience despite not ending as well as it started. And I’d still love to see her back on the AVP later this summer.
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Post by dunninla3 on May 19, 2024 3:21:41 GMT -5
Felt bad for Sponcil today as her team got swept in three sets and she didn’t play at all. Her coach tried to sub her in as server late in the third set but was too late as the up ref had already blown her whistle to serve. When the original server realized this she ran back to avoid a time violation and ended up hastily serving into the net while Sponcil walked back sheepishly to the bench. Anyway, was trying to watch Sponcil whenever the cameras caught her and she never looked very happy, probably a combination of not playing and her team losing. I suppose at some point she’ll write about her season playing indoors on her blog. Hopefully it was still a positive experience despite not ending as well as it started. And I’d still love to see her back on the AVP later this summer. I wrote a long post wondering what specific functions of a libero Sponcil did less well than Gomez, since I thought Sponcil passed serves better, had better court coverage, and set better that all the other six liberos in the PVF, White and Hentz included. I wondered whether it was vocal floor leadership, which I still suspect it is.
Anyway, the only hard piece of data we have is % of serves passed perfectly, at which Sponcil was at 35%, and finally found the stats for Gomez which showed her at 29%. So whatever it is coach George was looking for in a libero, actual production at passing, court coverage and setting were evidently not part of that equation. In the semis it was mentioned by an announcer that coach George was impressed with how well Gomez set... I'm just baffled she actually thought that Gomez set better than Sponcil, an actual elite setter. Makes me think Gomez was going to start no matter how well Sponcil did, once she was 100%. That Sponcil never had a real chance despite playing better than all the other liberos when she got that 12 game fill-in role.
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Post by katita on May 19, 2024 7:56:38 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league? But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent.
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Post by blackmambabeto on May 19, 2024 8:30:43 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league? But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent. aren’t they paid $60k for the szn?
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Post by dunninla3 on May 19, 2024 9:48:16 GMT -5
I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent. aren’t they paid $60k for the szn? most, although I think I read 2-3 are paid more than that. And that is for half a year's commitment... and no expenses. Compare that to half a year playing with Cannon, with expenses included.
I don't see any reason for Sponcil to jump back into Beach unless a Big with more talent than Cannon invites her. Was watching Cannon/Kraft v. (I think ATeam, can't remember) and in a five point run Cannon bump overset Kraft for a block kill, shanked a serve, hit out, and served out. It is infuriating to watch. Whenever she has to bump set or pass a serve, it's a roll of the dice.
That LSU Big not named Kloth, Deberg, looks promising ... the most promising true Big since Kloth (I'm not counting Scoles as a true Big, neither Kraft). I could see Sponcil coming back for Deberg, or Alix. nobody else at the moment. Possibly Scoles if Flint retires.
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Post by katita on May 19, 2024 13:41:32 GMT -5
I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent. aren’t they paid $60k for the szn? Touche.. I guess she doesn’t care because she got paid.
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Post by genisvel on May 19, 2024 14:27:37 GMT -5
I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent. aren’t they paid $60k for the szn? Next year's salary structures for each team: 1 player - $175,000 2 players - $120,000 4 players - $75,000 Minimum remains $60,000 Rumor is teams will be able to sign 2-year contracts
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Post by ajm on May 19, 2024 16:34:34 GMT -5
aren’t they paid $60k for the szn? Next year's salary structures for each team: 1 player - $175,000 2 players - $120,000 4 players - $75,000 Minimum remains $60,000 Rumor is teams will be able to sign 2-year contracts Pretty sure I read that they get housing expenses paid as well as access to a car.
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Post by haze on May 19, 2024 17:08:44 GMT -5
Every now and then some indoor fan will pop up and say they don't like the beach game because the women are so untalented. I dont agree with that, but seeing Sponcil unable to get on the court in a 4th tier semi-pro league? But I'm so happy she has the camaraderie she was looking for. This seems so much better than competing at the highest level on the beach I agree. I’m baffled she would give up beach volleyball to sit on a bench of an indoor team and serve maybe two or three points a match. Complete waste of talent. Pretty good indication that indoor reigns king in both player talent and money. Good you imagination how great of a product Beach Volleyball would be if the best players in the world played beach and not indoor?
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Post by genisvel on May 19, 2024 17:31:49 GMT -5
Next year's salary structures for each team: 1 player - $175,000 2 players - $120,000 4 players - $75,000 Minimum remains $60,000 Rumor is teams will be able to sign 2-year contracts Pretty sure I read that they get housing expenses paid as well as access to a car. This past year that was true for $60k players. And, it wasn't housing expenses, it was housing. In Grand Rapids, players were paired-up in a condo complex. The $100k players were expected to be residents who were available year-round for promotional work and did not need access to a vehicle or housing since they were already locals. With the new tiers, I have not heard if any are exempted from the other provisions.
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Post by ajm on May 19, 2024 23:30:19 GMT -5
Felt bad for Sponcil today as her team got swept in three sets and she didn’t play at all. Her coach tried to sub her in as server late in the third set but was too late as the up ref had already blown her whistle to serve. When the original server realized this she ran back to avoid a time violation and ended up hastily serving into the net while Sponcil walked back sheepishly to the bench. Anyway, was trying to watch Sponcil whenever the cameras caught her and she never looked very happy, probably a combination of not playing and her team losing. I suppose at some point she’ll write about her season playing indoors on her blog. Hopefully it was still a positive experience despite not ending as well as it started. And I’d still love to see her back on the AVP later this summer. I wrote a long post wondering what specific functions of a libero Sponcil did less well than Gomez, since I thought Sponcil passed serves better, had better court coverage, and set better that all the other six liberos in the PVF, White and Hentz included. I wondered whether it was vocal floor leadership, which I still suspect it is.
Anyway, the only hard piece of data we have is % of serves passed perfectly, at which Sponcil was at 35%, and finally found the stats for Gomez which showed her at 29%. So whatever it is coach George was looking for in a libero, actual production at passing, court coverage and setting were evidently not part of that equation. In the semis it was mentioned by an announcer that coach George was impressed with how well Gomez set... I'm just baffled she actually thought that Gomez set better than Sponcil, an actual elite setter. Makes me think Gomez was going to start no matter how well Sponcil did, once she was 100%. That Sponcil never had a real chance despite playing better than all the other liberos when she got that 12 game fill-in role.
You can find PVF player stats here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/15rsO7aQSsV5qhS_iAWrzyIvIzkE4gqqeygcqPqd1wkA/edit#gid=1225574252Gomez led the league in positive passing % at 73%. Sponcil is at 61%. Both are at 35% perfect passing. Sponcil was receiving 4 receptions per set, while Gomez received a little more than 1, which is probably a sign of respect for Gomez among opposing servers. Sponcil did have nearly two more digs per set than Gomez, which I found interesting. Sponcil did have more assists per set, although at just one every other set, that's probably not worth particularly much. You're probably right in that Sponcil never really had a chance to start once Gomez was healthy. I do think Sponcil played well enough to earn a contract for next year, and with three expansion teams, perhaps even a starting job. And if she still isn't ready to go back to the beach, I'd also love to see her play AU in the fall.
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