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Post by volleyball303 on Sept 30, 2023 22:31:56 GMT -5
I don’t think I saw a set to the middle in the 3rd or 4th set on Minnesotas side. Most sets were from the 10 foot line so it’s hard. I agree they avoid the middle but the have to pass better so establish any real middle threat. |
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Post by chenny11 on Sept 30, 2023 22:33:57 GMT -5
It’s great to see things starting to click for PSU. This team is a great team when people besides Mruzik contribute. Obviously Trammell was incredible tonight, and Markley was solid all night. Not a rock star but took her fair share of good swings. Hannah didn’t have her best night but she’s still someone to spread the ball too and has put up great numbers in the past couple of matches!
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Post by chenny11 on Sept 30, 2023 22:35:01 GMT -5
PSU passing and defense has improved greatly. Grimes looks a lot more confident in the libero jersey.
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Post by skolgophers on Sept 30, 2023 22:36:49 GMT -5
I don’t think I saw a set to the middle in the 3rd or 4th set on Minnesotas side. Most sets were from the 10 foot line so it’s hard. I agree they avoid the middle but the have to pass better so establish any real middle threat. There were plenty of opportunities. |
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Post by azsker on Sept 30, 2023 22:44:56 GMT -5
Looking at this objectively, Penn State's the better team because of Podraza and their middles. And taking a deep breath and stepping away from this disappointment, I predict that the final BIG standings for top 6 will be: 1. NE, 2. WI, 3. PS, 4. Purdue, 5. Indiana, 6. MN. If this is Minnesota’s peak? Yes. IMO-this is not their peak. At least I would hope not. |
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Post by tristan22 on Sept 30, 2023 22:55:00 GMT -5
Minnesota is so frustrating. They’re so talented. But so lifeless. Who is their leader? They need an emotional one. Wucherer was so frustrated at herself that entire match. And Landfair is just too uncomfortable in the backrow. I may be wrong, but I’m confident they’ll be dangerous by the end of the year. Maybe that’s why I find it so frustrating. Props to PSU though. They look much better than they did earlier this year. Fun match to watch. Trammel was phenomenal and I’m so glad Mruzick left Michigan. I’m sure that was difficult for her. After seeing Michigan this year, I think she's aware she made the right move. Can't wait to see her be one of the first or second team all American. |
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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Sept 30, 2023 23:06:35 GMT -5
McKenna Wucherer had more service errors than Penn State.
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Post by mnsports255 on Sept 30, 2023 23:35:26 GMT -5
So obvious when Wucherer gets in her own head. So talented. Just needs to learn to shake it off This stood out in an obvious way tonight. She was definitely fighting the mental battle pretty hard tonight. Very frustrated and down much of the night, words with Keegan in between points, upset going to timeout, I really did feel for her as an athlete. She was battling her emotions this match and while it was certainly not a good performance from her, I absolutely respect how much she cares and how much she wants to perform well. |
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Post by volleysota on Oct 1, 2023 0:23:50 GMT -5
Same as last night, of all the volleyball games of all time, this was absolutely one of them. Game Stuffs* I was all ready to write about how Taylor's passing looked pretty good tonight. Then the final set and change happened. I'm hoping that was just a speed bump because her passing and defense had been on an upward trend lately * Mel looks like she's really struggling to move on the court. I respect the hustle and the grit, I just worry that she's putting herself and the team in a sticky spot if she's indeed hurt and doing her best to tough it out * The middles were definitely scared of the dump and quick threats, and Penn State took full advantage with more single blocks on the outside than I would like to see * I got Peyton Manning vibes watching some of our attempts to dig tonight, a couple of real woofs there Non-Game Stuffs (that may only interest me)* I mentioned the elbow padding earlier in the match thread on Hanson/Wucherer. I guess I was a little surprised Murr doesn't use something like that, but then again I wear them all the time after I took a spill into a divider curtain and got a lovely deep bone bruise (Thankfully nothing was broken!) * ...Or is this game stuffs? That's the first time I've ever seen one of the net cameras get knocked down. A little surprising considering how close to the action they are * Overheard after a run of Gopher serve errors from my section "JUST UNDERHAND SERVE IT!" I had to laugh... Buddy, I don't think you're going to get your wish * Of course since it was Homecoming, Goldy came out in a tux for a while. He had a poster asking to go to the dance with yes/no checkboxes. A little girl in my section got to mark the yes and she had a little dance with Goldy, definitely one of the more wholesome and adorable things I've seen there in a while And with that, the Gophers have some time to figure things out before next week at Maryland. Hopefully some items get resolved, as we're already into the thick of the season. Onwards and upwards! |
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Post by mcmike on Oct 1, 2023 2:21:29 GMT -5
Most sets were from the 10 foot line so it’s hard. I agree they avoid the middle but the have to pass better so establish any real middle threat. There were plenty of opportunities. Case in point: Set 4 MN 26-25 after PSU SE, Shaff fed Wookie an OOS bump set that was weakly sent back off high hands, Murr bump set to Shaff just in front of the attack line and dead center. Shaff gave Wookie a set that was rejected for a PSU point The end zone replay clearly showed that Minatee would have had a wide open court had Shaff gone middle. Rinse & repeat sets into the best blocking team in the conference is a recipe for failure. MN is just too dang predictable and no team is going to tell their MBs to stay home until we force them to with a reliable middle attack. Just a few points before: at 22-22 MN, in Ro1, TayLa had a bad pass, but Murr bump set just inside the left sideline and Grote tooled the outside blocker's hand at 23-24 after TayLa was aced, TayLa made a great pass and Shaff fed Wookie out to the sideline and she tooled the block |
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Post by smartguyvbfan on Oct 1, 2023 7:23:51 GMT -5
Minnesota is so frustrating. They’re so talented. But so lifeless. Who is their leader? They need an emotional one. Wucherer was so frustrated at herself that entire match. And Landfair is just too uncomfortable in the backrow. I may be wrong, but I’m confident they’ll be dangerous by the end of the year. Maybe that’s why I find it so frustrating. Props to PSU though. They look much better than they did earlier this year. Fun match to watch. Trammel was phenomenal and I’m so glad Mruzick left Michigan. I’m sure that was difficult for her. Props to you for being positive. It helps to read a re-assurring post. |
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Post by GoGophs on Oct 1, 2023 7:37:01 GMT -5
Disappointed but not surprised unfortunately. Gonna be really tough to win matches if we can’t win the serve and pass battle or set the middles…
Landfair was a bright spot for me though, some great smart shots and defensive reads. Her timing with Shaff looks much better. She’s actually taking a big chunk of court to pass too and doing pretty well - curious if someone has passing stats? Because it almost looked like she was passing better than Murr… Murr looked off to me last night
Hats off to Trammel hitting those awesome numbers though. PSU also played some good defense, definitely frustrated our hitters quite a few times. Gonna be tough to avenge this loss in the dreaded Rec Hall though…
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Post by GoGophs on Oct 1, 2023 7:56:21 GMT -5
Looking at this objectively, Penn State's the better team because of Podraza and their middles. And taking a deep breath and stepping away from this disappointment, I predict that the final BIG standings for top 6 will be: 1. NE, 2. WI, 3. PS, 4. Purdue, 5. Indiana, 6. MN. If this is Minnesota’s peak? Yes. IMO-this is not their peak. At least I would hope not. I agree I don’t think this is their peak… there’s too much talent and too much season left to not keep improving. And honestly I don’t want them to peak right now, it’s too early. Better to be hot at the end of the season going into the tourney. |
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Post by courtwatchers on Oct 1, 2023 8:59:52 GMT -5
So obvious when Wucherer gets in her own head. So talented. Just needs to learn to shake it off This stood out in an obvious way tonight. She was definitely fighting the mental battle pretty hard tonight. Very frustrated and down much of the night, words with Keegan in between points, upset going to timeout, I really did feel for her as an athlete. She was battling her emotions this match and while it was certainly not a good performance from her, I absolutely respect how much she cares and how much she wants to perform well. Let me add that around her 5th serving error it appeared she looked over at KCook and mouthed "I'm done". Which is what my friend and I thought she said and observed. |
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Post by JHAM on Oct 1, 2023 9:02:06 GMT -5
Disappointed but not surprised unfortunately. Gonna be really tough to win matches if we can’t win the serve and pass battle or set the middles… Landfair was a bright spot for me though, some great smart shots and defensive reads. Her timing with Shaff looks much better. She’s actually taking a big chunk of court to pass too and doing pretty well - curious if someone has passing stats? Because it almost looked like she was passing better than Murr… Murr looked off to me last night Hats off to Trammel hitting those awesome numbers though. PSU also played some good defense, definitely frustrated our hitters quite a few times. Gonna be tough to avenge this loss in the dreaded Rec Hall though… Um, this was their only shot to beat Penn St as they only play once this year. And the Gophers now dropped to #25 in the RPI on stats figs and will most likely drop further playing the teams they do the next couple weeks. I think they blew their chance at a top 16 finish with this loss. Someone said this reminds them of 2014 and I have felt the same way, biggest difference is that the 2014 had less talent, at least on paper. |
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