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Post by BigDigEnergy on Nov 15, 2024 17:49:52 GMT -5
ILL has the momentum. I hope that they can make this week matches competitive regardless of the outcome. Rooting for them.
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Post by illinivbfan1992 on Nov 15, 2024 19:04:49 GMT -5
On the Illini radio broadcast prior to the Penn State match, Tim Ditman said Taylor DeBoer is out again tonight with "an undisclosed injury," but "it is not expected to be long-term." He also noted that Kayla Burbage is once again taking swings in warm-ups, but is not expected to play tonight.
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Post by ilalum92 on Nov 16, 2024 0:25:05 GMT -5
Let’s regroup and come back strong against Purdue. That match was winnable. We always play Purdue hard, so lets get that upset!
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Post by Chewblocka on Nov 16, 2024 2:50:16 GMT -5
On the Illini radio broadcast prior to the Penn State match, Tim Ditman said Taylor DeBoer is out again tonight with "an undisclosed injury," but "it is not expected to be long-term." He also noted that Kayla Burbage is once again taking swings in warm-ups, but is not expected to play tonight. Great to hear, I hope to see both but if we can hold Burbage to next year that would be really good. Is she going to be coming back? |
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Post by Chewblocka on Nov 16, 2024 3:23:58 GMT -5
There’s been some chatter in the game thread about Smith regressing, but I have to disagree. While her stats may not jump off the page, she’s a freshman and has done a solid job holding her own at this level. Comparing her to Ashlyn, who is clearly operating at a higher level, isn’t entirely fair—Ashlyn is simply in a league of her own, even as a freshman. Penn kept her contained somewhat tonight which shows she’s is a force to pay attention to.
Smith’s hybrid middle/outside attack is effective but has become more predictable, and opposing teams are reading her better now. The quick set could use more variation to keep defenses guessing. Her “surprise” attack has lost its element of surprise, but with her fast arm swing, there’s still plenty of upside if she can improve her consistency. Again, inconsistency is expected for a freshman, and she’s not alone in that struggle as we have seen all season long.
Cari has had some standout moments but I’d like to see her improve her speed and footwork to elevate her game further. Lily has been steady in the backcourt and seems to have found her rhythm, providing much-needed defensive stability. Can I say that I miss Caroline? No offence to Lily I just loved her energy and connection Caroline brought with the team.
Tipping isn’t always the most exciting option, but (and I cannot believeI am saying this) Raina used it effectively tonight. Her smart ball placement translated to a strong hitting percentage, proving that even less aggressive approaches “on occasion” can work when executed with precision.
As for Hernandez, she’s made progress. She’s finding the floor and is playing with aggression, which is a significant improvement over the tip-and-roll game she relied on earlier in the season. This shift is making her more effective offensively.
Overall, this team has the tools but needs to clean up the unforced errors, get more aggressive offensively, and tighten up the block and defence. Also, let’s remind them: tipping isn’t a lifestyle, it’s a backup plan! If they can sharpen these areas, we’ll be seeing fewer “oops” moments and more “wow” moments next match. Lets go take Purdue down!
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