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Post by inpaign on Aug 14, 2024 10:53:17 GMT -5
Any word out of pre-season practices? Everyone healthy? Anyone wowing the coaches? Everything is still very fluid and different lineups and combinations are still being experimented with. I wouldn't be surprised if Reilly gets more playing time than I originally expected.
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Post by liberovb10 on Aug 14, 2024 20:42:13 GMT -5
it looked like they posted one potential starting line up - Averie, Terry, Brooke, Bohm, CMM (no Opp shown - assume DeBoer) - on IG today
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Post by oldmanvb on Aug 15, 2024 16:01:35 GMT -5
I think it is extremely likely Tamas starts Averie and Raina at the left pin, both playing 6 rotations, Brooke sets, Kari and Ashlyn play the middle, with Ashlyn playing M1 because she is so good on the slide. CMM and Caroline fight it out for libero with the other playing DS for the opposite. Taylor and Laynie are a toss-up for opposite, I think both will get playing time early in the year. How Tamas uses his bench will be fascinating. He has never played many subs, but he has never had this kind of depth. He even has DS subs if someone is getting served off the court. I was also intrigued by inpaign’s thought Raegan will get more playing time than he originally anticipated.
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Post by Pasquale on Aug 15, 2024 16:24:55 GMT -5
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Post by inpaign on Aug 15, 2024 21:06:07 GMT -5
I think it is extremely likely Tamas starts Averie and Raina at the left pin, both playing 6 rotations, Brooke sets, Kari and Ashlyn play the middle, with Ashlyn playing M1 because she is so good on the slide. CMM and Caroline fight it out for libero with the other playing DS for the opposite. Taylor and Laynie are a toss-up for opposite, I think both will get playing time early in the year. How Tamas uses his bench will be fascinating. He has never played many subs, but he has never had this kind of depth. He even has DS subs if someone is getting served off the court. I was also intrigued by inpaign’s thought Raegan will get more playing time than he originally anticipated. I think your predictions will end up being very close to how we start the season. I'm still giving the edge to CMM but would not be surprised if Barnes begins the season there. I'm also giving the edge to Laynie for opposite - I can see a scenario where Brooke hits opposite when she is front row and Raegan sets. I love that we have options and are able to move pieces around as needed. I also love our size up front on the pins and in the middle. I'm excited for the season to begin!
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 15, 2024 23:59:05 GMT -5
I think it is extremely likely Tamas starts Averie and Raina at the left pin, both playing 6 rotations, Brooke sets, Kari and Ashlyn play the middle, with Ashlyn playing M1 because she is so good on the slide. CMM and Caroline fight it out for libero with the other playing DS for the opposite. Taylor and Laynie are a toss-up for opposite, I think both will get playing time early in the year. How Tamas uses his bench will be fascinating. He has never played many subs, but he has never had this kind of depth. He even has DS subs if someone is getting served off the court. I was also intrigued by inpaign’s thought Raegan will get more playing time than he originally anticipated. I think your predictions will end up being very close to how we start the season. I'm still giving the edge to CMM but would not be surprised if Barnes begins the season there. I'm also giving the edge to Laynie for opposite - I can see a scenario where Brooke hits opposite when she is front row and Raegan sets. I love that we have options and are able to move pieces around as needed. I also love our size up front on the pins and in the middle. I'm excited for the season to begin! I think we are gong to surprise a lot of teams this year. Hoping we give Raina a great super senior season and some real AA honors.
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Post by Pasquale on Aug 16, 2024 11:05:54 GMT -5
Only two weeks until the season opener! Go Illini!
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Post by vbkahuna on Aug 16, 2024 12:12:07 GMT -5
The two main things that have kept the Illini from getting to the next level and returning to the playoffs were (1) back row passing and (2) lack of depth to maintain quality when injuries hit. Both areas appear to have been significantly addressed during the off season. They now appear to have a level of flexibility in lineup options (both from opponent-to-opponent and situational in-game changes) that the coaches haven't had for a long time. We'll soon get to see how well they adjust and how far they can go.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 16, 2024 12:16:21 GMT -5
The two main things that have kept the Illini from getting to the next level and returning to the playoffs were (1) back row passing and (2) lack of depth to maintain quality when injuries hit. Both areas appear to have been significantly addressed during the off season. They now appear to have a level of flexibility in lineup options (both from opponent-to-opponent and situational in-game changes) that the coaches haven't had for a long time. We'll soon get to see how well they adjust and how far they can go. Defense yes, the season ending injury to Kayla has hurt our pin depth. We are a little thin at MB, with only one person who has played any significant time on the court. Hope everyone stays healthy this season.
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Post by oldmanvb on Aug 16, 2024 14:33:59 GMT -5
The two main things that have kept the Illini from getting to the next level and returning to the playoffs were (1) back row passing and (2) lack of depth to maintain quality when injuries hit. Both areas appear to have been significantly addressed during the off season. They now appear to have a level of flexibility in lineup options (both from opponent-to-opponent and situational in-game changes) that the coaches haven't had for a long time. We'll soon get to see how well they adjust and how far they can go. Defense yes, the season ending injury to Kayla has hurt our pin depth. We are a little thin at MB, with only one person who has played any significant time on the court. Hope everyone stays healthy this season. I agree passing and depth has been our downfall the last two seasons. Hopefully our first year players live up to our expectations. Ashlyn has the tools to be terrific in the middle, staying healthy and quickly adjusting to the speed of college volleyball will be key. After Kari and Ashlyn Sarah is our next option at middle, she should be adequate as a replacement middle so long as she does not have to play extended time. She played well at times and struggled at times last year. Sarah can also play opposite in a pinch, again she both played well and struggled. Both Laynie and Taylor can play either right side or left side. I think both are B1G caliber players at either position. Lily was a problem at serve receive last year, but is a capable defensive sub. Hopefully her receiving has improved over the off-season. Our frosh DSs both show promise and their passing may put them ahead of Lily as the backup DS.
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Post by inpaign on Aug 16, 2024 15:32:25 GMT -5
Agree with all these takes. Every team has a weakness and, as others have pointed out, our weakness in recent years has been passing and depth. Based on what I've heard, I believe our sore spot this year will be in the middle. A lot of our success will come down to how well our middles are able to compete in a league full of very talented middles. I must say though -- of all the areas to have a weakness, I'm not entirely upset with ours being the middle. In my opinion, Jen has done a very, very good job coaching up our middles and getting them to play at a level past what we thought their potential could be. Cari's development last year, especially blocking, was unbelievable to watch. I have confidence they will round into form nicely and hold their own as the season progresses.
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 17, 2024 16:38:39 GMT -5
If you haven’t seen it, there is great synopsis of ILLINOIS on page 56 of the Big Ten 2024 - Oh My thread
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Post by tedheise on Aug 17, 2024 17:36:45 GMT -5
If you haven’t seen it, there is great synopsis of ILLINOIS on page 56 of the Big Ten 2024 - Oh My thread YES! Kingsley does a fantastic job with these.
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pointexas
Sophomore
Posts: 226
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Post by pointexas on Aug 17, 2024 19:44:32 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the exhibition match at Notre Dame will be open to the public
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Post by exit237a on Aug 17, 2024 20:15:40 GMT -5
Does anyone know if the exhibition match at Notre Dame will be open to the public
Hmm, I'm seeing a Notre Dame exhibition game against Michigan State on August 21. Is that the one you're wondering about?
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