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Post by tophe on Aug 31, 2024 12:56:03 GMT -5
The Cincinnati match is on youtube
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Post by inpaign on Aug 31, 2024 16:19:13 GMT -5
A reminder to everyone (including myself) who casually watches other volleyball matches: for RPI purposes, we should root for the nonconf teams we play as well as all B1G teams!! I often find myself rooting against some of our conference foes but their losses only hurt us in the long run.
Today's match should be fun against a very solid opponent that should see success this season. Let's continue to iron out some of the wrinkles and get better with each game. ILL!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2024 16:58:22 GMT -5
A reminder to everyone (including myself) who casually watches other volleyball matches: for RPI purposes, we should root for the nonconf teams we play as well as all B1G teams!! I often find myself rooting against some of our conference foes but their losses only hurt us in the long run. Today's match should be fun against a very solid opponent that should see success this season. Let's continue to iron out some of the wrinkles and get better with each game. ILL! 100
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Post by ilalum92 on Aug 31, 2024 18:40:45 GMT -5
Posted some thoughts on the team in the match thread. Overall an improvement over last year but some things to work on. Eager to hear what everyone else thinks.
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Post by Chewblocka on Aug 31, 2024 19:12:38 GMT -5
Let’s see how we rank up with some strong opponents, I like what I see but this team is yet to be tested by a team were we do not get half our points via their own errors, correct me if I am wrong on this. If you take a gander and compare our stats to other B1G teams we are a long way off the mark which could provide initial success with easy teams and then a huge low with competitive teams. Like many of us Ill fans want to see this team successful so a 2-0 start with much shorter lower ranked teams is not getting me overly excited just yet.
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Post by vball778 on Aug 31, 2024 20:33:16 GMT -5
I know it may be due to leadership, but there is no way CMM is not Libero by the end of the season. Barnes continues to make the same serve receive and passing errors that she has for seasons. A Lollipop to her is difficult to handle at times. I’d love to see there A/B test between her and CMM next weekend. Still, thrilled with the results from this and can see the potential from everyone. Mighty, mighty freshmen!!
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Post by ill4life on Aug 31, 2024 20:43:22 GMT -5
I know it may be due to leadership, but there is no way CMM is not Libero by the end of the season. Barnes continues to make the same serve receive and passing errors that she has for seasons. A Lollipop to her is difficult to handle at times. I’d love to see there A/B test between her and CMM next weekend. Still, thrilled with the results from this and can see the potential from everyone. Mighty, mighty freshmen!! I was just getting ready to post in here the same thought! CMM is a beast in the backrow! For the one rotation she plays left back defense she continually gets up hard driven balls that o don’t feel Barnes normally would. Today is a perfect example with CMM having half the playing time and getting double the amount of digs Barnes had. Never want to be mean or pick at players, but Barnes in serve receive just looks plain awkward. She continually looks like she is taking the ball too high on her platform which then causes the pass to go high up and too far from the net. I’m also interested to see if the staff tries CMM for libero, I know I’d love to at least see what it looks like. As for setting, the timing issue was ridiculous. They need more reps if they want to run that quick of a tempo. The only good news is that it shows our hitters can adjust to bad sets and still manage to get kills. I almost felt bad for Terry in the BG game as I think the only good set she got was an out of system bump set from Barnes.
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Post by inpaign on Aug 31, 2024 21:48:47 GMT -5
Going to continue my post-game takeaways like last year...I always enjoy hearing if you all agree with my observations or not.
Most importantly, glad to go 2-0 this weekend. That was most important. I think this team is better than last years and a heck of a lot deeper. Our freshmen really impressed me - Laynie has looked great and that starting opp position looks to be hers. I would've liked to have seen TdB a bit this weekend but I'm sure the opportunity will present itself. Ashlyn did very well. I'd like to see Cari get more sets in the middle! I also like the Reilly sub over Campbell but both had pretty tough service pressure when inbounds. I do think our offense looks to be more well-balanced this year.
My two biggest concerns after this weekend is 1. the setting and 2. the libero jersey. Brooke impressed me in every facet of the game except the setting. Her sets to Laynie were fine, but the ones to Raina and Averie were way too low. What concerns me is that this was repeated over and over again, and it appears that it was a part of the gameplan...what she was being told to do. Most of her sets to Raina were unhittable. Averie could make the speed and height work at times, and that connection will only get better. However, Raina looked uncomfortable the entirety of both matches. We didn't really get to see a typical Raina swing on a ball unless it was a bumpset from the backrow. I understand what they are trying to do and I recognize it's the first weekend, but I really hope we revert back to the typical high ball out to Raina considering she has proven time and time again she is capable of elevating over the block. I guess its impressive we won in the manner we did without consistent rips from our outsides!
As far as libero goes, when watching the game today I paid close attention to both CMM and Barnes and I firmly believe CMM should have the lib jersey. She is much more consistent and reliable, and some of her ups were insane, especially considering she had to maintain focus while subbing in and out throughout the game. This is nothing against Barnes - she is a great player and has some great moments. But CMM looks so comfortable back there. I truly hope the coaching staff gives her a chance with the jersey. This point in the season is the time to experiment. Sadly I'm not sure we will see any changes while we are winning.
Happy that volleyball season is back underway. With some more time and game experience I believe this team has a much higher ceiling than last year. I'm excited to see how everything plays out. Illinois State on Tuesday...ILL!
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Post by uofaGRAD on Aug 31, 2024 21:51:02 GMT -5
okay I know I’m saying this from a fantasy perspective too, but seriously, you need Mosher back there starting the set serving every. single. set. she’s far too good back there to not let her rip 3x a set. when you get to B1G play, Smith, Philpot, Hernandez, etc are not going to be AS good as they’ve been so far and one more chance at a run per set can easily be the difference in MULTIPLE matches
Mosher does need to set Terry higher though. confused why their connection seems worse this year than last year?
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Post by inpaign on Aug 31, 2024 21:55:23 GMT -5
okay I know I’m saying this from a fantasy perspective too, but seriously, you need Mosher back there starting the set serving every. single. set. she’s far too good back there to not let her rip 3x a set. when you get to B1G play, Smith, Philpot, Hernandez, etc are not going to be AS good as they’ve been so far and one more chance at a run per set can easily be the difference in MULTIPLE matches Mosher does need to set Terry higher though. confused why their connection seems worse this year than last year? Agree! Looks like the coaches might be emphasizing a pick up in pace of the sets to the outside but it's pretty clear that needs some more work before that quick timing is used in a game.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Aug 31, 2024 21:59:26 GMT -5
okay I know I’m saying this from a fantasy perspective too, but seriously, you need Mosher back there starting the set serving every. single. set. she’s far too good back there to not let her rip 3x a set. when you get to B1G play, Smith, Philpot, Hernandez, etc are not going to be AS good as they’ve been so far and one more chance at a run per set can easily be the difference in MULTIPLE matches Mosher does need to set Terry higher though. confused why their connection seems worse this year than last year? Agree! Looks like the coaches might be emphasizing a pick up in pace of the sets to the outside but it's pretty clear that needs some more work before that quick timing is used in a game. it’s one of those things where it’s like, if that’s what Averie needs, then push it, but that doesn’t mean you need to change Raina’s tempo too. I feel like Mosher didn’t use Terry at all on the bic either, which for now is probably a good thing. Philpot was money on the slide. set her until they contain it and then the block bites on her while Terry rips up the middle
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Post by Pasquale on Aug 31, 2024 22:50:21 GMT -5
We wrapped up opening weekend with two sweeps and the News-Gazette has yet to publish an article about the wins. News-Gazette, please do your job . . . it's sad and embarrassing for all of us.
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Post by oldmanvb on Sept 1, 2024 7:34:30 GMT -5
Lots of work to do on the connection between setter and hitter when running a fast paced offense. Fast doesn’t mean low, the setter needs to make the hitters reach for the ball. The same ball which works for Averie will not work with Raina because Averie can swing while Raina has to short arm the same ball.
I agree with the comments CMM should be the libero. She is the best passer on the team and brought balls up from left back no one else was bringing up. She also passed more of the court than anyone else, something which would help hide Raina.
If we are going to use a second setter Raegan did a much better job in the limited time she was on the court. Her serve was almost as effective as Vivian and her setting was hittable.
Our two frosh hitters, Ashlyn and Laynie, are going to be a ton. Both take a lot of pressure off of our left pins. Brooke did a nice job distributing to the right side.
Passing, while significantly better than last year, which isn’t saying much, needs work.
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Post by vbkahuna on Sept 1, 2024 11:31:50 GMT -5
Lots of very good comments and insights here. Here are some of my thoughts after the first weekend of match play.
* Libero. I agree that it's pretty evident that Mundo should take over the Libero jersey soon. I say soon (and not now) because I think it's likely that Tamas is giving both Barnes and Mundo the opportunity to show through actual match performance who really deserves it, with Barnes still starting as the long-term, hard-working incumbent. I believe it's a subtle but important coaching message to the whole team that the incumbent starters will be given a fair chance to continue to have it through match performance and the newcomer must prove it to earn it. But yes, Mundo is proving it. She personifies an old saying that I agree with, that "Liberos are born, not made." She's got the hand-eye coordination, the quick feet, the instincts, and the aggressive mentality that you just can't teach and that differentiate a Libero from a good DS. A true Libero doesn't just play the back row, she commands it.
* Setter/Tempo offense. This is where I disagree with some of the (legitimate) comments made. I don't think they should slow down or back off one bit and go back to moon ball sets. Yes, of course, some hitters like Raina like the more predictable higher sets to better coordinate their approach and hitting extension for maximum power and hitting angles. But in the B1G, even Raina can't blast her way through or over the fully set blocking walls consistently due to the size (Wisconsin, Nebraska) or quickness (Penn State, Purdue) they face. Sure, Mosher can be somewhat selective for Raina based on who they're playing or the situation, but my advice is to keep working on the timing and connections, put the pedal to the metal and go for it. Also have Krista work more with the hitters on swipes, tips, and "throws" (since they're no longer calling them) as great tactics to use on imperfect lower quick sets. The Illini finally have a big, agile middle (Philpot) and opposite (Smith) who can play quick, as well as better passing, so Mosher can unleash and really go.
* Blocking. To me this has been very noticeable already, even taking into account the opposition. With the mobility of Philpot and Smith, the Illini are really closing the blocking walls fast this year. It's not just the blocks for points (8 and 12 this weekend) but also the numerous rejections and good deflections that keep the ball in play. It will definitely get tougher as the opposition gets tougher, but this could be a terrific blocking team.
* Serving. I don't think Illinois gets enough credit for being one of the toughest serving teams year in and year out. And this year could be one of their best. Mosher is becoming ridiculously good and (so far) more consistent. So unless there's some Vulcan mind trick in hiding her until later in the serving rotation, put her up front and let her rip one more rotation per set. Add in Raina and Barnes, each with a different look and speed, and the newbies (who combined for 12 aces by 6 players against BGU) and you get serious disruption of the other team's offense with frequent OOS situations that feed into the Illini blocking walls.
Next weekend 3 more matches, with a good Iowa State team to check progress. Followed by the "Mid-term Exam" weekend against very good Dayton and WKU teams. Reality check then for sure.
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Post by exit237a on Sept 1, 2024 14:59:53 GMT -5
Great start to the season, Illini! A lot of fun to watch.
Quick turnaround to our next match, hosting Illinois State at Huff Hall this Tuesday! Here's our match thread for that one:
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