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Post by skolgophers on Jun 26, 2024 8:49:11 GMT -5
Just for funsies: who do we think will be our starting lineup? Here are my projections.
OH: Wucherer OH: Acevedo (Hanson at DS) MB: Phoebe MB: Minatee OPP: Grote (Thibault at DS) S: Shaff L: Z
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Post by mplsgopher on Jun 26, 2024 10:18:57 GMT -5
I think they ran more slides in the spring than all last year doesn't that tell you something. If we run a bunch of slides and get a bunch of kills off them, that's awesome.
That's not a middle attack. That's a specialized pin attack for particular situations that occur over the rotations of modern volleyball systems.
A middle attack is where you have two pin hitters, but you set the ball in the middle of the net for a third attacker who is located in the middle of the net. Sets like: 1, 1+, 2, back 1, etc. NOT the "shoot 31" thing that they occasionally do, with varying levels of success that largely depend on how well it was timed and if it actually hits location.
To me, it's not rocket science. Granted, I am not a rocket scientist.
SSS - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Miller - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Shaff (Hugh) - don't set the middle - other than Pittman in Covid Spring year and Booth in 22 as a true freshman, largely a lack of strong middle attackers Shaff (Cook) - don't set the middle - largely a lack of strong middle attackers
wild guess: SS (Cook) - set the middle - miraculously, strong middle attackers start returning
Pittman chose to not use her final year of eligibility. Booth transferred out, using Hugh's retirement as an excuse. Even Davis, who largely was used as a blocking specialist (like so many of the middles during Shaff's time) chose to leave with her final year. Which makes sense to me, why not try to have some more fun and swing?
The arguments on here about lack of passing and lack of middle hitter prowess ring mostly hollow for me. Plenty of other teams suffer from poor passing, but still have a middle attack. More telling is the plain sheer lack of volume of total actual middle sets (again, 1, 1+, 2, etc.) that Shaff has done in matches over her four years here. It has to be the lowest in the Big Ten in those four years, by a mile.
You can talk all you want about the lack of terminal hitting ability for players like Myers, Husemann, Rubright, Davis, Gros. But there is also the flip side of that coin: why would a high-talent offensive middle want to come to a program that isn't setting the middle?? Goes both ways.
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Post by jeepers on Jun 26, 2024 10:23:24 GMT -5
I think they ran more slides in the spring than all last year doesn't that tell you something. If we run a bunch of slides and get a bunch of kills off them, that's awesome.
That's not a middle attack. That's a specialized pin attack for particular situations that occur over the rotations of modern volleyball systems.
A middle attack is where you have two pin hitters, but you set the ball in the middle of the net for a third attacker who is located in the middle of the net. Sets like: 1, 1+, 2, back 1, etc. NOT the "shoot 31" thing that they occasionally do, with varying levels of success that largely depend on how well it was timed and if it actually hits location.
To me, it's not rocket science. Granted, I am not a rocket scientist.
SSS - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Miller - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Schaff (Hugh) - don't set the middle - other than Pittman in Covid Spring year and Booth in 22 as a true freshman, largely a lack of strong middle attackers Schaff (Cook) - don't set the middle - largely a lack of strong middle attackers
wild guess: SS (Cook) - set the middle - miraculously, strong middle attackers start returning
Pittman chose to not use her final year of eligibility. Booth transferred out, using Hugh's retirement as an excuse. Even Davis, who largely was used as a blocking specialist (like so many of the middles during Schaff's time) chose to leave with her final year. Which makes sense to me, why not try to have some more fun and swing?
The arguments on here about lack of passing and lack of middle hitter prowess ring mostly hollow for me. Plenty of other teams suffer from poor passing, but still have a middle attack. More telling is the plain sheer lack of volume of total actual middle sets (again, 1, 1+, 2, etc.) that Schaff has done in matches over her four years here. It has to be the lowest in the Big Ten in those four years, by a mile.
You can talk all you want about the lack of terminal hitting ability for players like Myers, Husemann, Rubright, Davis, Gros, Awoleye. But there is also the flip side of that coin: why would a high-talent offensive middle want to come to a program that isn't setting the middle?? Goes both ways.
After 5 years of hate mail, I thought you'd at least have realized there's no C in Shaffmaster.
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Post by mplsgopher on Jun 26, 2024 10:26:33 GMT -5
there's no C in Shaffmaster. The post I replied to literally said "shaft". Twice.
I guess you forgot to hit "Create Post" on that one?
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Post by jeepers on Jun 26, 2024 10:57:00 GMT -5
there's no C in Shaffmaster. The post I replied to literally said "shaft". Twice.
I guess you forgot to hit "Create Post" on that one?
I think we found her theme song for 2024:
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mop
Freshman
Posts: 98
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Post by mop on Jun 26, 2024 11:16:24 GMT -5
Just for funsies: who do we think will be our starting lineup? Here are my projections. OH: Wucherer OH: Acevedo (Hanson at DS) MB: Phoebe MB: Minatee OPP: Grote (Thibault at DS) S: Shaff L: Z I think Julia will get the start, with Alex coming in if she struggles (or if Wucherer does). I miss having a 6 ro Opp & think Grote’s more than capable, having the D ball option is important
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Post by Norah Sus on Jun 26, 2024 11:19:08 GMT -5
there's no C in Shaffmaster. The post I replied to literally said "shaft". Twice.
I guess you forgot to hit "Create Post" on that one?
LOL this is such a whine. “But THEY spelled it wrong TOO!” It’s like telling a cop you don’t deserve a speeding ticket because other people speed, too.
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Post by BigDigEnergy on Jun 26, 2024 11:28:43 GMT -5
The post I replied to literally said "shaft". Twice.
I guess you forgot to hit "Create Post" on that one?
LOL this is such a whine. “But THEY spelled it wrong TOO!” It’s like telling a cop you don’t deserve a speeding ticket because other people speed, too. Tell them! It is laughable at this point.
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Post by mplsgopher on Jun 26, 2024 11:39:20 GMT -5
I didn't expect any actual substantive counter-points to be made.
The evidence is plain and has been there for all to see.
We will always wish the team the best and root for them each year. I hope Shaff takes a big step forward in this particular department, this year. Hope the team does better than last year.
Like the well-conditioned Minnesota Sports (pro and U) fan that I am, I set my hopes high and my expectations mid to low, so I won't allow myself to be disappointed. I've found that "happily surprised" is a great place to be and costs nothing.
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Post by mplsgopher on Jun 26, 2024 11:42:54 GMT -5
Just for funsies: who do we think will be our starting lineup? Here are my projections. OH: Wucherer OH: Acevedo (Hanson at DS) MB: Phoebe MB: Minatee OPP: Grote (Thibault at DS) S: Shaff L: Z I think Julia will get the start, with Alex coming in if she struggles (or if Wucherer does). I miss having a 6 ro Opp & think Grote’s more than capable, having the D ball option is importantHave we consistently used that with anyone other than Samedy?
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Post by skolgophers on Jun 26, 2024 11:56:20 GMT -5
I think Julia will get the start, with Alex coming in if she struggles (or if Wucherer does). I miss having a 6 ro Opp & think Grote’s more than capable, having the D ball option is importantHave we consistently used that with anyone other than Samedy? Hanson.
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mop
Freshman
Posts: 98
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Post by mop on Jun 26, 2024 12:21:15 GMT -5
I think Julia will get the start, with Alex coming in if she struggles (or if Wucherer does). I miss having a 6 ro Opp & think Grote’s more than capable, having the D ball option is importantHave we consistently used that with anyone other than Samedy? Not nearly enough. It’s one of the toughest shots to block, especially when it has some tempo. Also helps to alleviate any one person carrying too much of the offensive load/having blockers camped on them.
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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Jun 26, 2024 14:49:03 GMT -5
I think they ran more slides in the spring than all last year doesn't that tell you something. If we run a bunch of slides and get a bunch of kills off them, that's awesome. That's not a middle attack. That's a specialized pin attack for particular situations that occur over the rotations of modern volleyball systems.
A middle attack is where you have two pin hitters, but you set the ball in the middle of the net for a third attacker who is located in the middle of the net. Sets like: 1, 1+, 2, back 1, etc. NOT the "shoot 31" thing that they occasionally do, with varying levels of success that largely depend on how well it was timed and if it actually hits location. To me, it's not rocket science. Granted, I am not a rocket scientist. SSS - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Miller - set the middle - had some great middle attackers Shaff (Hugh) - don't set the middle - other than Pittman in Covid Spring year and Booth in 22 as a true freshman, largely a lack of strong middle attackers Shaff (Cook) - don't set the middle - largely a lack of strong middle attackers wild guess: SS (Cook) - set the middle - miraculously, strong middle attackers start returning
Pittman chose to not use her final year of eligibility. Booth transferred out, using Hugh's retirement as an excuse. Even Davis, who largely was used as a blocking specialist (like so many of the middles during Shaff's time) chose to leave with her final year. Which makes sense to me, why not try to have some more fun and swing? The arguments on here about lack of passing and lack of middle hitter prowess ring mostly hollow for me. Plenty of other teams suffer from poor passing, but still have a middle attack. More telling is the plain sheer lack of volume of total actual middle sets (again, 1, 1+, 2, etc.) that Shaff has done in matches over her four years here. It has to be the lowest in the Big Ten in those four years, by a mile.
You can talk all you want about the lack of terminal hitting ability for players like Myers, Husemann, Rubright, Davis, Gros. But there is also the flip side of that coin: why would a high-talent offensive middle want to come to a program that isn't setting the middle?? Goes both ways.
Some truth told here. I'll add that even when MN did have good passing, it's not as if the middle connections were particularly effective. I've often wondered if Shaff's height made that a bit tricky for her. It seemed/seems tough for her to consistently put the ball on quick set to the middle in a spot that's effectively attackable. That seems more of a specifically Melani problem, which I have not seen in any other four-year B1G starting setter. EVER. Edit: and to clarify, the "problem" I'm referring to is not about her height. I've wondered if that might be tricky for her, but seems something that any setter would be able to remedy within a season. I'm no huge fan of Carlini's placement, but she could set the middle is as nearly as tall as Shaff. Same with Poulter, but exceptional at location. Part of the problem is specifically Melani's ability (or inability) to find the spot and/or tempo. It's not god-awful, but it's a problem, and I expect it to continue to be a liability.
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Post by mplsgopher on Jun 26, 2024 15:55:26 GMT -5
Have we consistently used that with anyone other than Samedy? Not nearly enough. It’s one of the toughest shots to block, especially when it has some tempo. Also helps to alleviate any one person carrying too much of the offensive load/having blockers camped on them. I dare say (not a setter, by any means) it is also one of the most difficult sets to do for most setters? Shaff may be an exception there.
This could be off, but I feel like Samedy was getting maybe 10 of these per set?? I might be exaggerating a bit.
Whereas last season Hanson got maybe 1-2 per match?
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Post by skolgophers on Jun 26, 2024 16:15:56 GMT -5
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