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Post by pepperjack on Sept 7, 2024 20:26:35 GMT -5
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Post by mplsgopher on Sept 7, 2024 20:36:20 GMT -5
An assist has less meaning, in the double-less era.
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Post by mplsgopher on Sept 7, 2024 20:37:17 GMT -5
The three 5 set losses all by two points are really going to test this group’s chemistry I think. I hope they keep battling together. They’ve been talking about how the chemistry is as good as it’s ever been. I hope doubt doesn’t creep in. Not bad losses by any means. I’m only worried if we don’t take care of business against St Thomas, LIU and in Green Bay. I just hope these hard fought 5th set losses are points of growth rather than something that lives in the back of their brains. Still rooting so hard for this team. Lots of potential despite known weaknesses. I’m not going to gaslight any fans for entering panic mode or being depressed or frustrated. I definitely went through that last season and adjusted my expectations for this season. In some ways they’re exceeding my expectations despite being 1-3 tbh. Go Gophers! Baylor was not a bad loss but, sorry, TCU was sort of a bad loss. Yep, this
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Post by mplsgopher on Sept 7, 2024 20:38:17 GMT -5
So apparently she got hurt late, fine .... but what about the rest of the first four sets and the fifth set before she got hurt??
The setter is the QB of the team.
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Post by mplsgopher on Sept 7, 2024 20:39:38 GMT -5
It'll be the same old tired excuses. "Poor passing" "bad defense" "hitters aren't getting it done".
I've said it before and I will say it again:
it will be like magic.
A year from now, we'll start being a great program again. And you all will be standing around going "I don't get it!! What changed??!!"
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Post by mnsports255 on Sept 7, 2024 21:49:32 GMT -5
Wucherer and Zeynep frankly have no business being included in any passing pattern but not sure how many options they have.
For how good ZP can be digging, she’d almost be unplayable in any high level lineup due to her passing unless as a DS for right side and taken out of passing pattern.
Tough to see Wucherer really not improve much since high school/juniors. Hasn’t taken steps forward in the collegiate ranks to show she can be a dependable player on a top program against high level competition.
Think this program is still 2 years away from potentially being top 8-10 nationally again. Gotta wait for the lineup to center around some new bros/DSs, Swenson, Crosson, Gilk and some transfers. If that doesn’t do it, Cook is probably out of the job.
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Post by zero-rotation outside hitter on Sept 7, 2024 22:55:00 GMT -5
An assist is meaningless, in the double-less era. No, it's not. You fool.
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Post by dietcokefan on Sept 8, 2024 0:00:12 GMT -5
Wucherer and Zeynep frankly have no business being included in any passing pattern but not sure how many options they have. For how good ZP can be digging, she’d almost be unplayable in any high level lineup due to her passing unless as a DS for right side and taken out of passing pattern. Tough to see Wucherer really not improve much since high school/juniors. Hasn’t taken steps forward in the collegiate ranks to show she can be a dependable player on a top program against high level competition. Think this program is still 2 years away from potentially being top 8-10 nationally again. Gotta wait for the lineup to center around some new bros/DSs, Swenson, Crosson, Gilk and some transfers. If that doesn’t do it, Cook is probably out of the job. Don’t forget about Kinney next year. Heard she’s the real deal. I’m just tired of the “next year talk” I don’t understand how this program year after year has the same passing issues. I will say watching them in person these last two days, Z can dig a ball!
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Post by mcmike on Sept 8, 2024 0:12:34 GMT -5
Last night in the Baylor thread I said: "I prayed for creativity on the crunch both both teams went vanilla
MN pins had chances for high hands or tools down the line but got tippy In all my years watching MN VB I’ve never seen a squad that could tip offensively with regularity Mostly we cede tempo to the opps
This was a great comeback from 5-10 to 14-13 The steadier team won, but we showed grit in a match where we were beating ourselves"
Yes, the squad was surely exhausted in the latter stages of the TCU match and the woulda/shoulda/couldas innumerable but the fact remains that you cannot revert to the same two sets over and over: Hanson & Grote without variation in a fifth set Bring Hanson in on a faster gap set, try Minatee on a quick back, set Grote HIGH so she doesn't have to tip. I don't think you beat solid teams with decent back courts by ceding tempo on the right side. Because you don't even try a middle quick or middle activation with ANY regularity, the opponent MB can ignore the middle to camp on the pins.
I don't think you win by playing safe/scared and routine (dumb). You have to try to hold their MB to free up the left pin.
I was out of town. saw the replay, haven't seen the stats.
Shaff's triple double was testimony mostly of a match with 228 points scored and many long rallies. Still a notable rarity. I suspect that when the hitting TAs are totaled that our middle attacks were well under 20% 33/199 16.6%
Shaff & Wookie need to get on the same wavelength on biqs and pipes in the gym next week. In two fraught 5th sets she didn't try a back row attack once I think.
I think it is good to be stressed like this in the preseason. Yeah, we could have been 4-0, maybe easily, but I am absolutely sure that the final result is not as important as was the striving through adversity.
LOL Coach must have listened when I suggested that Alex should serve for Wookie.
It would be constructive to cut and splice all of Grote's attacks yesterday vs today. Strikingly different. "Hang 'em high", sets, that is. "
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Post by mnsports255 on Sept 8, 2024 0:42:06 GMT -5
Wucherer and Zeynep frankly have no business being included in any passing pattern but not sure how many options they have. For how good ZP can be digging, she’d almost be unplayable in any high level lineup due to her passing unless as a DS for right side and taken out of passing pattern. Tough to see Wucherer really not improve much since high school/juniors. Hasn’t taken steps forward in the collegiate ranks to show she can be a dependable player on a top program against high level competition. Think this program is still 2 years away from potentially being top 8-10 nationally again. Gotta wait for the lineup to center around some new bros/DSs, Swenson, Crosson, Gilk and some transfers. If that doesn’t do it, Cook is probably out of the job. Don’t forget about Kinney next year. Heard she’s the real deal. I’m just tired of the “next year talk” I don’t understand how this program year after year has the same passing issues. I will say watching them in person these last two days, Z can dig a ball! Yep of course Kinney in that group too; definitely at the forefront of pioneers for redirecting this program. Must’ve accidentally backspaced her name from the list in my OP. It’s unfortunate that you have to hear it a lot but it is going to take a few years and a new wave of players to potentially get the program back on track. And it’s no guarantee. That assumes that these recruits progress and develop steadily and maybe have tools and traits as a player that some of the current and recent gopher players do not. And that Coach Cook can embrace using the portal to add a big piece or two each year and fill in holes. Not sure exactly where to pinpoint the problem, but certainly some of the big name recruits had/have plateaued and didn’t develop into the caliber of player that their recruiting ranking (a meaningless number btw) may have indicated they would become. Ball control seems like it hasn’t been prioritized in a while. The program has had an out of system problem for a number of years as well. For all of Hugh’s undeniable greatness in his career, he didn’t leave the program in good shape towards the end of his time here. That’s just a fact. Strong passers, athletic/aggressive pins who can adjust to different sets, and Stella running the show would be a recipe to turn this thing around over the next few years. That’s a lot… We’ll see.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Sept 8, 2024 0:45:11 GMT -5
what happened to Shaffmaster’s hand? I was out at dinner
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Post by gopherhim on Sept 8, 2024 0:59:12 GMT -5
what happened to Shaffmaster’s hand? I was out at dinner Dove to pick up a tip behind Hanson and Awoleye and Z dove for it too. Mel played it with her right hand but her left hand was on the ground and collided with Z’s right hand. Jammed fingers? Hopefully no breaks. Got taped up and returned to the match down 17-18 in the 5th. TCU won 20-18
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Post by JT on Sept 8, 2024 1:02:01 GMT -5
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Post by jeepers on Sept 8, 2024 7:47:14 GMT -5
Can't have your primary offensive weapons hitting in the .100s...need to improve passing and setting. Disappointing we're still here when these issues have been glaring for so many years. Other parts seem to be coming along.
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Post by gophergirl on Sept 8, 2024 8:02:43 GMT -5
An assist is meaningless, in the double-less era. Just shut up. All you do is s**t on players.
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