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Post by VT Karen on Nov 21, 2024 0:20:44 GMT -5
Another Herculean effort by the Gophers. They had some very fixable moments: 1. Shanking and standing in the way. 2. Waiting for someone else to get the dig and then digging the ball into your own mug. 3. Service/hitting errors. But the effort was there and the execution had its moments: 1. Wookie swinging high and hard with less reservation. 2. Julia hanging in there on floor defense. 3. Z trying her best to take care of her serve receive touches. 4. Lydia providing points on offense and defense. I love this Gopher team because even though there seems to be fear and apprehension (normal) there doesn't seem to be much quit or lazy play. What's so fun to watch is Julia just be an absolute competitor. Not much fanfare on prep rankings (I'm sure she was, but she was overshadowed a lot), would've been #3 on the depth chart with Landfair. She's just fearless. And her 6'1" frame is a little sus  which makes me love her more. Wuch killed me when she didn't get out of the way in time (I think she just didn't see where the ball went/it was right on top of her head so she got spun around), but she had some gutsy swings. I don't like how she grabs her back sporadically. As much as I like ACEvedo especially as an extremely viable attacking option if Wuch is out, Wuch just hits a heavier ball at the moment. Alex will get there. UGH I wish she got the high hands to end it but she had a handful of back-wall swings in the match, it wasn't a one-off. I wish Mel didn't go for the dump but tbh with that pass, the only option that was ready was OH so it might've been a wash. I'm sure Mel's kicking herself too. Teams have scouted her dumps well (I think Purdue was the most effective). Mel served well in clutch moments to break momentum, as did Elise and especially Z. I think Z's picked up more pace? Less lollipop for sure. Z needs to work on her setting but her receive held up pretty well. I even saw her poach some balls! I feel like I haven't seen much of that. Julia is so aggressive and even though there are errors, it's hard to disrespect that. Even her floor defense was good tonight! I see it for Wookie so sometimes I get frustrated. I know she is dealing with injury and I hope that the staff is helping her manage that. My wish is that she has a senior year that is more in line with the player she is meant to be. I also wished that Mel didn't go for the dump but like Julia, it's hard to fault her for going for it even though the situation didn't seem prime. But then I remember that I've seen her get offensive in other suboptimal situations and earn points for her team. You win some, you lose some. I'm excited to see how the team closes out the regular season. |
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Post by letsbeclear on Nov 21, 2024 0:24:24 GMT -5
I'll probably tune into see the last time Shaff & Awoleye step onto the Pav for game. But other than that, that's the last time I'll see the Shaff era on TV. I don't pay extra for Plus services to watch above-average volleyball. Won't host. Won't make it out of the first weekend. Bring on the new era Depending on what the draw looks like, I might take that bet on "Won't make it out of the first weekend." |
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Post by mnsports255 on Nov 21, 2024 0:35:30 GMT -5
Gophers battled their guts out tonight. They missed some key opportunities to seize the match at the end and they’ll have to live with that. Undeniably though, that was some of the best defense they’ve played in years and the passing held its own enough to give them the opportunity to win. Thibault really impressed me. The setting on both sides was all over the place.
Unfortunately, a 2-5 record in 5 setters this year sabotaged any hopes they had of hosting. Closing out tight matches is the name of the game. I don’t think any top 4 seed will be particularly excited to see Minnesota in its regional.. they have potential to pull off an upset in any given match depending on what team shows up.
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eskerjaz
Freshman
JULIA MENACES
Posts: 90
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Post by eskerjaz on Nov 21, 2024 0:42:17 GMT -5
Yes to all those things, we had our chances and I think Shaffs blocked tip will haunt her for awhile. SO CLOSE! also our chances of hosting 2 rounds are gone per Trojan. We needed this win. So sad for Mel. At the risk of coming off like I'm looking too far ahead, Bracketology says weekend 2 would be against Kansas. Julia hitting over Turner... and yes I know Kansas is solid albeit undersized. I respect them. They play clean ball. This post also prompted me to look at the updates and is how I learn Creighton might have a regional? Would kinda love that for them! |
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Post by mcmike on Nov 21, 2024 0:59:26 GMT -5
Flip the 3 match points: Baylor TCU WI
and MN is a top 10 team even with their many flaws
By any measure (and I've seen none, read none of the 80+ pages, nor seen the box score etc)
you have to give MN a TON of credit.
They executed better than most expected, no?
They excelled at "whack a mole" until Devyn Robinson popped up.
and Wookie was a couple of degrees of angle from a tool/kill to win the match.
It is kind of a miracle that MN did so well with no appreciable middle attack.
This has to be a point of focus in the last three matches
Hanson has been serving from a little further back, but she needs to move even further back and swing harder to pressure the opponent
Z definitely got the float mojo in set 2.
We could be a truly dangerous opponent with just a couple of adjustments behind the service line.
Shaff's serving prowess was nowhere to be seen until the fifth set. Hope this is an augur of serves to come.
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eskerjaz
Freshman
JULIA MENACES
Posts: 90
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Post by eskerjaz on Nov 21, 2024 1:04:47 GMT -5
Flip the 3 match points: Baylor TCU WI and MN is a top 10 team even with their many flaws This hurts to see those losses bite extra hard now. But I'd rather they start playing hard and angry with purpose now than have those early wins just to skid out. Minny looked like that for a hot second, but they're playing T10 teams in hostile environments competently. Keegan has his formula, even though it seemed pretty clear a few weeks ago. Mid-teens +/-2 still feels ok, but that just sets up for a spoiler role. |
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Post by pckeys on Nov 21, 2024 4:31:54 GMT -5
Flip the 3 match points: Baylor TCU WI and MN is a top 10 team even with their many flaws By any measure (and I've seen none, read none of the 80+ pages, nor seen the box score etc) you have to give MN a TON of credit. They executed better than most expected, no? They excelled at "whack a mole" until Devyn Robinson popped up. and Wookie was a couple of degrees of angle from a tool/kill to win the match. It is kind of a miracle that MN did so well with no appreciable middle attack. This has to be a point of focus in the last three matches Hanson has been serving from a little further back, but she needs to move even further back and swing harder to pressure the opponent Z definitely got the float mojo in set 2. We could be a truly dangerous opponent with just a couple of adjustments behind the service line. Shaff's serving prowess was nowhere to be seen until the fifth set. Hope this is an augur of serves to come. Robinson seemed to reemerge in the 4th set, and then got the Badgers off and running in the 5th set after not really doing much in the match up to that point. She is an amazing physical specimen, looking more like a ripped football tight end than a volleyball player. Interesting that her Dad is the basketball coach for the Cleveland State team that the Gopher men’s squad just beat. just sucks to lose a match like this one… winning would have probably assured the Gophers of hosting in the first round. Hoping they win out from here. Maybe they’ll be looked upon favorably to host if they do. Love the effort in this team. Shout out to Coach Cook for bringing this group along and helping them see who they can be. … |
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Post by comet on Nov 21, 2024 6:40:21 GMT -5
We out hit and out dug Wisconsin. Just came down to a few clutch points in the end by the Wisky block.
So proud of how they battled.
We looked prepared, kudos to Cook for having a good game plan and players executing.
Everyone brought their A game, it was fun to see them firing on all cylinders.
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Post by sptimes2 on Nov 21, 2024 8:33:28 GMT -5
A telling stat from the match thread (from yodabadger):
The Badgers had just 7 blocks through the first four sets, but had 6 blocks in the fifth. In fact, their first block in the fifth was at 10-9. With there being 213 total points scored in the match, that means the Badgers had:
7 blocks in the first 194 points
6 blocks in the last 19 points
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Nov 21, 2024 9:30:54 GMT -5
I can’t decide which point in the 5th was worse, Acevedo tip dig into her own face, Shaffmaster setting a not hittable ball, or Wucherer missing match point out of bounds. Regardless a pretty decent showing at a very hostile environment. But like every other game we’ve lost by 2 this season, we will be kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of a very big and veryyyyy winnable game. Wucherer missing the high hands she had just got the point before. Right idea, just didn't catch a finger, sadly. |
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Nov 21, 2024 9:37:31 GMT -5
Gophers battled their guts out tonight. They missed some key opportunities to seize the match at the end and they’ll have to live with that. Undeniably though, that was some of the best defense they’ve played in years and the passing held its own enough to give them the opportunity to win. Thibault really impressed me. The setting on both sides was all over the place. Unfortunately, a 2-5 record in 5 setters this year sabotaged any hopes they had of hosting. Closing out tight matches is the name of the game. I don’t think any top 4 seed will be particularly excited to see Minnesota in its regional.. they have potential to pull off an upset in any given match depending on what team shows up. Technically 4-5 in 5 setters counting UCLA and Ohio State. |
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Post by comet on Nov 21, 2024 9:56:27 GMT -5
I can’t decide which point in the 5th was worse, Acevedo tip dig into her own face, Shaffmaster setting a not hittable ball, or Wucherer missing match point out of bounds. Regardless a pretty decent showing at a very hostile environment. But like every other game we’ve lost by 2 this season, we will be kicking ourselves for not taking advantage of a very big and veryyyyy winnable game. Wucherer missing the high hands she had just got the point before. Right idea, just didn't catch a finger, sadly. Wurcherer wasn't in the front row on match point, Hanson was blocked on match point. Maybe you guys are referring to a different set/point? |
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Post by skolgophers on Nov 21, 2024 10:00:14 GMT -5
Wucherer missing the high hands she had just got the point before. Right idea, just didn't catch a finger, sadly. Wurcherer wasn't in the front row on match point, Hanson was blocked on match point. Maybe you guys are referring to a different set/point? It was Minnesotas only match point. |
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Post by comet on Nov 21, 2024 10:01:50 GMT -5
Wurcherer wasn't in the front row on match point, Hanson was blocked on match point. Maybe you guys are referring to a different set/point? It was Minnesotas only match point. Oooh, that's what you mean. Gotcha. Yeah, she played pretty well and got a lot of the touches, just missed on that one. Would have loved that for her (and us) |
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Post by pavsec5row10 on Nov 21, 2024 10:11:11 GMT -5
Wucherer missing the high hands she had just got the point before. Right idea, just didn't catch a finger, sadly. Wurcherer wasn't in the front row on match point, Hanson was blocked on match point. Maybe you guys are referring to a different set/point? The Gophers match point at 16-15. |
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which makes me love her more.
