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Post by jagdpanther on Jun 9, 2024 20:12:52 GMT -5
Simplistically, why is it an advantage to play Pitt and Louisville type of teams that you know You’re probably gonna lose to early in the season? I know it has something to do with RPI, but destroying an early win/loss record and team confidence is worth it? I would think a true freshman setter would like a couple of powder puffs to start the season. Obviously things have changed for Penn State over time, but putting some really tough matches in the OOC was a hallmark of Coach Rose. Find out what the team is made of early on, give them hard lessons, and have them experienced against the best both in conference and out of conference come NCAA tourney time.
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Post by gazelle1 on Jun 9, 2024 20:53:52 GMT -5
Simplistically, why is it an advantage to play Pitt and Louisville type of teams that you know You’re probably gonna lose to early in the season? I know it has something to do with RPI, but destroying an early win/loss record and team confidence is worth it? I would think a true freshman setter would like a couple of powder puffs to start the season. Obviously things have changed for Penn State over time, but putting some really tough matches in the OOC was a hallmark of Coach Rose. Find out what the team is made of early on, give them hard lessons, and have them experienced against the best both in conference and out of conference come NCAA tourney time. I agree that you want to play some really tough matches in the out of conference schedule. I just think you should be smart about how you schedule them. If you know you have a young team with freshmen and other new players, maybe schedule 1 or 2 easier matches to start off in order to give your younger, newer players time to gel, then play the tougher matches.
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Post by superfan1 on Jun 9, 2024 21:17:52 GMT -5
There's also the potential to steal a win against a team that you think will be really highly ranked towards the end of the season. Even if you don't strength of schedule plays into a lot of rankings criteria
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Post by HappyVolley on Jun 10, 2024 2:23:57 GMT -5
Simplistically, why is it an advantage to play Pitt and Louisville type of teams that you know You’re probably gonna lose to early in the season? I know it has something to do with RPI, but destroying an early win/loss record and team confidence is worth it? I would think a true freshman setter would like a couple of powder puffs to start the season. That true freshman setter has already played Pitt twice and did pretty well.
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Post by kevinmalone on Jun 10, 2024 8:21:52 GMT -5
Obviously things have changed for Penn State over time, but putting some really tough matches in the OOC was a hallmark of Coach Rose. Find out what the team is made of early on, give them hard lessons, and have them experienced against the best both in conference and out of conference come NCAA tourney time. I agree that you want to play some really tough matches in the out of conference schedule. I just think you should be smart about how you schedule them. If you know you have a young team with freshmen and other new players, maybe schedule 1 or 2 easier matches to start off in order to give your younger, newer players time to gel, then play the tougher matches. Can someone explain to me why this is a young team - both LS are in their graduate year - so at least 5th if not 6th year - one middle is a grad student, the other is a junior - the backup pin hitters are a jr and sr - libero is a junior - sure setter is a freshmen but the Opp has played an entire year against Nebraska starters - quit saying this is a young team - it is not
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Post by HappyVolley on Jun 10, 2024 14:33:11 GMT -5
I agree that you want to play some really tough matches in the out of conference schedule. I just think you should be smart about how you schedule them. If you know you have a young team with freshmen and other new players, maybe schedule 1 or 2 easier matches to start off in order to give your younger, newer players time to gel, then play the tougher matches. Can someone explain to me why this is a young team - both LS are in their graduate year - so at least 5th if not 6th year - one middle is a grad student, the other is a junior - the backup pin hitters are a jr and sr - libero is a junior - sure setter is a freshmen but the Opp has played an entire year against Nebraska starters - quit saying this is a young team - it is not I think they mean to say that many of the players are new to each other, which is true.
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Post by kevinmalone on Jun 10, 2024 17:48:04 GMT -5
Can someone explain to me why this is a young team - both LS are in their graduate year - so at least 5th if not 6th year - one middle is a grad student, the other is a junior - the backup pin hitters are a jr and sr - libero is a junior - sure setter is a freshmen but the Opp has played an entire year against Nebraska starters - quit saying this is a young team - it is not I think they mean to say that many of the players are new to each other, which is true. If none of these players were in State College since January there might be an argument - but every player I mentioned has been and have been together since January and training through spring - not to mention the extra practice games and matches gained through the foreign tour - neither young or not knowing each other or being new to each other is simply not accurate or true
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Post by jagdpanther on Jun 10, 2024 19:15:38 GMT -5
If none of these players were in State College since January there might be an argument - but every player I mentioned has been and have been together since January and training through spring - not to mention the extra practice games and matches gained through the foreign tour - neither young or not knowing each other or being new to each other is simply not accurate or true There's a difference between that and real matches that count against your record.
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Post by gazelle1 on Jun 10, 2024 19:47:52 GMT -5
Can someone explain to me why this is a young team - both LS are in their graduate year - so at least 5th if not 6th year - one middle is a grad student, the other is a junior - the backup pin hitters are a jr and sr - libero is a junior - sure setter is a freshmen but the Opp has played an entire year against Nebraska starters - quit saying this is a young team - it is not I think they mean to say that many of the players are new to each other, which is true. Yes, that is correct. Kind of like last year, when Penn State had a 5th yr senior setter, yet she was playing her first year at Penn State, and as a result Penn State's offense struggled and PSU lost 3 of the first 7 matches. To my eyes it looked like Podraza wasn't quite in step with her hitters early in the season, though that connection got better as the season went on. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing happen this year.
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Post by kevinmalone on Jun 11, 2024 7:33:25 GMT -5
If none of these players were in State College since January there might be an argument - but every player I mentioned has been and have been together since January and training through spring - not to mention the extra practice games and matches gained through the foreign tour - neither young or not knowing each other or being new to each other is simply not accurate or true There's a difference between that and real matches that count against your record. No there is not - it is a big advantage having the setter there for 8 months before she plays a match - big, big difference - how many reps and practices has she gotten with her teammates before a real season even starts - this is not a young or inexperienced team
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Post by kevinmalone on Jun 11, 2024 7:34:46 GMT -5
I think they mean to say that many of the players are new to each other, which is true. Yes, that is correct. Kind of like last year, when Penn State had a 5th yr senior setter, yet she was playing her first year at Penn State, and as a result Penn State's offense struggled and PSU lost 3 of the first 7 matches. To my eyes it looked like Podraza wasn't quite in step with her hitters early in the season, though that connection got better as the season went on. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing happen this year. Again Podraza came in the summer - the freshmen has been setting this group since January - she will have 8 months with this group - not even close to the same situation
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Post by dc155 on Jun 11, 2024 10:10:29 GMT -5
Article (via the link) includes which top prospects were in attendance.
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Post by gazelle1 on Jun 11, 2024 15:26:09 GMT -5
Yes, that is correct. Kind of like last year, when Penn State had a 5th yr senior setter, yet she was playing her first year at Penn State, and as a result Penn State's offense struggled and PSU lost 3 of the first 7 matches. To my eyes it looked like Podraza wasn't quite in step with her hitters early in the season, though that connection got better as the season went on. I wouldn't be surprised to see the same thing happen this year. Again Podraza came in the summer - the freshmen has been setting this group since January - she will have 8 months with this group - not even close to the same situation You are right, it is not the same situation. It is much worse. This year, instead of a 5th yr senior, you have a true freshman at setter. I expect to see Penn State struggle early in the season.
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Post by vb on Jun 11, 2024 16:37:58 GMT -5
So getting back to the original premise, why not play a team like Miami University? (Sorry Coach Dan Gwitt -no offense) to get the season started on a successful note.
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Post by jagdpanther on Jun 11, 2024 19:13:16 GMT -5
No there is not - it is a big advantage having the setter there for 8 months before she plays a match - big, big difference - how many reps and practices has she gotten with her teammates before a real season even starts - this is not a young or inexperienced team At a super critical position it is. Our to-be setter has played precisely 0 collegiate matches that count. That is the definition of inexperienced.
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