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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2024 15:13:03 GMT -5
Maldonado Diaz to Louisville is official (per Instagram) EDIT: I also updated the full roster on pg. 5 of this thread, let me know if anything is wrong/needs editing. how does this impact the predicted starters? turns Reese into a YBG-esque utility bench player instead of the right side
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Post by kimdc on Feb 28, 2024 15:43:02 GMT -5
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Post by herecomesthebusboom on Feb 28, 2024 16:59:19 GMT -5
Maldonado Diaz to Louisville is official (per Instagram) EDIT: I also updated the full roster on pg. 5 of this thread, let me know if anything is wrong/needs editing. how does this impact the predicted starters? IMO there’s a few different scenarios that could happen here. A likely scenario I think is a 5-1 with battles for setter and opposite: Luper/Debeer Cresse/Kong Glock or Cabello / Robbins or Maldonado Diaz Scott I would suspect if this is the case, we’ll be experimenting with our DS roster to get a little on the floor for 2.5 rotations, probably for our opposite, but also maybe for DeBeer? Can’t imagine that we don’t use a DS here for one pin, so it’ll come down to serve receive and passing to see which two end up playing 6ro out of these three pins. An equally likely scenario IMO is to do basically what we did last year, where there’s a 5-1 to start, but we deploy the double substitution whenever we need extra blocking in the front. If we did this I think it would come down to those battles at setter and opposite to determine who starts, but at least gives the other players an opportunity to still contribute in every single set. Another possibility, which is unlikely, but maybe less unlikely now, is a true 6-2 a la Wisconsin last year: Luper/Debeer Cresse/Kong Robbins/Maldonado Diaz Glock/Cabello Scott Last season I was begging for a 6-2 but I think with this lineup of players I think it makes a lot of sense. Gives Cabello some time to ease into the starting setter role by setting for 3 rotations, makes sure that Glock is no longer a blocking liability, and gives us full access to both amazing opposite hitters. Glock’s connections were strongest with Luper, Robbins, and Cresse. Let her set them, and have Cabello work on connecting with DeBeer, Maldonado Diaz, and Kong. Of course there are drawbacks to the 6-2 system in general. It looks good to me, but I admittedly like the 6-2 more than most. DBK seems reluctant to run it though. Writing this all out I personally think the regular dub-sub is going to be the likeliest outcome.
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Post by c4ndlelight on Feb 28, 2024 17:01:55 GMT -5
how does this impact the predicted starters? turns Reese into a YBG-esque utility bench player instead of the right side I'm not sure Robins doesn't eventually just straight up beat her out on the right side.
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Post by stanfordvb on Feb 28, 2024 17:07:25 GMT -5
Maldonado Diaz to Louisville is official (per Instagram) EDIT: I also updated the full roster on pg. 5 of this thread, let me know if anything is wrong/needs editing. how does this impact the predicted starters? it only effects the right side of the court really. Both OHs, middles, and libero are essentially locks barring any injuries. The oppo competition will be between Maldonado and robbins... If it goes to robbins she will be subbed out in the backrow for schrand or maybe Maldonado plays a backrow attacker role for them like demps did with wisco in 2021. Maldonado would have a good chance of playing all 6 if she wins the spot. I dont see dbk going with a true 6-2, she used the double sub plenty but history has shown she likes to have the freedom to use subs and change things up mid set whenever things aren't working - and a 6-2 would make that more difficult
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2024 17:08:59 GMT -5
turns Reese into a YBG-esque utility bench player instead of the right side I'm not sure Robins doesn't eventually just straight up beat her out on the right side. I wonder if they’d ever run a Wisconsin type sub and have Robins play front row and Sofia in the back. serving and hitting bics out of serve receive and D balls in transition
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Post by c4ndlelight on Feb 28, 2024 17:10:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure Robins doesn't eventually just straight up beat her out on the right side. I wonder if they’d ever run a Wisconsin type sub and have Robins play front row and Sofia in the back. serving and hitting bics out of serve receive and D balls in transition I mean, they run the slide pretty well, and I think it would be a problem for a team that is winning more through defense than offense because she lets a lot of balls drop.
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Post by stanfordvb on Feb 28, 2024 17:11:00 GMT -5
I'm not sure Robins doesn't eventually just straight up beat her out on the right side. I wonder if they’d ever run a Wisconsin type sub and have Robins play front row and Sofia in the back. serving and hitting bics out of serve receive and D balls in transition haha I just said this
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2024 17:13:34 GMT -5
this is what I’ll say
Sofia knew what she had offered at ASU (basically guaranteed 6 rotation spot as the main offensive option and playing with one of her good friends as her setter)
I’d be shocked if she chose a school where there was going to be a big fight for her position in her final season. it just frankly wouldn’t make sense. but things obviously change over the course of the season.
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Post by herecomesthebusboom on Feb 28, 2024 17:21:51 GMT -5
this is what I’ll say Sofia knew what she had offered at ASU (basically guaranteed 6 rotation spot as the main offensive option and playing with one of her good friends as her setter) I’d be shocked if she chose a school where there was going to be a big fight for her position in her final season. it just frankly wouldn’t make sense. but things obviously change over the course of the season. ^^^ honestly this is why I was surprised she chose Louisville. I don’t see how Robbins stays off the court tbh. Of course there might be more at play behind the scenes that determine a player’s decision, including the ever subjective “fit.” Either way we’re definitely happy to have her as a Card!
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Post by c4ndlelight on Feb 28, 2024 17:27:48 GMT -5
this is what I’ll say Sofia knew what she had offered at ASU (basically guaranteed 6 rotation spot as the main offensive option and playing with one of her good friends as her setter) I’d be shocked if she chose a school where there was going to be a big fight for her position in her final season. it just frankly wouldn’t make sense. but things obviously change over the course of the season. ^^^ honestly this is why I was surprised she chose Louisville. I don’t see how Robbins stays off the court tbh. Of course there might be more at play behind the scenes that determine a player’s decision, including the ever subjective “fit.” Either way we’re definitely happy to have her as a Card! The opportunity to compete for a Final Four can be a good lure. And I don't doubt she'll walk into the gym as a "presumptive" starter - my prediction was just as to how it will actually play out by November/December.
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Post by uofaGRAD on Feb 28, 2024 17:41:58 GMT -5
I think there’s a really high ceiling on the player Sofia can be. she’s going from a team with no structure to a top tier team, from the first option to the last (she’ll end up with the third most swings though just as a pin ofc) so defenses won’t be nearly as stacked on her. she won’t have to worry about passing at all, and the team itself will be passing way better as a whole. she’ll be playing alongside better floor defenders.
her serve is already really good, and I know it’s cliche to say someone is a hard worker or a sponge but she’s just one of those types. she will do whatever it takes to get better. I’m just not sure Arizona had the resources to make her better last season in the midst of everything. I’m ecstatic to see her under DBK!
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Post by ay2013 on Feb 28, 2024 17:43:46 GMT -5
this is what I’ll say Sofia knew what she had offered at ASU (basically guaranteed 6 rotation spot as the main offensive option and playing with one of her good friends as her setter) I’d be shocked if she chose a school where there was going to be a big fight for her position in her final season. it just frankly wouldn’t make sense. but things obviously change over the course of the season. ^^^ honestly this is why I was surprised she chose Louisville. I don’t see how Robbins stays off the court tbh. Of course there might be more at play behind the scenes that determine a player’s decision, including the ever subjective “fit.” Either way we’re definitely happy to have her as a Card! Well, just because players may be presented with potentially better opportunities, doesn't mean they are going to make the right decision for themselves. If the transfer portal is any indication, A LOT of players don't end up making the right decision.
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Post by azcatsfan on Feb 28, 2024 17:57:03 GMT -5
I just thought the whole point of her transferring was to develop her passing/defense. Like UofAGrad said, I bet there was a conversation about playing six rotations, but then again you never know until you get there.
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Post by stanfordvb on Feb 28, 2024 18:04:16 GMT -5
this is what I’ll say Sofia knew what she had offered at ASU (basically guaranteed 6 rotation spot as the main offensive option and playing with one of her good friends as her setter) I’d be shocked if she chose a school where there was going to be a big fight for her position in her final season. it just frankly wouldn’t make sense. but things obviously change over the course of the season. she may just be looking for the experience of being on a top tier team and trying to make a final four run. Robbins has shown that she's a legit offensive and defensive threat in the front row, she'll have to beat her out for the spot. Maybe the promise of 6-ro spot was in some way a turn off for her in terms of the competitiveness / skill of the team
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