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Post by pelagius on Apr 11, 2024 19:44:04 GMT -5
That “phew” you heard was Eden Bower. #iwillmissyouerin I called it: Erin Livingston is pregnant 😉
You often have good inside info so I am taking this as truth even if it's just a guess.
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Post by azvb on Apr 11, 2024 19:56:09 GMT -5
That “phew” you heard was Eden Bower. #iwillmissyouerin I called it: Erin Livingston is pregnant 😉 You often have good inside info so I am taking this as truth even if it's just a guess.
Hahaha! My only “inside information” is I know how Mormon women traditionally think. “I should have at least 3 kids before I’m 30.” That thinking may have evolved a bit in the last 10-15 years. I was 28 when I got married (which is like 53 in Mormon years 😉), and had my first baby at 30. My mom was really worried my eggs were too old. I’m not kidding.
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BYU 2024
Apr 11, 2024 19:56:31 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by hookem1 on Apr 11, 2024 19:56:31 GMT -5
That “phew” you heard was Eden Bower. #iwillmissyouerin I called it: Erin Livingston is pregnant 😉 The way that would add up…
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BYU 2024
Apr 13, 2024 15:02:48 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by JJVb on Apr 13, 2024 15:02:48 GMT -5
A down year for BYU, or is Utah going to be strong? Not sure, but BYU usually wins this matchup.
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Post by pelagius on Apr 13, 2024 17:16:21 GMT -5
BYU has to replace a lot; certainly the most it's had to replace in over 10 years : Setter, Libero, best DS, OH1 (and your most terminal pin), and MB1. I guess it's a bit like the 16 season where they had to replace a setter, Alexa Grey at OH, and the Libero (they brought in Mary Lake).
Setter: I think BYU will be fine at setter, but probably some early season growing pains. I expect it to be A Bower. I actually like Damuni's location and touch better, but A Bower is taller and close enough over the other dimensions that I bet Olmstead prefers her in the 5-1.
OH: plenty of talent here, and I think Little will have a monster year. Still, the unexpected departure of Livingston creates uncertainty about how good BYU will be on the left side.
MB: Kjersti Strong transferring puts BYU in good shape here.
OPP: Big worry here. Prior just hasn't become the terminal pin BYU has been hoping for. But hopefully she'll make a big leap. Without Livingston, BYU really needs her to become much more terminal.
L: <- biggest worry here. If an incoming player doesn't come in and take over this position at a relatively high level, BYU could really struggle in passing. I think roughly the way they struggled with passing in the 2020 (spring 2021) season. Passing has been the biggest problem in the spring scrimmages that I've seen.
So, yeah, I expect BYU to be down this year but I think they potentially have a pretty good ceiling.
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vvv
Freshman
Posts: 84
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Post by vvv on Apr 13, 2024 18:15:03 GMT -5
I do agree that the players leaving is a big hurdle. I was at the Utah game with my daughters club team. I agree with most of what you wrote as well and yes passing seems to be the common denominator. I am a bit concerned if A Bower takes the 5-1, even with her being taller. She is not as athletic as Whitney and her blocks are finger tip blocks that turn into errors. She also does not dump like whitney or at all. I guess that is debatable as to how important that is. She may fair well with lower level teams, but not sure with big ones. They ran a 6-2 with Damuni and Bower- Damuni starting and it was the only set they won. Damuni's defense is loads above Bower's defense and that is what I worry about. If we already have passing issues, we need setters who can help with defense. As far as the hitters.. I agree they will figure it out, but left side does have me concerned as well. Lee served last night and was great!! I actually loved seeing a wide range of lineups. But, I wonder where Olmstead will settle in on.
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Post by VB48 on Apr 16, 2024 11:18:38 GMT -5
Which BYU players will enter the portal now that Spring season is over?
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Post by pelagius on Apr 16, 2024 12:17:03 GMT -5
Which BYU players will enter the portal now that Spring season is over?
Yeah, last spring BYU lost Moravec to Iowa, and then Callahan went on a mission. This spring, BYU's already lost Livingston to retirement. It certainly won't be surprising if BYU loses at least one to the portal.
Seems like in the past you've had a read on some transfers before they happened: like Madi Robinson to Utah if I remember correctly? So you probably know better than me.
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Post by marnvbc2 on Apr 17, 2024 2:17:57 GMT -5
Time for Stowell and Little to shine Stowell should shine but Bower will be moved into the lineup again ahead of Stowell. This will make the 3rd time Stowell will have beaten out Bower .... only after Heather tries to hand it to Eden Bower.
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Post by marnvbc2 on Apr 17, 2024 2:33:44 GMT -5
A down year for BYU, or is Utah going to be strong? Not sure, but BYU usually wins this matchup. This match is greatly concerning to BYU. Utah is just not that good of a team. I peg them at middle of the B12. BYU is simply challenged in the recruiting dept for passing and they are going to go with A Bower at setter. I think that will be great because it will expose Olmstead for blatant favoritism. Damuni is a better setter in ball placement, blocking, defense and serving. I am not going to count dumps because while Bower will dump, Damuni hasn't been given a chance to show what she can do. I am going to ride this horse to the barn. Bower's have put blinders on Olmstead. Heather is so self conscious about it she won't even allow Damuni into the front row so people can see what type of player she is. She is as stubborn a coach as I have seen. OH will be a drama now that Erin L is gone. E Bower will be thrust into the starting line up yet again.
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vvv
Freshman
Posts: 84
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Post by vvv on Apr 17, 2024 12:54:28 GMT -5
I have said it before.... Marn knows somethings we don't know. I do believe that A. Bower will be the setter just from watching some of Spring. Not sure why Damuni wasn't given more of a chance to show her skills in the Spring scrimmages. But, it does look like A. Bower will be the new setter. There is no comparison in my mind after watching them both play. But, Heather must know best. I just heard Erin L got picked up by the Las Vegas team. That was a right move for her. As far as BYU, they got some figuring out to do. But, hopefully they will come back after this break, ready to hit the pavement. I heard a bunch of them are going to Hawaii for the break. Get that sunshine and be ready girls!
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vvv
Freshman
Posts: 84
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Post by vvv on Apr 17, 2024 12:57:36 GMT -5
I actually meant "Heather must know best?" Even with an inch or so above Damuni, there is no comparison overall. Damuni should be the starting setter and that is just my opinion from watching her through club and her highschool career. I could be wrong.
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Post by azvb on Apr 17, 2024 21:04:04 GMT -5
Does Damuni enter the portal??
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Post by pelagius on Apr 17, 2024 22:40:10 GMT -5
Does Damuni enter the portal??
Yeah, that's an interesting question. I think A Bower is way ahead in terms of winning the starting job based on how much of the reps she got relative to Damuni. In the two I saw (first Utah scrimmage and UVU ... 4 weeks apart from eahc other) these are the games each got and under what offense:
A. Bower: 5-1 three sets, 6-2 two sets, 5-2 one set. Damuni: 5-1 one set, 6-2 one set, 5-2 one set
Based on reports from the other scrimmages, it seems like they others were also quite lopsided in terms of reps for A Bower (but maybe I am misinformed about those).
That's a lot more reps, and A. Bowers were generally with more of the projected starting pins. Now maybe because Damuni has more time in the system, Olmstead wanted A Bower to catch up in terms of reps, but that seems unlikely to me. If Damuni thinks there is no competition left she might consider it. On the other hand, her family is pretty connected to the BYU athletic department, if I remember right.
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vvv
Freshman
Posts: 84
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Post by vvv on Apr 18, 2024 0:32:11 GMT -5
I think Damuni's dad works in the football program. But, yah from the scrimmage I saw at the U. A. Bower took the first 2 sets as 5-1 and they lost both. Damuni started the 3rd set with the first lead in the game. They won with a 6-2. Then last set was a 6-2 with both in and it was a loss. I noticed they didn't switch the last rotation and kept A. Bower in as a 5-1. It would be a shame if Damuni leaves the program. But, she would have to do what is best for her. That is exactly what Zayna Meyer did, but she was behind Whitney Bower. A. Bower is a good setter, gatorade player of the year in Idaho, etc. But, it is just surprising with Damuni having a year under her belt and the fact that she has proven herself prior to playing D1 and also in the scrimmage I saw. I don't know what Heather's plan is except maybe she already planned to invest in A. Bower so that at some point, they will be developed enough to succeed?
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