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Post by Gorf on Oct 6, 2005 16:46:35 GMT -5
I think Sarah is also having a significant impact on the Gopher team with her defense, serve receive, and hitter coverage.
I think it may still be a bit early to giver her AA consideration for this season though and I'm willing to bet she'd take a return trip to the Final Four over the personal accolades.
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Post by JHAM on Oct 6, 2005 17:35:05 GMT -5
As far as MN players, 1st team - Gentil for sure since she will most likely break the NCAA careeer digs record and she was last year. I would probably slide KBow down to 2nd team as she is not having as good of a year as last with triple-doubles and her hitting percentage. The other Gopher I'd throw into the mix is Meredith Nelson. Depending on how the Gophers finish the season could determine which team she would end up on and she has already had a strong 1st half of this season.
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Post by foreignball on Oct 6, 2005 18:36:49 GMT -5
... In her most recent Match; IOWA; Sarah "THE GOLDEN GOPHER" had 16 kills. IMHO she has to repeat that against some other Big10 teams in order to get a consideration...anybody who knows a little bit about this conference knows Iowa should not be considered as a measuring stick (even thouhg they have shown some improvement compared to the last 3-4 seasons)
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Post by abcd098 on Oct 6, 2005 22:48:44 GMT -5
Two interesting things about the list of returning AAs:
1. Both Courtney Thompson and Marissa Main are listed as being second nationally in assists per game.
2. Not many OHs left this season. This seems to be the year for MBs and setters to excel.
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Post by holidayhusker on Oct 7, 2005 0:35:17 GMT -5
Since its self promotion time.... I will give it a go.... Houghtelling, Elmer, and Pavan..... Jones of A & M. Hunter from MO....
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Post by bucky415 on Oct 7, 2005 1:05:31 GMT -5
I am not anyone from Wisconsin will make it this year, because the offense is so balanced and no one usually puts up huge numbers. Shaw has been effective with her hitting, blocking, and serving, but she is getting a lot fewer attempts per game than she did last year because she is in a lot of three hitter rotations. I don't think anyone else for the Badgers is in the running at this point, although I think that Simpson, Reineke, Jeffers, and maybe Carlini (if she improves her offensive production) have the potential to reach that level in future seasons if they continue to improve.
As for this year, I would add Fawcett of PSU and Meyer of OSU as additions. Nelson might break in as well. VanMeter merits some consideration, but I don't think the season is going to go too well for the Illini, which won't help. How about Dargan if Purdue finishes strong? Maybe one of the hitters for Mizzou?
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Oct 7, 2005 8:47:24 GMT -5
The great ones have bad matches; that competition was 5 matches and two weeks ago. In her most recent Match; IOWA; Sarah "THE GOLDEN GOPHER" had 16 kills. Wow. 16 kills against Iowa? She must be awesome. Or not. Call me crazy, but when I think of all-americans and great performances, how they did against the worst team in the Big Ten doesn't jump to mind as the first place I look. I'm not so much of a "how they did in big matches" guy, prefering overall performance, and I expect players to have a harder time in matches against good teams, but sheez, I really have a hard time with the "well she was quiet in the important game, but she did have 16 kills against the team that the second string could beat" argument.
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Post by Gorf on Oct 7, 2005 9:32:34 GMT -5
Iowa is the worst team i the Big 10? Admittedly they aren't a great team, however, they did defeat Northwestern in Chicagoland, managed to take Michigan and Michigan State to 4/5 games (at home) and we'll see what they do against Indiana on the road this weekend.
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Post by The Bofa on the Sofa on Oct 7, 2005 9:43:18 GMT -5
Good point. I had forgotten Indiana. They are probably worse than Iowa.
Maybe.
Yeah, Iowa beat NW, but I'm still suspecting NW finishes ahead of them at the end of the year.
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Post by Gorf on Oct 7, 2005 9:50:52 GMT -5
I think it might be a close battle between those two schools in the Big 10.
FWIW: Only 2 other players have had more kpg against Iowa than Sarah Florian.
Ashley Van Antwerp of Texas Arlington with 29 kills in 4 games (7.25 kpg), and Maria Carlini of Wisconsin with the same 16 kills in 3 games as Florian.
Both of those two did have higher hitting percentages than Sarah, though I believe the Gophers are still using the "keep the ball in play because our defense will get the ball back" philosophy on offense for her and Meghan Cumpston (on bad / weak sets) as they did over the past couple of years with Tree and Marty.
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Post by Gorf on Oct 7, 2005 9:54:17 GMT -5
BTW: I don't disagree with your assessment of kills against Iowa as being a top criteria for judging a player as being an AA.
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