|
Post by jeepers on Apr 14, 2024 4:55:29 GMT -5
I haven't seen any of the spring matches as I live very far away, but it reads like this team is a lot more polished this spring than last spring. That should bode well for the fall.
Thank goodness Phoebe came back. If Minatee takes the leap that she's capable of, this could be a top ten team.
|
|
|
Post by B1Gminnesotafan on Apr 14, 2024 8:04:51 GMT -5
I appreciate all the comments so far. This was the first spring match I attended. I really think the new players did well. It seems like there was a concerted effort to get everyone involved. Court positioning was good - no one running into each other, good floor coverage - something I look for. I didn't think that there was a difference in the quality of set placement as some have said. With Stella playing just one set its hard to say but she looks very good but not better than Shaff. I don't think we can redshirt Stella. Remember Rutgers last year? I do think regular use of the double sub is a possibility, especially with Stella's serve and Schnichels' potential. The Minnatee - Shaff block conection was beautiful and, as people have said, it is good to have Awoleye back. Julia feasted on the lack of a good block and was so much fun to watch. Z is going to be great. Excited for next season.
|
|
|
Post by BigDigEnergy on Apr 14, 2024 9:02:15 GMT -5
Honest question, not trying to attack any players or posters, but from what I read in a lot of these threads is Swenson having consistently better location than Shaffmaster. First, am I capturing this correctly? If I am, what is it that keeps people placing Shaffmaster above her on a hypothetical depth chart? Is she that much better at the other skills to make up for less consistent setting? I may take the time next week to go to the MN v IL spring game since Waterloo is a stone's throw from where I live, so I may get to see myself. Shaffmaster brings a lot of net presence with her height and physicality which matters offensively and defensively. She plays good defense. She is very experienced so she's been through a lot of big moments with the program. She has more familiarity with the hitters, though that obviously doesn't necessarily translate to her having better connections with them. And there's always the consideration of whether benching a longtime starter could bring bad vibes. Your comment is spot on here!
|
|
|
Post by BigDigEnergy on Apr 14, 2024 9:22:08 GMT -5
I attended the St Thomas match and I definitely saw improvements in many areas from that first match. Admittedly going into the game, I am not sure how we will handle Marquette since they are a good team but I came out very happy with our players' performance. - The blocking was so good, particularly Awoleye- she is such a blocking queen. Marquette had a really hard time getting through her. There were a few blocks that went straight down and the audience gasped. - Middles were definitely way more offensive and Minatee slides were beautiful. I love that quick slide almost like a back set 2 and it was effective. She hit with authority down the line but it was out but still very cool to see that confident swing - Wucherer and Hanson will most likely play 6 rotation. Their passing has improved so much and yes Mel didn't have to run a lot to try to set the ball. Mel looks so healthy and fit and that's great to see. Wucherer may finally figure out her serving and it can be deadly. Hanson will be that block tooling queen- I saw her hitting those high hands but also tooling the edge of the inside blocker many times. - if you think the serving was tough last year, I think this year will be even tougher now that everyone is getting used to that serving tough mentality under Cook. I meant like everyone has tough tough serve and I wouldn't want to pass those balls. Some just dropped right in front of you. Ng definitely needs to be that serving sub. The team went on like a 6 point run (3 aces from here) behind her serve. - Someone commented earlier and I agree that Schnichels probably played her best game so far yesterday. She had such great first-hand contact and I can see her have some playing time this season. - One thing that I am a bit disappointed with is the performance from Gray and McGhee. That set 2 when Gray wearing the L jersey, the team really struggled with passing. Again I think we will need to have another passing DS unless Cook wants all of his pins playing 6 rotations. McGhee setting location was okay. I noticed that she tends to underset so the players had to just tip or two hands push
Overall I thought it was a very very strong performance from everyone and everyone seemed so happy and supportive of each other throughout the entire match.
|
|
|
Post by AmeriCanvbdad on Apr 14, 2024 9:36:04 GMT -5
I would say both. Minnesota had some really nice serves and serve receive/ passing is something, I feel, Marquette struggles with. If I’m remembering correctly, you follow Marquette pretty closely, what were your thoughts on how Marquette looked? Who do you think will be their starting line up? Marquette looked okay. They didn't capitalize on mistakes (at least three gimme overpasses that they hit out), and their blocking looked atrocious to me. They struggle with bigger teams. On the bright side--- Natalie Ring OH had a heavy swing and will get them some points if she can keep her topspin serve in the court and get a little movement on it. Yadhi Anchante is setting and looking more like she did two years ago. I don't know who the Libero will be, starting the season. As for their starting line-up; depends on if they go 5-1 or 6-2. Hitters will be Hamilton, Reitsma, and I think Ring gets in there somewhere. Setters will be same as last year, and the middles are pretty established with Bray and Murray. Libero? Only Theis knows but right now I think Molly Berezowitz has the inside track. As the only natural RS, Ifill might also be in the mix. It was neat to see old South Suburban rivals and club teammates Hanson and Ifill mix it up again. A few of the Wisconsin born Marquette players also had ties to Wucherer so that was fun too.
|
|
|
Post by mr. samwich on Apr 14, 2024 9:39:37 GMT -5
Woo love all the feedback, thanks yall. I noticed Grote isn't getting a lot of attention now back at opp, hopefully that's because she's been steady/as expected?
|
|
|
Post by BigDigEnergy on Apr 14, 2024 10:00:49 GMT -5
Woo love all the feedback, thanks yall. I noticed Grote isn't getting a lot of attention now back at opp, hopefully that's because she's been steady/as expected? Yea Grote was being Grote, steady and reliable as usual.
|
|
|
Post by mcmike on Apr 14, 2024 10:33:42 GMT -5
I've appended comments from the game thread to my personal notes:
4-3 Minatee good float Grote solo block for 7-5 8-5 Wookie SE Hanson crushes another one for 10-6 Grote ace 12-7. TO Marquette 13- Hanson 5thK MN passing very well Pleasantly surprised so far. Good serve receive, nice spread of the offense, serving tough and in. 14-8 Minatee wipes off blocker slide for 14-8 16-9 Grote in pipe 17-12Gopher block Then miss on middle quick Wuchs tip and another Hanson kill for 19-13. TO Marquette 20-13 Hanson takes no prisoners on good sets. 7K H% 25 14 1 .520 22- Phoebe in middle Little Marquette run 22-18. TO Gophers Grote tool ends 5pt run Minatee hammers a slide for 24-20! Set 1 37 18 3 .405 Marquette hit .211 Really nice first set for MN. Middles are getting swings and having success. Hanson 7k Minatee 4k Grote 3k Wucherer 3k Grote splits block on left in Ro1 for FBSO MN 6-2 with McGhie and Schnichels switching with Grote and Shaff Gray libero this set Sydney with a couple kills.7-7 Hanson has first 2K here in the teens Now 9K Block party Phoebe and Julia. 13-11 Skylar with a crazy ace dropped straight down at the 3 meter. 15-12 17-15 after Wookie misses tip 18-17 after Wookie takes out trash resoundingly 19-19 after Wookie is blocked Hanson blocked for 20-20 Hanson on tip 21-20 10th kill Gray 2nd consecutive SE She had an ace but is unreliable Schnichels with nice soft 1st touch leading to Julia for 24-21. Gophers leak 5 to lose 24-26 Net ace Scramble 4 touches called on Gophers? Backrow errors 24-26. Gophers hitting. 333
Hanson 11K Minatee 4K Wucherer 4K
McGhie doesn’t have the set location that lead to terminations And gray in back court doesn’t facilitate same level of passing don’t know why
Z back with libero jersey Chloe Ng has earned SS over gray Three straight aces for Chloe!!! Wucherer kill 9-5 TO Marquette Wookie with nice K on right in ro1 Schnichels has nice body mechanics 14-12 Wookie on pipe high flying pipe Back to back blocks from Mel (Minatee) Minatee slide
Another soft roll.falls for MU 18-13 It was a sweet shot and near impossisble to defend Wuchs/Phoebe block Sydney line 21-14 Elise ace for 25-17 Gophers .364 10 blocks
Hanson 13K Wucherer 9K Minatee 7K
Marquette .204 1 block
Stella 2 aces to start 4th set Grote K Hanson K Grote Ace 8-3
Minatee serves them all like that we won’t need a serving specialist. Stella block gets a Z jumping hug, lol 17-10 Olivia kill! + Schnichels has great first touch hands and Good body mechanics Hanson has earned 6 ro status Her passing has made a Big jump from limited reps last year MN is making efforts to have MB respectfability But they have a ways to go Particularly with middle quicks
Wookie is serving better I wish she would get off the taraflex to achieve a better angle of attack
Stella is a revelation here in the 4th If you chart the ability of MN hitters to take a full swing SS puts up the juiciest sets particularly to her middles
20-12 Wuchs crushes it for her 14th kill 23-13 Phoebe 8th block
|
|
|
Post by sptimes2 on Apr 14, 2024 15:22:55 GMT -5
Woo love all the feedback, thanks yall. I noticed Grote isn't getting a lot of attention now back at opp, hopefully that's because she's been steady/as expected? Yea Grote was being Grote, steady and reliable as usual. Yes, OPP is probably our deepest position, with Grote as the returning starter, Schnichels as the promising up and comer, and don't forget Crowls, the only lefty in the group. After this season, we lose Grote, but gain Gilk, so OPP playing time will remain competitive.
|
|
gopher68
Freshman
Posts: 94
Member is Online
|
Post by gopher68 on Apr 15, 2024 10:58:14 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by GoGophs on Apr 15, 2024 12:29:57 GMT -5
Hanson and Wuchs both hitting .520 for the match is crazy!
|
|
|
Post by vonner on Apr 15, 2024 12:40:51 GMT -5
I'm just glad to see the volleyball program getting some press for a spring match. Nicely deserved.
|
|